Town of Banff

The Town of Banff

The Town of Banff is Canada's first incorporated municipality within a national park.

We are located in the country's most visited national park, which in turn is within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means that Banff faces some exceptional challenges, constraints and opportunities. The town is both a service centre for park visitors, and home to more than 8,000 local residents.

Banff was officially incorporated as a municipality in 1990, with the signing of an Incorporation Agreement by the federal and provincial governments. This agreement transferred most municipal government powers from the federal government to an elected town council. The Incorporation Agreement must be amended before any changes to provincial statutes affecting municipalities come into effect in Banff.

Compared to other municipalities not located in national parks, Banff is distinctive in its:

Leased land-base

Because the town rests inside the national park, there is no freehold land available. The town pays $550,000 annually to the Government of Canada to lease the land within its municipal boundaries.

Fixed boundary with no option to grow outward

Banff is 3.93 square kilometres in area, and its boundaries are fixed by federal law. The local government does not have annexation or expropriation authority to expand its land base.

'Need to reside' requirement

By federal regulation, people must demonstrate a 'need to reside' in any national park community, including Banff. Generally, individuals must be employed (or be a dependent of someone who is employed) in the park in order to live in the town.

Aggressive commercial growth management

Banff has one of the most aggressive and vigorous commercial growth management strategies of any Canadian municipality. The rate and amount of commercial growth is limited to 1.5% per annum, thereby restricting how much square footage can be constructed each year. A random selection draw for development rights is conducted annually when the amount of proposed development exceeds the maximum allowable growth. This type of growth management technique is the only one of its kind used in Canada.

Population limit

The 2007 Banff Community Plan accommodates a permanent population of less than 10,000 permanent residents. Banff's population is leveling off as available commercial space reaches maximum capacity.

Environmental Management Program

As part of its committment to protect and enhance the environmental integrity of the Banff area, the Town of Banff is developing an Environmental Management Program for ongoing operations.