Changes to Marmot Pit Fee Structure

Marmot Pit was made available for clean fill disposal in 2025 without a fee structure in place. However, going forward, fees are required to maintain Marmot Pit as an option for clean fill disposal.

Since the opening of Marmot Pit for clean fill disposal, we have seen an increase in estimated volumes of clean fill disposal being applied for via the permitting system. These estimates are tracking higher than expected, which allows us to review the fee structure and provide greater cost certainty for contractors.

Effective immediately, fees will be waived for all permitted clean fill being disposed at Marmot Pit through close of operations on June 11. This waiver will also apply retroactively to all clean fill deposited since the Pit opened on May 4.

Beginning June 15, the disposal rate for clean fill will be $15/m3, a 25% reduction from the original rate.

This updated fee structure will help ensure sustainability, enables partial cost-recovery for Parks Canada to open Marmot Pit for these operations, and offers a cost-effective alternative to transporting clean fill to Hinton.

Contractors are responsible for reviewing and complying with all requirements outlined on the Parks Canada website.
Commercial clean fill disposal at Marmot Pit (link)

Final Steps to Occupancy: What Builders & Homeowners Need to Know

As your rebuild project nears completion, there are a few key steps to receive occupancy authorization and close out your permit.

Step 1 - Schedule Your Final Safety Codes and Parks Canada Inspections

The permit holder must arrange all required final safety codes inspections, including:

• Final building, electrical, plumbing, gas, etc. code inspections
• For large scale projects such as apartments and commercial properties, an inspection from the Jasper Fire Department and Alberta Health Services may be required.

Once complete, submit all final inspection reports to jaspercompliance@pc.gc.ca.

A Parks Canada Compliance Officer will review the reports. Any identified life safety issues must be fixed before occupancy can be approved.

Once your safety codes inspections are scheduled, reach out to schedule your Parks Canada compliance inspection.

It can take up to 6 weeks from the date of request to schedule your Parks Canada compliance inspection. Booking early helps avoid delays. The compliance inspection can only happen once:

• Construction is complete;
• Rough grading is complete;
• Required on-site parking is accessible and functional; and
• All safety codes inspections are complete, and any life safety issues have been fixed

If there is outstanding work to be completed – like landscaping and final grading – you will receive a Letter of Forbearance.

A Letter of Forbearance allows conditional occupancy while remaining work is completed.

Step 2 - Complete Outstanding Work

To close out your permit and receive a Certificate of Completion, you must:

Complete final grading;

Complete hard and soft landscaping;

Complete any other outstanding permit requirements; and then

Submit a Real Property Report (RPR) to Parks Canada;

A follow up Parks Canada inspection may be required to verify work.

Step 3 - Certificate of Completion (Project Close-Out)

Once all work is complete and all your permit conditions are met, contact the Compliance Office at jaspercompliance@pc.gc.ca. Parks Canada will issue a Certificate of Completion for your project. This confirms your project is fully compliant and officially closes your permit.

If you’re unsure what’s left for your project, connect with the Compliance Office early to avoid delays at the final stage.

Update to Interim Temporary Use Policy to clarify permissions for soil storage, screening and temporary fences

In April of 2025, Parks Canada introduced a Temporary Use Policy, providing land use flexibility to help residents and businesses recover from wildfire impacts.

Following an annual review of the policy, Parks Canada has made minor amendments to improve clarity and expand permissions for soil storage and temporary fences. Highlights include:

• Permitting the use of RVs and Work Camps. Up to two RVs per leasehold continue to be allowed on lots in residential, commercial, and institutional zones without a permit. Temporary work camps for contractors continue to be allowed in certain areas.

• Storage of construction materials and soil screening: Soil storage, screening and sorting operations, and storage of construction materials continue to be permitted on all private leaseholds within the Jasper townsite without the need for a development permit, provided nuisances – including dust and noise – are managed. Permission from the leaseholder is required.

• Temporary fences: The update clarifies that temporary fencing is permitted for rebuild properties without the need for a permit. Temporary fencing must not be permanently affixed to the ground and meet minimum material requirements.

• Structures in connection with construction storage: The update clarifies that pop-up tents and similar temporary storage structures less than 10m2 are allowed without a permit, but that similar permanently affixed structures do require permits. Unmodified shipping containers continue to be allowed without a permit, provided they are used to store non-hazardous materials.

Policy details can be found here.

The policy will remain in effect until April 2027 and may be extended as needed. Parks Canada continues to monitor the policy’s effectiveness. For more information, please contact the Development Office at jasperdevelopment@pc.gc.ca.

Land Use Policy and Architectural Motif Updates

On May 8, 2026, the Jasper Field Unit Superintendent approved changes to the Jasper Land Use Policy and Architectural Motif. These changes come into effect June 6, 2026. The amendments include minor refinements to improve policy clarity and interpretation, align zero lot line provisions with current Alberta Building Code requirements, and reinstate certain sign standards.

What’s changed?

Single-detached Zero Lot Line development - Zero lot line development is limited to the blocks in Cabin Creek where it reflects the historic building pattern. For Blocks where it is permitted, all buildings will require a minimum 1.5 m minimum setback (opposite the zero side), a minimum 1.5 m easement, and 300 mm eave overhangs. These changes will reduce minor variance requests for eave overhang and will allow all impacted owners to rebuild under similar requirements.

Fire Rescue Requirements - Garage Suites and Secondary Suite must have a 0.9 m wide pathway to a sidewalk and Garage Suites must have an address viewable from the lane. The location of the address sign must be shown on elevations (even if the specific number is unknown).

Landscaping - Minimum tree caliper requirements are removed and minimum planting height has been dropped to 2 m. Fire-resiliency language is clarified to prohibit all coniferous species within 10 m of buildings, as both trees and shrubs pose wildfire risk.

Cabin Creek front parking - Primary dwelling parking stalls are now allowed in the front setback for all lots in the Cabin Creek districts to align with other areas and requirements.

Secondary Suite entrances on corner lots - A secondary suite on a corner lot may have an exterior stairway or doorway facing the front property line when the primary entry door faces a side street.

Balconies - Privacy requirements are clarified to specifically require side screening for second floor balconies.

Environmental - To improve clarity, existing environmental requirements requiring glass paneling to be tinted/frosted and prohibiting astroturf, have been added to the LUP.

Further details on the changes are provided in this document. Applications continue to be reviewed and issued under the current requirements. Any permits issued on or after June 6, 2026 must comply with these changes.

Repeated – Food in Waste Bins, Busy Street Closures and Insurance Claim Extensions

Permit Conditions - Keeping food out of construction waste bins

Bear safety in the Jasper Townsite – Contractor responsibilities

Bears are active in and around the Jasper townsite and are being drawn into residential and work areas by unsecured garbage and food waste. This creates serious risks to public safety and to the bears themselves.

Proper waste management is MANDATORY

🚮 Dispose of all food waste and wildlife attractants in bear‑proof garbage bins only.
This includes pizza boxes, drink cans, coffee cups, wrappers, and any food-related packaging.

🚧 Do NOT place food waste in industrial or construction bins.
These bins are not bear‑safe and are strictly for demolition and construction materials.

🛑 Never leave garbage beside bins.
If a bear‑proof bin is full, use another approved location or take waste directly to the Jasper Transfer Station.

Reporting and compliance

Please report bear sightings within the Jasper townsite immediately to Jasper Dispatch at 780‑852‑6155.

Failure to properly manage garbage directly contributes to increased wildlife and human safety risk and may result in enforcement action.

Parks Canada Human–Wildlife Coexistence staff will be visiting job sites in the coming days to speak with contractors and post reminder signage on bins.

Thank you for doing your part to protect Jasper’s wildlife, your crews, and the community.

Busy season for street closures

With spring well underway, we're seeing an increased number of street closure permit requests. To ensure that all requests are able to be accommodated, please submit applications at least 5 days ahead of the scheduled date.

It is ok to cancel or change the date of closures ahead of time but we'd rather hear from you sooner so that you can have a permit in hand well ahead of time. Prime contractors can also apply for Rebuild Street Use Permits for the length of a project to reduce timelines for simple closures like deliveries, concrete pours and storing materials on the street.

Street closures that include excavation within the Municipal road or alley require an additional refundable damage deposit to mitigate costs from damages to municipal infrastructure.

Visit the Municipality's Street and Public Space Use Permit webpage for more information: https://jasper-alberta.ca/p/street-and-public-spac... or reach out to townplanning@jasper-alberta.ca.

Insurance Claim Extensions

If you have an open insurance claim from the 2024 wildfire, the 2-year deadline is approaching, and you may need to request an extension to keep your claim moving forward.

What you should do now:

• Check your deadline with your insurer - Contact your insurer to confirm your claim status and your exact limitation date.
• Request a written extension if there is a possibility that your claim won't be resolved in time.
• Make your request at least 1 month before your deadline.
• Ensure any extension is provided in writing.

If you plan to dispute your claim: You may need to file a Statement of Claim before the deadline to protect your rights.

Don't wait - once the deadline passes, you may lose the ability to legal action.

Need help or not sure where to start? Contact the JRCC at jrccinfo@jasper-alberta.ca

• Designated resident only parking
• Areas restricted to construction access only