Frequently Asked Questions

Administration begins preparing budgets for discussion each fall.  Council usually holds Special Council meetings to accommodate budget discussions outside of Regular Council meetings.  These are public meetings, advertised on the Town's website.   Agendas are published, although preliminary budget information is not included on agendas as it can be subject to several changes before the final budgets are adopted.  The "final" proposed budgets (still subject to change) are generally included on the Council Meeting agenda package where Council is anticipated to adopt the budgets.  This usually takes place in March, April or May, but can be done earlier. 

The Operating and Capital Budgets, as authorized by Council, will be included in the meeting Minutes, as a resolution of Council, accepting (or amending) the presented budgets. Once the Minutes are adopted, Administration will post both the Operating and the Capital Budgets for viewing on the Town's website, on the Finance page.

Please visit the Who Can Appeal page to find out who can make appeal to the Intermunicipal Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (ISDAB) when it comes to development permits, subdivision applications, stop orders, and amendments to Land Use by-laws.

Examples of an affected person are someone who owns property, carries on a business or resides in the vicinity of a proposed development. A person who merely visits the area probably may not qualify as an affected person.

Find the steps you will need to take in order to file your appeal properly.

The appeal must be heard by the ISDAB within 30 days of submission. For details about the appeal hearing process please visit our Appeal Hearing page.

To book the Oilfields Regional Arena, view the online calendar and availability at:

• Winter (Ice Season): www.diamondvalley.town/ORA-Ice

• Summer (Dry Pad / Off-Season Use): www.diamondvalley.town/ORA-Summer

Follow the booking instructions provided on the website to complete your request.
All booking requests must be reviewed and approved by Town staff to ensure accurate pricing is applied based on residency and user type.

For seasonal, tournament, or special event ice requests, applications are due by April 15 of the preceding season to guarantee consideration.

For assistance, email bookings@diamondvalley.town or call 403-933-5272.

To book the SSSR, view the online calendar and availability at:

• Winter (Ice Season): www.diamondvalley.town/SSSR-Ice

• Summer (Dry Pad): www.diamondvalley.town/SSSR-Summer

Follow the booking instructions provided on the website to complete your request.
All booking requests must be approved by Town staff to ensure accurate pricing is applied based on residency and user type.

The SSSR typically opens for ice around November 1 and stops being refrigerated around March 1 to allow for deicing by late spring.

Bookings are approved Monday–Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding holidays.
If ice is not booked, and you don’t mind sharing the space with others, the SSSR is open to the public for free.

For assistance, email bookings@diamondvalley.town or call 403-933-5272.

To book the Flare ’n Derrick Community Hall, submit a Facility Rental Request Form available at:
www.diamondvalley.town/FlareNDerrickRequest

Once your request is received, Town staff will confirm availability and send an invoice and rental agreement.
Your booking is finalized once payment and the signed agreement are received.

Viewings can be arranged by appointment if the hall is not in use.

For assistance, email bookings@diamondvalley.town or call 403-933-5272.

Sports field bookings are free and self-serve. Book online at:
www.diamondvalley.town/dvfacilities

No staff approval is required—book and go.

Insurance:

• Mandatory for organized groups, leagues, and sports teams.

• Email proof of insurance to bookings@diamondvalley.town.

• Casual/individual use does not require insurance.

Fields are seasonal and may close during wet conditions or maintenance—please follow on-site signage.
Questions? bookings@diamondvalley.town | 403-933-5272.

To book a gazebo or outdoor space for a private event, contact the Town directly by emailing
📧 bookings@diamondvalley.town or calling 403-933-5272.

You can also visit www.diamondvalley.town/dvfacilities to view facility details and access the Facility Rental Request Form.

Town staff will confirm availability, review event details, and issue an invoice and rental agreement.
All outdoor bookings must be approved to ensure proper coordination with other activities, maintenance schedules, and any required event permits.

For events involving tents, inflatables, food trucks, or large gatherings, a Special Event Application may also be required.

For more information or assistance, contact bookings@diamondvalley.town or call 403-933-5272.

Current rental rates for all Town facilities, including the Flare ’n Derrick Community Hall, Oilfields Regional Arena, Scott Seaman Sports Rink, gazebos, and outdoor spaces, can be found online at:
https://app.univerusrec.com/bdarenapub/rates.asp

Rates vary depending on the facility, user type (local, non-local, or non-profit), and time of use.

For assistance determining the correct rate for your booking, contact bookings@diamondvalley.town or call 403-933-5272.

Find out how you can do your part in embracing sustainability, with the kind of difference you make, by visiting our Embrace Sustainability page.

Find out what Diamond Valley is doing to promote sustainability by visiting out Promote Sustainability page.

There are several ways to make property tax payments in the Town of Diamond Valley.  Please review the list to choose the option best for you.

• Join TIPP (Tax Installment Payment Program).  This program provides for monthly automatic withdrawals to pay your property taxes without late payment penalties for accounts in good standing.
• Online banking with your financial service provider.  You make your own payments through your bank at your discretion.  Please call your bank’s branch for further information or to set up your online banking account.
• Cheques can be mailed to the Town Office, brought into the Town Office during regular business hours or placed in the overnight depository (just left of the Town Office's main doors on the upper level). 
• Cash is accepted at the Town Office during regular office hours. Please do not mail cash or use the overnight depository for cash payments.
• Interac/Debit cards can be used during regular office hours at the Town Office.  Debit cards are (generally) subject to daily transaction limits.  If you wish to pay the full amount of your property tax in one payment, please get in touch with your bank to determine your daily transaction limit before visiting the Town Office.
• Credit Card payments may be made online, using Option Pay.  All transaction fees applicable to any credit card payments will be the sole responsibility of the cardholder, and will be automatically charged to the cardholder’s account.
• E-Transfers can be sent to info@diamondvalley.town please include "Tax Payment / Roll Number or Address" in the comments section to ensure your payment is accounted for.
• P.I.T. (Principal Interest Taxes) - you will have arranged for your mortgage company to pay your property taxes each year, and include that amount in your mortgage payments. *Note: If you are paying out your mortgage in the near future, you will need to determine the method that best suits you to handle your property taxes after your mortgage is fully paid. Please check with your mortgage holder to determine your needs if this is the case for you.

If you are not making your payment in person at the office, the Town does not (generally) mail out receipts.  However, if you would like to receive a receipt for your payment, please let us know when you make your payment.  You can also call the office or email the Tax Clerk and request that a receipt be mailed or emailed to you.  

To enrol or continue in the TIPP program, you must understand and maintain your TIPP account in good standing.  The following Terms & Conditions apply, as well as those set out by the Town of Diamond Valley TIPP Bylaw.

1. You authorize the Town and its financial institution(s) to continually debit the stated bank account on the 4th day of each month to make payments on your property tax account. 
2. You acknowledge that when current year taxes are unknown, the debited instalments will be estimated on the prior year’s taxes until the current year tax information is available for recalculation. 
3. Your tax account must be at a NIL balance at year-end for you to automatically participate in the TIPP program in the following year. Any credit balance on the tax account remaining at the end of the calendar year will be applied to the following year’s payments. 
4. This plan will remain in effect until cancelled. You are responsible for advising the Town, in writing, at least 15 days in advance, of any changes required to the next automatic payment (e.g. Payor information, bank account changes, cancellation of the plan, etc.). If there is a property ownership change, you are responsible for notifying the Town to cancel the program in writing. 
5. Any dishonoured payments by your bank will incur a fee, which must be paid before resuming your participation in the program. 
6. The Town has the right to cancel your participation in the program, per the Bylaw, if your account is no longer in good standing. 
7. Monthly payment instalments will be recalculated periodically. You will be notified of calculations that result in changed payments. 
8. Any correspondence sent by the Town will be directed to the property's registered owner(s) only. 
9. By submitting this application to the Town, you agree to be bound by the TIPP Bylaw and the Terms & Conditions of this agreement. 
10. You have certain recourse rights if any debit does not comply with this agreement. For example, you have the right to receive reimbursement for any debit that is not authorized or is not consistent with this agreement. To obtain more information on your recourse rights, contact your financial institution or visit http://www.cdnpay.ca

Instalment payments are calculated when you join TIPP, based on the timing.  All TIPP accounts must be paid in full by year-end, or they will not be considered "in good standing" and penalties will apply.

Payments are automatically recalculated in January and July of each year, to ensure that account holders can ensure payment in full by year-end.

If for any reason, an account holder in good standing needs to temporarily terminate their TIPP account but wishes to re-enrol before the end of the year, the instalment payments can be recalculated to ensure the account is paid in full by year-end.

Please remember that if you participate in the Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP), no additional payment on your taxes is required when you receive your annual tax notice. 

Assessment notices are mailed in advance of the property tax bills to allow property owners the opportunity to review the assessed value and ensure it is reasonable prior to the tax bill being sent out in June.

Council sets the tax rates in late May or early June. Tax bills are typically mailed mid-June

For information about changing school declaration, please visit the School Support Notification page.

No. An increase in assessed value does not directly equate to a tax increase. 

• Tax might increase, but it is not because of increased assessment.
• Assessment does not determine tax rates. Only Town Council has authority to levy municipal tax.
• Property taxes are dependent on, and are a function of, Town Operating budgets and Provincial request for education funding.
• Taxes will increase because of increased Town operating budget and/or increased requisitions from the Province for education funding.
• The assessed value only allocates each property's proportionate share slice of the total tax pie.

The amount of tax allocated to each property is correlated with value not services. Municipal tax is exactly that; a tax.  It is not a fee for services rendered on each individual property.  It is a tax levied in relationship to value.  Municipal tax paid is akin to income tax, which has no direct relationship, to services rendered for each taxpayer.  Municipal tax paid is in relation to the property value and is not an accounting of services rendered to each individual property.

Your property tax bill generally consists of two major items: (1) municipal taxes and (2) provincial education property taxes.

Municipal property taxes are set by the municipality to pay for local municipal services such as road maintenance and snow clearing, street lighting, parks and recreation facilities, RCMMP and fire protection, land use planning, community programs and seniors accommodations through a requisition. For more details, view the chart showing where your tax dollars go.

Education property taxes are set by the Government of Alberta. The municipality collects the tax and forwards it to the Government of Alberta to pay for primary and secondary education delivered by schools boards across the province. The Town of Diamond Valley has no control over this amount.

The education property tax rate is calculated different from property tax rates. Each year, the Government of Alberta will determine the total amount of revenue to be drawn from property taxes from across the province to pay for the K-12 education system. The province bills each municipality for its share of the education property tax requirement. This is known as the “education property tax requisition” or “education tax.” 

Each municipality uses the following formula to calculate its local education tax rate that will be taxed on properties: Local education tax rate = municipality’s education tax requisition ÷ total assessed value of all properties

For example: A municipality’s education property tax requisition is $1,200,000 and the total value of assessed property is $475,000,000. Therefore, the calculation is $1,200,000 ÷ $475,000,000 = a local education tax rate of 0.0025.

Note: This calculation only offers a simplified explanation of how education tax rates are determined and do not account for the creation of multiple tax rates for each type of property. For example, the provincial education tax requisition is split between residential and non-residential properties so a municipality will have two different education tax rates depending on the type of property.

The Government of Alberta offers the Seniors Property Tax Deferral Program that allows eligible senior homeowners to defer all or part of their property taxes through a low-interest home equity loan with the Alberta government. If you qualify, the Alberta government will pay your residential property taxes to the municipality on your behalf. You re-pay the loan, with interest, when you move or sell the home, or sooner if you wish.

The City of Airdrie has created an easy-to-understand video about property assessment and taxation. The City of Edmonton also has a video to help explain how municipal taxation works.

No, you cannot appeal your taxes. Property taxes are based on the municipal tax rates that are applied to the values of all properties in a municipality. You may appeal the assessed value of your property but it must be done during the period specified on your assessment notice.

 While a property owner cannot appeal the taxes on an individual property, property owners can contact their municipality’s administration or council to discuss opportunities to minimize the level of taxation on all property owners in the future.

There are several ways to make property tax payments in the Town of Diamond Valley.  Please review the list to choose the option best for you.

• Sign up for Pre-authorized Utility Payments.  This program provides for automatic withdrawals to pay your bi-monthly utility bills.  Rest easy knowing that your bill is always paid on time.  Copies of your bill are still sent out to you, so you are fully aware of the status of your account.
• Online banking with your financial service provider.  You make your own payments through your bank at your discretion.  Please call your bank’s branch for further information or to set up your on-line banking account.
• Cheques can be mailed to the Town Office, brought into the Town Office during regular business hours or placed in the overnight depository (just left of the Town Office main doors on the upper level). 
• Cash is accepted at the Town Office during regular office hours. Please do not mail cash or use the overnight depository for cash payments.
• Interac/Debit cards can be used during regular office hours at the Town Office.
• Credit Card payments may be made online, using Option Pay.  All transaction fees applicable to any credit card payments will be the sole responsibility of the cardholder, and will be automatically charged to the cardholder’s account.
• ETransfers can be sent to info@diamondvalley.town. Follow these directions to ensure your payment is accounted for.

If you are not making your payment in person at the office, the Town does not (generally) mail out receipts.  However, if you would like to receive a receipt for your payment, please let us know when you make your payment.  You can also call the office or email the Tax & Utilities Clerk and request that a receipt be mailed or emailed to you. 

Water Restrictions are determined by the Town of Diamond Valley Water Use and Conservation Bylaw. 

Information about current water restrictions, including levels, requirements and fines, can be found:

• on the Town's website "Water" page, and

during seasonal or other periods of high water use, reminders will be posted:

• in the Council Connection article in the Western Wheel,
• on the Town's Facebook and Instagram social media platforms,
• on the Town's website homepage as "Newsflash" items, and 
• may also be posted on the Town's entrance signs.

The normal term of office is 4 (four) years for local government officials.  By-elections are held when required to fill vacancies on a Council in between general municipal elections. Visit the Municipal Election webpage for more details.

Municipal elections in Alberta are conducted according to the Local Authorities Election Act, which is provincial legislation.  The Town of Black Diamond Council passes resolutions to appoint a Returning Officer, and to authorize the Returning Officer to do such things as providing advance voting, setting up an institutional vote for residents of the High Country Lodge, hiring election workers, etc.  All of these activities, although authorized by Council, must be undertaken in accordance with the Local Authorities Election Act.

Beginning with the 2021 municipal elections, the province has also passed two (2) other pieces of legislation that will combine some provincial election opportunities with the municipal elections across the province.  

• Alberta Senate Election Act, and
• Referendum Act

These acts will require municipalities to hold any applicable senate election or referendum questions in their municipalities if required by the province.  The province has also passed a regulation for each of these two (2) acts, to provide the municipalities with some funding to assist with extra costs incurred in undertaking these votes.

In order to be eligible to vote in a municipal election, you must:

• be at least 18 years old,
• be a Canadian citizen (a Permanent Resident is not a Canadian Citizen), and
• be a resident of Alberta, and a resident of the municipality on election day.

Your residence is the place where you live and sleep, and to which you will return after an absence.  For the purposes of voting, you can only have one residence.  Students that attend educational institutions within or outside of Alberta, but have family members resident in Alberta and the student resides with that family when not attending the educational institution, are deemed to reside with those family members (they are resident there, not at their educational institution or dorm).

Every person who wishes to vote must make a statement (on the prescribed form) at the voting station, in the presence of an officer at the voting station, that validates their residence in the municipality.

Voters must produce one (1) of the following:

• one (1) piece of ID issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial or local) or an agency of that government that contains a photograph of the person, the person's name and the address of that person's residence, or
• one (1) piece of ID authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer under the Election Act for the purposes of section 95(1)(a)(ii) of that Act that establishes the person's name and current address, or
• one (1) piece of other acceptable ID.

A voter who cannot produce ID to validate their identity or their residence may have an eligible elector vouch for them, in accordance with section 53(4)-(8) of the Local Authorities Election Act.

The Returning Officer will (prior to advance voting dates) publish on the Town's website, a list of ID that is acceptable if the voter does not have any photo ID issued by a Canadian government.

The Returning Officer is aware that most photo ID for residents of Black Diamond (i.e. a Driver's License) will provide a PO Box #, rather than a street address.  This is an acceptable form of identification if the PO Box is located in Black Diamond or Turner Valley.  However, PO Boxes from other municipalities, or rural route addresses, will not be acceptable proof of residence, and voters should be prepared to provide one of the other forms of ID from the list.

The most common mistake voters make is not understanding how many people they can vote for.  Voting instructions are placed inside each voting compartment.  Each ballot that a voter takes must indicate the number of people that can be voted for.  Here are some helpful reminders:

In Diamond Valley, the Mayor is elected, not chosen by the Council.  You may vote for 1 mayoral candidate.

Diamond Valley Council has 6 Councillor seats.  Voters may choose up to 6 candidates (less than 6 is OK, more than 6 will cause your ballot to be rejected).

A School Division Trustee ballot - voters can choose 1 candidate.

Senate ballots may vary, and are produced by the province.  Voters will need to pay close attention to those ballots and the instructions posted inside the voting compartment.

Referendum ballots may contain multiple questions and voters may answer each question provided on that ballot.  These ballots are also produced by the province.

Voter Tips - Make Sure Your Ballot Counts!

1. Exercise care in marking your ballots.  Voting in a manner that causes the ballot to be rejected by the deputy (section 86 of the Local Authorities Election Act) will result in that ballot not being counted.  
   • Ballots should be clearly marked with an "X" and with no other markings other than the deputy returning officer's initials.  
   • Too many votes cast will cause a ballot to be rejected.  It is important that voters be aware of the maximum number of people to be voted for on any ballot, and read the instructions provided to be sure.  
   • Never initial, sign, tear or mark a ballot in any way that could be an identifying mark.  Ballots marked or defaced in this way will be rejected.
   • Rejected ballots are "accounted for" but not "counted" for/against any specific candidate.  
2. If you make a mistake on your ballot (a spoiled ballot) and would like the opportunity to correct that mistake, you may return your ballot to the deputy for verification, do not place it in the ballot box, and if they are satisfiedthat you've made a genuine error, a replacement ballot can be provided to you.  
   • Once you place your ballot in the ballot box, you are finished voting and must leave the voting station.  You cannot be provided with another ballot.
3. You do NOT have to take all ballots offered.  When you provide the deputy returning officer with your identification and complete the statement form required, you will be asked which ballots you want.  You may choose specific ballots, or you may take all of them.  
   • Some people feel that they are making a statement in submitting an unmarked ballot, and that is their choice.  A blank ballot may be submitted to the ballot box, the same as any marked ballot, but the voter will not be entitled to a new ballot for that office or question once their blank one is submitted.  Be sure to double-check your ballots before you leave the voting compartment.
4. It is an offence to remove ANY ballot from the voting station, whether marked or not.  ALL ballots taken from the deputy must be returned to the deputy to be deposited in the ballot box or otherwise accounted for.  

The Town of Diamond Valley always provides at least one (1) advance voting opportunity, usually two (2).  Be sure to visit the Municipal Elections webpages to know when you will be able to cast your ballots.

Here in Diamond Valley, we count our ballots by hand, and that process can take several hours.  We ask our candidates, the media and the community to be patient while we count all those ballots - every one of them is important.  If it's taking us a long time, it means voters have done a great job of showing up to vote!

Depending on voter turnout, and assuming that no recounts are required on election night, results are usually available quite late in the evening.  Between 10:00 pm and 12 Midnight is the "normal" count completion time.  The Returning Officer will release the unofficial election results, using the Town's website and social media platforms, as soon as all ballot counts have been completed.

Election results become official at noon on the fourth day after the election.  

The majority of household waste is made up of recyclables and organics. Recycling and composting are important to reduce the impact on our environment and to extend the life of our landfill.

Green & blue carts have proven to be effective in diverting waste from the landfill. On a Town-wide basis, that would translate into thousands of tonnes of annual waste being turned into useful recycled materials & rich compost for farms instead of taking up valuable space in the landfill.

Waste diversion creates many advantages for the environment; that is why many municipalities in Alberta have or are implementing a green and blue cart program.

By using your blue and green carts, you can:

•    Reduce dependence on and extend the life of our landfill.

•    Reduce greenhouse gases, helping our environment now and for future generations.

•    Turn food and yard waste into useful compost.

Garbage pickup occurs every other week on Tuesdays  in the community of Turner Valley and Thursdays in Black Diamond.

Recycling and Organics (Compost) are picked up on Wednesdays in Turner Valley and Fridays in Black Diamond.

Compost is only picked up every two weeks throughout the winter.  

Some exceptions occur around statutory holidays.

Visit DiamondValley.Waste for details.  

View the Black Diamond pickup schedule calendar at DiamondValley.town/BDWaste

View the Turner Valley pickup schedule calendar at DiamondValley.town/TVWaste

Subscribe to receive notifications of upcoming pickup dates at DiamondValley.town/NotifyMe

Black garbage carts are collected every two weeks. 

Blue recycling carts are collected weekly year-round. 

Green organics carts are picked up:

• every week from April to the end of October,
• every two weeks from November to the end of March.

Some exceptions occur on statutory holidays.

View the schedules at 

DiamondValley.town/BDWaste
DiamondValley.town/TVWaste

Subscribe to calendar notifications at DiamondValley.town/NotifyMe

Carts must be placed in the pickup location on the designated day by 7a.m.  Carts not out by 7a.m. may not be picked up.

Carts may be set out any time after 6pm on the day before collection and should be brought in from the street by 10pm on collection day.

The green cart is collected weekly from April to October when the weather is warmer and there is also yard waste included in the cart.   

The green cart is collected bi-weekly from November to March throughout the winter season when it is colder outside and the carts will have little to no yard waste.

New Waste Services Rates in Effect May 1, 2025

On March 19, 2025, Council passed a revised Waste Management Bylaw 2024-41, which includes a slight increase to the rates for some waste services, effective May 1, 2025.

There is no opportunity to opt out of the municipal waste collection program.  These fees are automatically applied to the utility bills for all residences.

The route and cart placement for blue and green carts will be the same as for the black carts. 

Municipalities encourage residents living on a smaller street or cul-de-sac to not park on the street for collection day to allow room for the carts.  

Some households place their carts in their driveway strategically so that there is room for one car to pull in and out without having to move the carts.  Alternatively, some neighbours have worked together logistically to place their carts in areas with more space. 

No, additional bags beside your cart will not be collected. 

If your cart is damaged or missing, please fill out the online Report a Missed/Damaged Cart form. Please allow a maximum of five business days to complete your request. 

If you have any questions please contact Waste Services at waste@okotoks.ca or 403-938-8054. 

If your cart was missed, please fill out the online Report a Missed/Damaged Cart form.

If you have any questions please contact Waste Services at waste@okotoks.ca or 403-938-8054. 

No, cart sizes are set and cannot be changed.

Waste collection occurs as usual on most stat holidays. The only exceptions are New Year’s Day (January 1), Remembrance Day (November 11), and Christmas Day (December 25).  If collection is scheduled for one of these days, communications will be issued on our website and social media channels regarding the alternate pickup schedule.

If carts are not placed out on the correct day around the stat holiday, households will need to wait until their next scheduled collection day for pick up.

A brochure listing what items are accepted in each cart has been provided to each household and can also be found on the Town website. 

What goes inside your black garbage cart?

What goes inside your green organics cart?

What goes inside your blue recycle cart?

Due to the equipment used at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), glass and soft plastics such as plastic bags and cling wrap will not be accepted in the municipal program.

T&T Disposal Services is responsible for picking up the blue and green bin materials. Material from the blue bin is taken to Capital Paper Recycling, and material from the green bin is taken to GFL.

Green cart (Organics)

Contents can be placed loose inside the cart without using a bag or liner. A paper bag or compostable bag designed for municipal organics collection programs is optional.

Animal waste and bedding are the exceptions: they must be placed in a paper/compostable bag inside the green cart. 

Blue cart (recyclables)

Do NOT use a bag or liner. Contents must be loose, not bagged or bundled.

The following item is an exception:

The material needs to be loose to be sorted by the machines. For the safety of workers, tied bags are assumed to be garbage and are never opened.

When you're buying compostable bags, look for the certified compostable logos on the box. 

Some examples of retailers who would have certified compostable bags would be grocery stores, hardware stores, drugstores, and pet stores.

Over half of household garbage is actually food and yard waste. 

In the landfill, organics do not break down like they do in nature, because the oxygen requirements are not met. This process can take decades. As it slowly breaks down, the food and yard materials release methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

The green cart accepts a wider range of food and yard waste - materials such as meat, bones, fish, shellfish, dairy products, pasta, breads, branches and weeds.

All of the material collected from the green carts is brought to a private composting facility and could be sold to a bagging operation and then sold in local stores. 

Tips on reducing smell from your compost / green bin:

• Keep the lid of the kitchen pail and green cart closed.
• Empty your kitchen pail into your green cart every 2-3 days.
• Consider freezing meat and fish waste until collection day - especially during warm weather.
• Sprinkle a small amount of vinegar or baking soda in your kitchen pail and green cart to minimize odour.

Lining your kitchen catcher with newspaper or a compostable bag and emptying it frequently into your green cart will reduce pests and odours.  

Keep in mind that the organic material now placed in the green cart was previously being placed in your garbage bin, so there should be no additional attraction of pests or creation of odours. 

Rinse your kitchen pail with hot water or place inside your dishwasher after emptying it into the green bin.

Rinse your cart and pour the dirty water onto grass/gravel, not down the storm drain.

Use a compostable bag, paper bag or newspaper liner in your kitchen pail and green cart.

Layer your green cart to keep material from sticking. Place crumpled newspaper on the bottom of your cart and alternate layers of kitchen waste/grass clippings with soiled newspaper or leaves.

Yes, our program accepts pet waste and kitty litter in the green cart. 

Animal waste must be in a paper bag or certified compostable bag before placing it in the green cart.

Please do not use plastic or biodegradable bags because these bags do not break down during the composting process and will reduce the quality of the finished compost.

During the composting process, the material is heated to temperatures at which any harmful bacteria is killed. Strict testing is conducted to ensure the compost is safe to use.

If you have more yard waste than will fit in the cart, leave the extra for the following week. Only material in the green cart will be collected. 

Leaves and yard waste ONLY can always be taken to the Transfer site, located at 168 St. W & 402 Ave (north of former Black Diamond) or the regional Landfill.

The maximum length and size of branches allowed is:

Length: 1m or 3ft.

Diameter: 7cm or 2.8 in.

No, construction, renovation or demolition materials are NOT collected at the curb and must be taken the Landfill for disposal.

Popsicle sticks, chopsticks, waxed paper and parchment paper are compostable and are allowed in the green carts.

Remove food residue (which may be placed in the green cart) and recycle pizza boxes in the blue cart. 

Grease and oils are allowed in the green cart. Once they have cooled down, pour directly into the lined kitchen pail or freeze and place in the pail or cart.

• Garbage - 240L (Toter) – 12.5kg
• Recycling - 240L (older style IPL) – 15.5kg (Turner Valley residences)
• Recycling - 240L (new style IPL) – 14 kg (Black Diamond residences and all replacements)
• Organics - 120L (Toter) 9 kg

The Recycling Centre in Turner Valley closed as of June 25, 2022.

Under the proposed definition, a Recreational Vehicle (RV) is defined as:

“Any vehicle, conveyance, or other type of unit or trailer, whether motorized, towed, self-propelled, or otherwise transportable and used for recreational, utility, or similar purposes, and includes, but is not limited to, motor homes (Class A, B, or C), travel trailers, truck campers, off-highway vehicles, boats and other watercraft, and all trailers used to carry or transport any such item.”

Black Diamond - Traffic Bylaw 2021-09 - Section 5

Turner Valley - Property Responsibility Bylaw 20-1107 - Section 3.2 and Appendix A (Penalties)

Turner Valley Traffic & Parking Control Bylaw 20-1106 - Section 16, Section 17

In the (former) Town of Turner Valley:

- Recreational Vehicles are permitted to be parked on private property on a driveway constructed of either crushed gravel, cement, concrete, pavement, aggregate, on any other materials unless otherwise approved by the CAO or pursuant to a valid permit issued by the Town. Bylaw 20-1107 Section 3.2

- Recreational Vehicles are permitted to be parked on the street immediately adjacent to their own place of residence for up to 48 hours. Bylaw 20-1106 Section 17.1, 17.2

- Recreational vehicles may not be pared on the street in Town between November 1 and May 1 each year unless they are in the immediate process of loading or unloading. Bylaw 20-1106 Section 17.3

In the (former) Town of Black Diamond

- Recreational Vehicles may be parked in the front yard from April 1 to Oct 31 on a private front driveway, a maximum of two units allowed, all portions of unit are set back a minimum of 1m from sidewalk, or 1.5m from curb if there is no sidewalk. Bylaw 21-10 Section 5.0 (Amending Bylaw 21-06 Section 8.10.1(e)(i)(a,b,c)) 

- Recreational Vehicles shall not be occupied for more than 15 days in a year for more than 3 consecutive days at a time. Bylaw 21-10 Section 5.0 (Amending Bylaw 21-06 Section 8.10.1(e)(i)(d))

- Up to two Recreational Vehicles may be parked in the rear or side-lot year round. Bylaw 21-10 Section 6.0 (Amending Bylaw 21-06 Section 8.10.1(e))

- In R-1, R-1A, R-1C and R-2 Districts, one off-street parking pad may be permitted per parcel in the front setback to a maximum width of 9.15m (30ft) and the pad shall be constructed of materials suitable to support vehicle traffic such as gravel, concrete or asphalt. Bylaw 21-10 Section 7.0 (Amending Bylaw 21-06 Section 8.14.5(f))

- Parking of Recreational Vehicles will be prohibited in front yards and on the streets, except for a 24-hour period for trip or RV storage preparation. Bylaw 21-10 Section 8.0 (Amending Bylaw 21-06 Section 10.5.5)

- Recreational Vehicles must not be parked on Town streets between November 1 - April 1 unless they are in the immediate process of loading or unloading. Bylaw 2021-09 Section 5.17

- No Recreational Vehicle may be detached from the vehicle by which it may be propelled or drawn while parked upon a street in town. Bylaw 2021-09 Section 5.18

- Recreational Vehicles shall not be parked on a roadway for more than 48 consecutive hours. Bylaw 2021-09 Section 5.19

- Recreational Vehicles shall not be used as a residence or temporary residence while parked on a street within Town. Bylaw 2021-09 Section 5.20

- Vehicles may not be parked in alleyways except while actively loading or unloading goods or passengers from the vehicle. Bylaw 2021-09 Section 5.21

The existing rules were intended to mitigate the potential impacts of RV parking on properties and neighborhoods.

A limited term for front area parking allows for reasonable use and limits the negative impact of RVs’ weight, length and height. Negative impacts can be split into two main categories:

• Visibility/safety: RVs can block the view along a street and affect visibility and safety for pedestrians, bikers, drivers and anyone else using the street. Corner visibility can also be affected.
• Aesthetics: large (or multiple) RVs on a property can be out of character and scale for a neighbourhood and have a negative impact on how the community looks.

The following are known impacts from allowing RV parking on residential front driveways and parking stalls:

• obstructed sightlines
• safety
• esthetics

Known benefits:

• convenience
• cost-effectiveness
• sense of security

Seasonal parking is a way for some large municipalities to support owners and residents of a community, with the condition that the RV is not unsightly (i.e. poor condition), encroaching on Town property, and is meeting other bylaw requirements.

Rates are increasing to reflect a full cost recovery utility rate model, redistributing the responsibility from the taxpayer to the user.  This allows for a user-pay system and ensures the long-term sustainability of our water and wastewater systems.

Fixed fees will ultimately be directed toward infrastructure investment such as line and facility upgrades and replacement, which is a long-term and ongoing expense category.

Consumption fees are generally directed toward the ongoing costs of operating the water and wastewater systems.

The proposed rates for 2025 were determined based on a full cost recovery methodology.  This means that all the costs involved in operating the water system are included and charged to users of the system.  Currently, the overrun in costs is applied to property taxation and/or taken from stabilization reserves.  Under full cost recovery, all costs are charged to the consumers of the utilities.

Consumption Rates are calculated as follows:

Water Consumption Rate per m³ = SRRUC Requisition + Line Costs + Contracted Services
                                                                 12-month Total Water Billed by Town m³ 

 Wastewater Consumption Rate per m³ = WRSSC Requisition + Line Costs + Contracted Services
                                                                             12-month Total Water Billed by Town m³ 

The impact varies based on your previous rates, as outlined in our rate comparison tables.   

The proposed changes will see rates aligned between the two former towns in 2024.  

In 2025, the rates for consumption charges will increase based on full cost recovery for the services.

In subsequent years, rates will be reviewed annually to ensure they keep pace with operational costs and infrastructure replacement needs.

Following a full cost recovery model means that all the costs involved in operating the water system are included and charged to users of the system based on their consumption. This model allows for accurate budgeting and ensures utilities costs remain separate from taxation.

A single (non-tiered) consumption rate simplifies the rate structure and ensures fairness without penalizing any particular group, such as large households. Billing is based on actual usage, and the rate is equal for all users.

Fixed rates are based on meter size, which appropriately charges the users that put the most demand on our water and wastewater systems. Many commercial / institutional users will pay higher fixed rates. Consumption rates are the same for every user.  Please see the rate and billing comparison charts for non-residential users below:

Residential single-family homes have 5/8” meters and are charged at the lowest fixed rate.  For non-residential properties, please contact the utilities department.

Sheep River Regional Utility Corporation (SRRUC) is a partnership between the Town of Diamond Valley, the M.D. of Foothills and the Village of Longview. SRRUC has been operating since 2016 and was created to replace the Quad Regional Water Partnership (QRWP). The municipally-owned utility corporation operates the supply, treatment, and transmission of wholesale potable water to its customers - member municipalities.

For more information related to SRRUC, please visit srruc.ca.

The Westend Regional Sewage Services Commission (WRRSC) was established in 1994 by Regulation of the Government of Alberta to operate the wastewater treatment facilities for the Towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley..

WRSSC is composed of three (3) members of Council from the Town of Diamond Valley and two (2) members at large.

The Westend facilities are composed of the Turner Valley lift station, equipment in the Black Diamond lift station, the sewage lagoons, the blower building, the transfer station and the approximately 180 acres of property on which they sit in Black Diamond.

The Commission is funded through requisitions to the Town of Diamond Valley. The Commission's expenses include utility costs, operator costs, maintenance and repair costs, administrative costs and reserves. 

The Commission contracts the operation of its facilities through the Diamond Valley Public Works department, and administration services through the Town of Diamond Valley. 

• General information 
  • WRSSC was initially formed as a commission to provide wastewater treatment to the Towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley.
  • WRSSC is funded solely by annual requisitions to the Town of Diamond Valley.
  • Existing lagoon system consists of a series of aerated and non-aerated lagoons which operate under an EPEA (Environmental and Protection Enhancement Act) Approval regulated by AEPA (Alberta Environment and Protected Areas).  The effluent from the lagoon system discharges to the Sheep River on a continuous basis.

• Proposed Upgrades
  • Upgrades are proposed to:
    • Meet new stringent regulatory requirements for effluent release into the Sheep River.  Parameters to be monitored include BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand), TSS (Total Suspended Solids), Phosphorus, Ammonia and Coliforms (Total and Faecal).  
    • Expand to support future growth of the Community. 
• System Improvements
  • Components to be added:
    • SAGR system for Ammonia-Nitrogen
    • Chemical injection and disk filter system for Phosphorus
    • UV system for Coliforms
    • River diffuser
  • Upgrade to the Transfer Lift Station
  • Replacement of the existing aged aeration equipment
  • Addition of backup power (generator)
  • Associated Piping, Electrical, HVAC and controls 
• Timeline
  • On-going - Procurement of Components
  • Mar-Nov 2024 – Anticipated Construction
    • Mar/Apr 2024 – Contractor to Mobilize to Site (weather dependant)
    • Aug/Sept 2024 – River Work
    • Fall 2024 – Commissioning
    • Spring 2025 – Final Clean-up as required

• Funding Model – based on estimates until project completion
  • Provincial AMWWP (Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership) (33.3% - $5.78M)
  • Federal ICIP (Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program) (40% - $6.94M) 
  • WRSSC (remainder of the project costs, from reserves and debentures, unless further grant applications are successful)
  • Project originally estimated at $17.34M

The objective is to provide a basis for distribution, or allocation, of taxes required to operate the Town and pay the Province for education funding requirements. The purpose is not to reflect one sale price, but to assess all similar properties at a similar value so that taxation is fairly and uniformly distributed among all taxable properties.  

Property assessment is based on a market value standard estimated as of July 1 of the previous year, as measured by the real estate marketplace according to property sales in the area.  Most commonly this value is determined through a comparison of similar properties.

Assessment applies similar criteria that real estate appraisers use when valuing properties for mortgage lending purposes and pricing properties for sale. Data considered includes:

• Style (bungalow, two story, bi-level, etc.)
• Lot characteristics
• Size 
• Building 
• Age 
• Garage
• Amenities  

Factors that may affect residential market value include the total finished living area, quality of structure, age of structure, level of modernization, building type (i.e. duplex, etc.), structure type (i.e. bungalow, two-storey, etc.), unit type in condominiums, type and size of garage, lot size and zoning, lot topography and access, views from the property and location of the property to traffic, greenspaces, community services, commercial properties, multi-family properties, waterways, schools, trains, transmission lines and communication towers.

Assessed market value is calculated by incorporating legislative provisions that utilize mass appraisal principles. Mass appraisal is the process of valuing groups of properties. Market value standards mean the median assessment in each group is based on the median purchase price.

The market value standard is a legislated and regulated valuation standard based on the premise that the amount of tax a property can pay is directly proportionate to the value it is worth. Market value standard generates values that can be objectively and readily compared for fairness to open market sales activity.  

This is a provincial statutory requirement that allows all assessors to annually analyze and evaluate market and sales data and prepare values prior to mailing assessment notices. All properties are assessed with the same effective date, so all assessments are updated at the same time.

The assessment roll is available for anyone's review and values are posted on the Town website. The assessment roll is submitted every year to the Province for independent review and audit. Owners can see and compare assessments and have the right of appeal.  Property characteristics are compared against other properties that have sold in order to calculate a value. Characteristics such as location, age, size, and others are considered.

To quickly reflect shifting values relative to the norm, or each other. To ensure no given property type or area is penalized with assessments too high when its value may have dropped, or not have increased to the extent of other properties. Property tax levies are always adjusted to municipal revenue requirements.

The intent of reassessing properties is to retain the competitive placement of each property in the community hierarchy.  Reassessment reflects differing value change rates and ensures all properties are retaining their fair respective slice of the entire Town assessment pie.  

Assessed values should not be viewed as an absolute number. Real estate valuation is based on market observations and comparisons. The market is an imperfect environment and not a controlled structured setting.  

There is a range in price purchasers will offer and a range that sellers will accept.  So there is a transaction zone for every property transaction. Differing property types will have varying tolerances to an actual deal. In addition to ranges inherent to individual deals, assessed values are generated on a mass basis which indicates precision to assessed values is less than 100%.

Provincial Audit standards require that the Average Assessment within a competitive group is to be within 5% either higher or lower than the average sale price within that group, and the range within a set of comparable sale properties can well exceed 10%. Generally Assessment Complaint tribunals will not consider adjusting an assessment where the request is for anything less than 5%.
 The resulting tax effect on assessment differences is minor as tax rates are very low relative to value.

Sizes come from original building construction plans and are reviewed or updated with periodic update inspections.

Lot sizes come from plans of subdivisions registered at the Land Titles Registry.

Assessed values are determined based on comparisons made of each property’s characteristics to similar properties which have sold.

Approximately 2,900 properties are assessed each year in Diamond Valley.

Assessment is based on typical market value, so any significant changes such as additions or garages that influence value will affect assessment. 

No it doesn't, and this is why:

• The ratio of tax to value is extremely low
• Many improvements will not increase the assessed value. 
• It takes a great deal of capital expenditure to increase an assessed value. 
• The improvements must be significant such as adding space or increasing the building class to increase an assessed value. 
• The cost of making improvements to existing buildings will not add proportionately dollar for dollar to assessment value, as the assessment is based on comparisons of sale prices of similar property. 

Your assessment notice is provided in March to give you time to review your property’s assessed value and contact the Town of Diamond Valley if you have concerns about the assessment before property taxes are determined. Since you are not able to dispute your property tax bill, you must address any concerns with your assessment notice before the assessment complaint deadline closes (June 2 in 2025).

Some assessments will be higher and some will be lower, but on average the median assessment is expected to be on the median sale price of similar properties. A lower purchase price at time of the effective date of the assessment may indicate a good buy when compared to its competitive group. 

Assessment values incorporate mass appraisal methodologies, which use a common valuation approach and data to develop typical valuations. Similar properties will have a range in prices.  Sale prices may be at the upper or lower end of the range. A property’s sale price can occur outside the range, but the assessment can still meet legislated standards.

Check the purpose and function of the report, the effective date of the valuation, interest valued, and limiting conditions regarding use of the report. If those match assessment parameters, with an effective date close to July 1, then it would be appropriate to send a copy of that report to the assessors for discussion.  

Although realtors have access to good sales data through the multiple listing services (MLS), there are a significant number of properties that do not sell through the MLS system and are included in the assessment analysis. 

 Keep in mind that real estate agents are professional facilitators with vested interests in the wellbeing of their clients. Their role is to represent their clients in purchase and sale agreements to the best of their ability. They are not bound by any assessment standards or appraiser objectivity, responsibilities, tests, or reporting requirements. If you need more information, please refer to the Alberta Real Estate Act.

Updated property sale data indicates that market participants are now prepared to pay proportionately more for your property type and/or location compared to others.  

There are a number of factors that go into determining assessed values.  A variety of changes including extensive renovations, basement development, garages, additions, fireplaces, etc. can alter assessed value. 

The assessed value is determined through an analysis of properties that have sold. Different neighborhoods or dwelling types may appreciate or depreciate in value at different rates year to year. 

There are a number of factors that can affect the value of property. Consider the following factors when comparing the value of two neighbouring properties:

• Are both properties similar in type (two story vs bungalow vs. split level)? 
• Are they the same size? 
• Are the lot sizes similar? 
• Are there location or amenity differences? 
• Are they similar in age and condition? 
• Have there been additions, renovations? 
• Do both properties have garages or basement development? 
• Does the neighbor border main traffic corridor? 
• Renovations and quality of interior and exterior finishes

Yes, Section 294 of the Municipal Government Act indicates that assessors have the right to enter and inspect property for the purpose of preparing an assessment after providing notice (assessors will have Town identification).  Properties are inspected on five year cycles.

Assessors collect data from inspections, plants, permits, property owners, land titles office, listing services, etc. in preparing assessments. 

If residents are not home and more information is required, a call-back card may be left to make an appointment. Assessors will continue property inspections throughout the year. For more information, contact an Assessor using the contact information at the bottom of the webpage.

If you have concerns about the information in your assessment notice, you should contact the assessor. If after having a discussion with the assessor, you are still of the opinion that your assessment is incorrect, you have the option to file a written complaint with the Town of Diamond Valley's assessment review board as long as it is filed within the defined complaint period. Instructions can be found on your assessment notice.

You are entitled to request a summary of information on how your property was assessed and about properties that are similar to yours. Instructions on how to contact the assessor for that information can be found on your assessment notice.

No. An increase in assessed value does not directly equate to a tax increase. 

• Tax might increase, but it is not because of increased assessment.
• Assessment does not determine tax rates. Only Town Council has authority to levy municipal tax.
• Property taxes are dependent on, and are a function of, Town Operating budgets and Provincial request for education funding.
• Taxes will increase because of increased Town operating budget and/or increased requisitions from the Province for education funding.
• The assessed value only allocates each property's proportionate share slice of the total tax pie.

All dogs within the town must be licensed annually.

Temporary dog licences are available for periods of animal care last less than 30 days at a time, and may be renewed on a maximum of two occasions per resident per calendar year.

Dog Licence Application or Change of Information Form

It is encouraged that dogs wear the tags at all times in case they get out of your site. This allows the ME officer to contact you immediately if your dog is found. If the ME officer is unable to contact  you, an additional fee for your pets stay with a local vet will be charged.

Please ensure that you update your information with the Town if you move or change phone numbers.

Yes, even good dogs need to be leashed while on public property.

There are designated off-leash dog parks within Town limits that do not require your dog to be leashed, once they have entered the designated area. 

A maximum of four (4) dogs over the age of 6 months are allowed on a property in town.

Owners are responsible for cleaning up their dog's waste on public and private property to prevent odours that could affect neighbouring properties. 

Waste disposal bags can be found on pathway garbage bins around town to help in the disposal on public property.

Yes. Backyard Hens are allowed in Diamond Valley for participants of the Backyard Hens Program.

Backyard Hen licences must be renewed annually with the Town.

Roosters are not permitted to be kept in Town.

Livestock is not allowed in town unless authorized by permit.