Welcome to the B.C. and Alberta Food System Policy Database

This database is a centralized resource for planners, policy makers, community advocates, local organizations and the policy curious to search for policy precedents and to better understand how local government policy in B.C. and Alberta is addressing local food systems. Search by a range of characteristics to find food system policies that have been adopted by local governments across B.C and Alberta. For more information about using the database and how it was developed see How to use the Database. 

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Institute for Sustainable Food Systems
Displaying 11 - 20 of 268 Results
Topics
Sub Topics

Town of Sylvan Lake Municipal Development Plan

Topic(s): Economic Development, Education, Food Production, Food Sales, Access & Procurement, Nutrition and Public Health, Policy Partnerships, Advocacy & Development, Urban Agriculture, Waste Management, Wildlife/Environmental/Pest Management

Sub-topic(s): community food system education, composting, farmers' markets, pesticide and pest management, urban gardens/orchard

Year: 2014

View policy:  HTML PDF

Topic Subtopic Policy or Policy Excerpt Document Location

policy partnerships, advocacy and development;

nutrition & public health;

economic development;

   Food Security Encourage research, policies and programs that increase food security, improve health outcomes and create social and economic opportunities. CH-2.1

education;

urban agriculture;

food production;

community food systems education;

urban gardens/orchard;

 Greater Access to Community and Home Gardens Encourage where appropriate, the creation of new community gardens on public lands, as well as the retention of existing community gardens. Provide educational seminars for home gardening covering topics such as climate tolerant species and types of gardening beds. CH-2.2
waste management;

composting;

urban gardens/orchard;

 Food Waste Encourage food waste composting ranging from individual households to neighbourhood coordination with community gardens. NE-4.3

food sales, access and procurement;

education;

farmer's markets;

community food system education;

 Support for Farmer's Markets Encourage broad access to fresh foods through farmer’s markets and work with educational providers to increase awareness on the value of food. CH-2.4

nutrition & public health;

food sales, access and procurement;

   10 Community Health Access to Local Food The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”. Commonly, the concept of food security is defined as including both physical and economic access to food that meets people's dietary needs as well as their food preferences. Food security is built on three pillars: • Food availability: sufficient quantities of food available on a consistent basis; • Food access: having sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet; and • Food use: appropriate use based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care, as well as adequate water and sanitation. Food security is a complex sustainable development issue, linked to health through malnutrition, but also to sustainable economic development, environment and trade. CH-2

wildlife/environmental/pest management;

urban agriculture;

pesticide and pest management;

urban gardens/orchard;

 Landscaping and Gardening Encourage environmentally responsible landscaping and gardening practices that reduce water use and water pollution, including the increased use of locally appropriate species and reduced use of fertilizers and pesticides NE-2.3

 

Town of Stony Plain Municipal Development Plan

Topic(s): Development and Productive use of Agricultural Land, Food Processing, Storage & Distribution, Food Production, Urban - Agriculture Conflict & Edge Planning, Urban Agriculture

Sub-topic(s): crops, farm retail/farm gate sales, food distribution, livestock, urban gardens/orchard, zoning

Year: 2013

View policy:  HTML PDF

Topic Subtopic Policy or Policy Excerpt Document Location

food production;

food processing, storage and distribution;

 food distribution; Environmental Responsibility Address issues of community resiliency The Town is committed to developing sound policy to address protection of local food production and distribution. 1.5 a

food production;

food processing, storage and distribution;

urban agriculture;

 food distribution; The Town will research best practices for urban agriculture and appropriate stages for support of the food production and distribution system. 1.5 b

urban agriculture;

food production;

 urban gardens/orchard; The Town will encourage community food gardens by offering leasable allotments on select municipal reserve lands and allow for small-scale agricultural operations that are compatible with an urban built environment and existing land uses within the Town’s boundaries. 1.5 c

development and productive use of agricultural land;

urban-agricultural conflict & edge planning;

 zoning;

Areas for Future Urban Development
So that these areas are protected for future development potential, the Town will only allow uses that will not adversely impact urban settlement or that will not be detrimental to future urbanization. Sites may remain as existing uses, agricultural uses or other development uses that do not require major buildings or services. Should a road be developed to service such uses, it should be designed to accommodate future urban servicing.

 6.8
food production;

crops;

farm retail/farm gate sales;

livestock;

 Areas for Future Urban Development
Extensive agricultural uses, such as field crops and market gardens supported by roadside produce sales, are encouraged, but intensive agricultural uses, such as livestock operations, will not be supported.		 6.8 b

 

Town of Stony Plain Family Garden Project

Topic(s): Education, Food Production, Urban Agriculture

Sub-topic(s): community food system education, demonstration farm, urban gardens/orchard

Year: 2010

Launched in 2010, the Family Garden Project offers residents access to raised-bed garden plots and related programming. As the site is an organic demonstration farm, all users must agree to use only the pre-approved / specified products for fertilizer and pest control.

Town of Stony Plain Land Use Bylaw

Topic(s): Food Production, Urban Agriculture

Sub-topic(s): urban gardens/orchard

Document Type: Zoning Bylaw | Year: 2017

View policy:  HTML PDF

Topic Subtopic Policy or Policy Excerpt Document Location

urban agriculture;

food production;

 urban gardens/orchard; 3.6.0. Communal Amenity Space A development that contains 50 or more dwelling units that requires a comprehensive site development and servicing plan and which will not be further subdivided, or an apartment containing 50 units or more, is required to provide private amenity space for passive or active recreational use. 3.6.0.1

urban agriculture;

food production;

 urban gardens/orchard; Communal amenity space must be indoor or outdoor space, or a combination thereof, including but not limited to landscaped courtyards, community gardens, public seating areas, swimming pools, fitness rooms, party rooms, dining or kitchen areas, games rooms and children’s play areas complete with equipment. 3.6.0.2

urban agriculture;

food production;

 urban gardens/orchard; A minimum communal amenity area of 2.0 m2 per dwelling must be provided and be developed as recreational space, and be grouped into areas of not less than 50.0 m2 . 3.6.0.3

 

Town of Olds Zoning Bylaw

Topic(s): Development and Productive use of Agricultural Land

Sub-topic(s): zoning

Document Type: Zoning Bylaw | Year: Consolidated 2017

View policy:  HTML PDF

Topic Subtopic Policy or Policy Excerpt Document Location
development and productive use of agricultural land; zoning;
The purpose of this Bylaw is to, amongst other things, ....(8) protect better agricultural land from premature urban development		 1.2 (8)
development and productive use of agricultural land; zoning; Definitions ..."better agricultural land" means land having a Canada Land Inventory Soil Capability for Agriculture rating of Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 or lands having a farmland assessment rating greater than 28 percent, or their equivalent as determined by government agencies or independent consultants, and at the discretion of the development authority may include other cultivated or improved land or potentially irrigable land. Better agricultural land excludes: (a) cut-off parcels which are regarded by the local municipality as being of insufficient size to farm, and (b) land which the Municipal Planning Commission determines is so badly fragmented by existing use or ownership that the land has a low agricultural capability or cannot logically be used for agricultural purposes 1.3

 

Town of Olds Business License Bylaw

Topic(s): Food Sales, Access & Procurement

Sub-topic(s): mobile/street food vending

Document Type: Regulatory Bylaw | Year: 2015

View policy:  HTML PDF

Topic Subtopic Policy or Policy Excerpt Document Location
food sales, access & procurement; mobile/street food vending; 8 PROVISIONS FOR HAWKERS, PEDDLERS & MOBILE VENDORS No person shall carry on business as a Hawker, Peddler or Mobile Vendor in public or private property within the boundary of the Town unless a Mobile Vendor Permit has been obtained from Town of Olds and is submitted with the Business License application. 8.1
food sales, access & procurement; mobile/street food vending; No person shall commence, or shall carry on or engage in, the business of Hawker, Peddler or Mobile Vendor on public or private property within the Town of Olds unless and until such person is the holder of a Business License issued pursuant to this bylaw. 8.2
food sales, access & procurement; mobile/street food vending; A Business License issued to a Hawker, Peddler or Street Vendor of foodstuffs, fruits and/or vegetables, shall be withheld until the Applicant has produced appropriate permits, licenses or certificates from Alberta Health Services. 8.3

 

Town of High River

Topic(s): Urban Agriculture

Sub-topic(s): urban gardens/orchard

Year: 2012

View policy:  HTML PDF

Topic Subtopic Policy or Policy Excerpt Document Location
urban agriculture; urban gardens/orchard; Provision should be made for permaculture and traditional gardening activities to co-exist with urban development. Municipal Development Plan Part 2: section 21.3

 

Town of High River Municipal Development Plan

Topic(s): Development and Productive use of Agricultural Land, Urban - Agriculture Conflict & Edge Planning

Sub-topic(s): buffer at agricultural edge, residential development

Year: Consolidated 2013

View policy:  HTML PDF

Topic Subtopic Policy or Policy Excerpt Document Location
urban-agriculture conflict and edge planning;   Ensure the impact of urban uses on agricultural operations is minimized. 2.15.7
urban-agriculture conflict and edge planning; residential development;
buffer at agricultural edge		 Any development proposal adjacent to an existing agricultural operation shall incorporate buffering. 2.15.7.3

 

Town of High River Bees Bylaw

Topic(s): Food Production, Urban Agriculture

Sub-topic(s): beekeeping/apiculture, livestock, pollinators

Document Type: Regulatory Bylaw | Year: 2016

View policy:  HTML PDF

A bylaw to regulate the keeping of bees in the Town of High River.