Frequently Asked Questions - Resident

The first 3 acres in conjuction with the residence is assessed at market value with a exemption applied to the residence based on the amount of agricultural use value of farmland in the owners farm unit up to a maximum exemption of $61,540 for the first residence and for each additional residence $30,770.

Ancillary buildings and structures must be at least 5 feet from the side and rear lot lines. A carport or garage is permitted in a side yard but must not be less than 5 feet from the side lot line.

The setbacks for an interior lot are: front yard – 25 feet, rear yard – 25 feet, side yards – 1 at 5 feet & 1 at 10 feet. Setbacks for a corner lot are: front yard – 25 feet, rear yard – 25 feet, side yards – inside at 5 feet & street side at 15 feet.

Fences in rear yards can be no more than 6 feet high. Fences within 25 feet of the front property line can be no more than 3 feet high.

A development permit is required if the shed is larger than 100 square feet. The cost of a development permit is $100.00. It can be obtained from the MD office at 4900B-50 Street, Taber, the MD website or faxed to you.

Development is not allowed within 150 feet of the centre line of a rural road. If the development must be closer than 150 feet to the centerline of the road then a development permit must be obtained asking for a waiver of the 150’ setback.

A development permit is required if the deck will be enclosed and/or have a roof over it. An enclosed deck is more permanent and will add value to the residence. The cost of a development permit is $100.00. It can be obtained from the MD office at 4900B-50 Street, Taber, the MD website or faxed to you.

The M.D. of Taber issues a Home Occupation Permit for the secondary use of a dwelling unit (and/or its ancillary buildings or lands) by any trade, profession, or craft for supplementary employment as long as it is not readily visible from the adjacent lands. The Home Occupation Permit is renewed annually. The cost of a Home Occupation Permit is $50.00.  It can be obtained from the MD office at 4900B-50 Street, Taber, the MD website or faxed to you.

A development permit is required to construct a residence or a garage or to move in a mobile/modular home on a rural property or into one of our 3 hamlets.
The cost of a development permit is $100.00.  It can be obtained from the M.D. of Taber office at 4900B-50 Street, Taber, the MD website or faxed to you.

Once the assessment has been determined, the assessor must determine which tax classification is appropriate for your property.  There are two different property tax classifications used in the M.D. of Taber; residential and non-residential.  Different tax rates are set for these different property tax classifications.

The assessor doesn't create the value of your property; it is created by the real estate market place.  The assessor just measures it.
The assessor is kept informed by the Provincial Land Titles Office of the real estate sales within the M.D. of Taber.  The assessor applies the accepted mass appraisal practises using information from all property sales within the M.D. of Taber to estimate the market value of your property.  They take into account all the market conditions that may affect your property(s) value such as location, size, shape, replacement cost, age and the condition of your buildings.

Market value is the most probable price that would be paid for a property in a competitive and open market.  It assumes the buyer and seller are acting prudently and knowledgeably, allowing sufficient time for the sale and assumes that the transaction is not affected by undue pressures.

An assessment is the estimate of a property (s) market value, as of July 1, of the year previous to the tax year.