What is Needed to Build in Central Alberta?

You’ve made the decision to take the next step towards the growth of your business interests in Central Alberta. With that all-important part out of the way, your next question likely revolves around detailed information – what do you need to get started? Central Alberta and the towns/cities of Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Lacombe, Blackfalds, Red Deer and beyond are unique to the rest of the province. The region presents unparalleled opportunity for your operations if you start off on the right track. Today, we’ll help you do just that.

4 Things You Need to Do Before Building Your Commercial or Industrial Property in Central Alberta

1. Perform a Full Accounting of Permit Requirements by Municipality

You need to know what permits are required before doing anything else. This will vary by municipality. Even if you are moving to a new location within the same city or township you may need a Change-in-Use permit. Before breaking ground in Central Alberta you will need to complete some form of license or pre-screening application.

In Sylvan Lake, the process begins with a Business License application and another for a Building Permit in addition to submitting a site plan of the property showing all parking stalls and the interior floor plan. The Planning and Development Department will help you determine what is required given your industry.

In Red Deer, you’ll need to complete a Commercial and Industrial Pre-Screening Building Permit application in addition to providing three sets of working/mechanical drawings, specifications, and a document detailing your intended schedule of construction and completion. You may also need utilities permits.

Again, every municipality is unique, so be sure to investigate which applications for permits need to be completed accordingly. A little overwhelming? We can help.

2. Develop a Clearly Defined Plan

This sounds like an obvious statement to make, but believe it or not this part is often overlooked. You need to be prepared to answer any question that may arise from stakeholders (especially from local governing bodies) and have contingency plans in place. With a clearly defined plan, you plan for success (the cliche is true). Developing a comprehensive construction plan may be far out of your organization’s forte, and if so, you may want to consider going the design-build route with your project. Design-build is a single-point responsibility methodology that streamlines the process from the planning stage to completion and alleviates your need to define the entire plan on your own.

3. Develop a Strict Yet Reasonable Budget and Communicate it

Know your budget. This will dictate the processes and materials that can be considered for your build. Disregard the bargaining game and be upfront with prospective contractors with your budget. Resist the urge to quote a budget that is low when you know that you can actually go higher. You may consider doing this just to see of you can nab a bottom bid. Some contractors may agree to it just to get your business, without informing you that cost cutting in some areas may be detrimental to the longevity of your building. Instead, name your true price, leaving reasonable wiggle room for negotiation. This will improve your chances at getting a proper accounting of administration, labour and materials needed to optimally complete your build. Full-disclosure is the best policy when setting your budget for a Central Alberta build.

4. Secure a Full-Service Local General Contractor to Manage Your Construction Project

Avoid the temptation to go with an outside general contractor from the large metropolises of Alberta. While the neighboring cities of Calgary and Edmonton are less than two hours away they may as well be across the continent. The infrastructure, labour pool, municipalities, networks, and both the literal and proverbial landscape of Central Alberta can only be managed by a full-service general contractor that is immersed in the community. You’ll want to look for a team with professional accreditations, a strong local build portfolio, local testimonials and references, and the ability to stick within the estimate provided to you. Learn more about how to choose a local general contractor here.

Now that you’re armed with what you need to know, now is the time to take the next step and contact Apple Building Systems. We will make your Central Alberta build feel like a seamless endeavor, guiding you through the four steps above and seeing your project through to successful completion.