Bylaws & Policies

How Policies & Bylaws Are Developed

At Cardston County, policies and bylaws are developed and reviewed through a collaborative process that involves:
✔️ Council
✔️ Administration
✔️ Agricultural Services Board
✔️ Municipal Planning Commission
✔️ Other stakeholders (when necessary)

What Guides Policy & Bylaw Development?

Every policy and bylaw is created following a thorough review that considers:

  • The need for the policy
  • Alternative approaches
  • Relevant legislation, regulations, and procedures
  • Input from stakeholders impacted by the policy or bylaw

What Can Council Pass Bylaws For?

Council can pass bylaws to:

  • Govern Council and Administration processes
  • Regulate activities within the County

What You Should Know About Bylaws

Municipal bylaws are legally enforceable, just like other laws. They can:

  • Be enforced with penalties
  • Be challenged in court
  • Must comply with higher levels of law, including provincial and federal laws

How Bylaws Are Passed

To become law, every proposed bylaw must go through three distinct readings at Council meetings.
Council may only proceed to third reading at the same meeting if all Councillors present unanimously agree.


The Municipal Government Act (MGA)

The Municipal Government Act (MGA) provides the legal framework for how all municipalities in Alberta operate. It is one of Alberta’s largest and most important pieces of legislation, containing:

  • 18 parts
  • More than 700 sections

The MGA defines:

  • How municipalities govern and operate
  • The roles and responsibilities of Council
  • How residents can engage with and influence municipal decisions

🔗 Learn More About the MGA and Recent Updates (Consider linking to an external resource or Alberta Government page.)


Search Our Policy & Bylaw Database

🔎 Click here to search, view, and print policies, bylaws, and other County documents


Accessing Information

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP)

The FOIP Act helps balance:

  • The public’s right to know what their government is doing
  • Each person’s right to privacy regarding personal information held by public bodies

The Act applies to:

  • Municipalities, like Cardston County
  • Provincial government departments
  • Universities, colleges, and school boards
  • Other local public bodies

What FOIP Covers

✅ The right to access records held by public bodies (with narrow exceptions)
✅ Rules for how public bodies collect, use, and disclose personal information
✅ The right to see personal information about yourself
✅ The right to request corrections to personal information if it’s inaccurate
✅ Independent reviews of disclosure decisions and privacy violations, conducted by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner


Transparency & Your Right to Know

Cardston County is committed to transparency and making public information accessible whenever possible.

If you would like to request access to records or information, please contact our office:
📞403-653-4977