County Vs. Town Living In Central Alberta
Water, septic, snow plowing and school buses: what really changes when you buy outside town limits.
A lot of Central Alberta buyers weigh a home in Red Deer, Lacombe or Sylvan Lake against a place out in the county. The day-to-day differences are bigger than the drive.
Water And Sewer
In town you're on municipal water and sewer. Out in the county, most homes run on a private well and a private septic system, and keeping them in good shape is on you.
Alberta keeps a public database of water well records, so you can look up drilling reports for a property before you buy. Septic systems are built to provincial private sewage standards, and it's worth getting yours inspected as a condition.
Snow Plowing
The City of Red Deer clears streets using a priority system, with hills, bridges and hospital access first and smaller residential streets last.
Counties have far more road to cover. Red Deer County maintains over 3,000 km of paved and gravel roads and starts plowing once a storm is over. Lacombe County puts its main paved roads first, then hamlets and subdivisions, and clears gravel roads once snow builds up to roughly 5 cm. If you're on a quiet gravel road, plan on waiting a bit after a big storm.
School Buses
Rural kids are often bused to school. Busing rules and boundaries are set by each school division, so call the division's transportation office with the exact address before you firm up. Wolf Creek Public Schools, for example, has town students reapply for busing every year.
Zoning And What You Can Do
County land-use rules decide things like whether you can keep animals, build a shop or run a business from home. Check the land-use district with the county before you buy, not after.
Keep Reading
Buying An Acreage: Wells, Septic And Zoning
Acreage life around Central Alberta is great. Here's what to check before you fall for the view.
The buyer's guide to Central Alberta acreages
Wells, septic, zoning and road access — what to check before you fall in love with the view.
First-Time Buyer Guide For Alberta
The federal programs that help with your first home, and how they fit together in Alberta.