Council Passes Measures to Support Property Owners and Small Businesses in 2025 Athabasca County Council has passed two new bylaws—Bylaw 017-2025 and Bylaw 018-2025—designed to offer targeted tax relief for residents and small business owners affected by property assessment changes in 2025. Extended Tax Payment Deadline With the adoption of Bylaw 017-2025, the County has deferred the 2025 property tax payment deadline for some properties from July 31 to October 31, 2025, effectively cancellinga4% penalty that would have been imposed on overdue payments starting August 1. The 2025 property tax payment deadline applies to the following property classes: • Residential • Residential Grant in Lieu • Farmland • Farmland Grant in Lieu • Non-Residential – Small Business • Non-Residential • Non-Residential Grant in Lieu This change aims to ease the financial burden on property owners whose assessments increased due to newly evaluated developments and changes to former farmland assessments. Designated Industrial Properties, which are assessed by the Government of Alberta, are not included in the payment deadline extension. The 8% late penalty will still apply for unpaid taxes as of November 1, 2025. The amendment does not alter the legislated timeline for assessment complaints, which must still be filed by the deadline indicated on the tax notice. The deadline to appeal your assessment remains the same. July 21, 2025 is the last date to file a complaint regarding your 2024 Property Assessment as shown on your 2025 Combined Assessment & Property Tax Notice Extended Small Business Declaration Period Council also passed Bylaw 018-2025, extending the application period for the Small Business Property Sub-Class for the 2025 tax year. Non-residential property owners now have until August 11, 2025, to submit their small business declaration—an extension of 60 days from when the bylaw was passed. The original deadline was January 31, 2025. This provision allows eligible small businesses to benefit from a 25% reduction in the mill rate applied to non-residential properties, as introduced under Bylaw 012-2023. In 2024, only four small businesses were classified under this tax category; that number grew to 58 in 2025, and the County hopes this extension will allow even more small businesses to take advantage of the program. “These changes are a direct response to the feedback we’ve received from residents and business owners,” said Athabasca County Reeve Tracy Holland. “Council recognizes the importance of providing effective support during times of change, and these bylaws reflect our commitment to ensuring fairness and flexibility in local taxation.” For more information on these bylaw changes or to apply for the Small Business Property Sub-Class, visit www.athabascacounty.com/government/assessment-taxes/ or contact the County Office at (780) 675-2273. Development Permit Approvals Discretionary Use D25-076 Electric vehicle charging station; 8 super chargers accessory to service station P8721985; B1; L1A within NE 36-71-17-W4M (Div. 6) Decision Date: June 26, 2025 D25-103 40’ x 8’ (8’ 6” high) seacan, 16’ x 26’ (12’ high) covered deck, and a 14’ x 26’ deck P1021187; B1; L6 within NE 26-67-24-W4M (Div. 8) Decision Date: June 27, 2025 D25-106 2137 sq. ft. (23’ 1” high) dwelling (new), 41’ 6” x 40’ and 12’ x 22’ 6” decks and existing 4.32 m x 18.2 m (3.6 m high) 2001 manufactured home/temporary residence NW 21-65-24-W4M (Div. 4) Decision Date: June 25, 2025 Permitted Use with Variance D25-075 177 sq. ft. loft within a 199 sq. ft. (15’ 7 1/8” high) dwelling with a 224 sq. ft. (37%) floor area variance, anda40’ x 8’ (8’ 6” high) sea can NE 4-64-22-W4M (Div. 1) Decision Date: June 26, 2025 D25-093 44’ x 80’ (22’ high) shop (as-built) with a 1.3 m front yard variance P8222206; B1; L6 within SW 30-65-18-W4M (Div. 3) Decision Date: June 26, 2025 D25-082 10’x10’ (14’ high) dwelling with a 500 sq. ft. (83%) floor area variance & a 10’ x 4’ covered deck P9622559; L8B within NE 32-65-22-W4M (Div. 5) Decision Date: June 26, 2025 D25-105 54.9 m2 (2.8 m high) dwelling with a 0.8 m2 (1.4%) minimum floor area variance P7721040; B1; L1 within SW-23-62-23-W4M (Div. 1) Decision Date: July 2, 2025 Anyone claiming to be affected by the approval may submit an appeal within 21 days from the date of the decision. The appeal must be in writing and in accordance with the Municipal Government Act. Please contact our office for further information on the appropriate appeal body. For more information contact: Planning & Development Department 780-675-2273 | 1-844-662-2273 | [email protected]
