Overview
A resolution is used by municipal districts, counties or specialized municipalities to close roads upon approval.
It can only be used to close unnecessary, undeveloped rural roads registered as road plans at Land Titles, which shows the road plan as ‘excepted from’ the land on the certificate of title(s).
Road plans appropriate for closure by resolution include:
- road diversions, which are plans that were registered when the road could not be constructed following the surveyed road allowance
- roads or portions of roads not required after the construction and registration of a new road alignment
Legislation
Municipal Government Act (MGA):
- Section 22 Road closure (resolution)
Preparing the road closure package
The MGA grants the municipality (or other road authority) the ability to request the closure of a road plan they have determined is no longer needed.
It is recommended before initiating work on the closure package and prior to third party referrals, the municipality contact the Transportation District Office.
Discussing the closure at this stage gives staff an opportunity to inspect the site to:
- verify that the road plan is not required as part of the provincial transportation network
- determine whether current and future land owners have legal access to the provincial transportation network
- determine whether the road plan closure will be supported
Submission package
Scan, upload and submit your proposed road closure package to the Roadside Planning and Application Tracking Hub (RPATH) for review by your District Office. The package must include the following:
- cover letter requesting the closure, including rationale for the closure
- the resolution, signed, sealed and dated
- sketch or survey plan for the closure
- list or copies of referral letters sent including responses and all original copies of any easement or utility right-of-way agreements required
- copies of objections
After the District completes the review in RPATH, the municipality or their agent will be advised by email notification from RPATH. The original package may then be sent (including the original copy of the resolution and all original copies of each easement or utility right-of-way agreement) by mail or courier to our Head Office at:
Transportation and Economic Corridors
Technical Standards Branch
2nd Floor, Twin Atria Building
4999 98 Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2X3
Attn: Road Closure Coordinator
The Road Closure Coordinator completes the final review, prepares the Notification to Registrar for registration, has the resolution and any easement or utility right-of-way agreements signed and returns the documents to the municipality or their agent for registration at Alberta Land Titles. Copies of the signed documents will be uploaded into RPATH for immediate viewing.