Casual legal: JUPA deadline is June 10, 2026
DISCLAIMER: This article is meant to provide information only and is not intended to provide legal advice. You should seek the advice of legal counsel to address your specific set of circumstances. Although every effort has been made to provide current and accurate information, changes to the law may cause the information in this article to be outdated.
By Jack Sorokin
Reynolds Mirth Richards Farmer LLP
Alberta Municipalities Casual Legal Service Provider
Under the Municipal Government Act (Alberta) (the “MGA”), municipalities and school boards are required to establish joint use and planning agreements (a “JUPA”) by June 10, 2026. Pursuant to Section 670.1(1) of the MGA, the JUPA must contain provisions (a) respecting how the municipality and the school board will work collaboratively, (b) establishing a process for resolving disputes, (c) establishing a time frame for regular review of the agreement, and (d) discussing matters relating to: (i) the planning, development and use of school sites on municipal reserves, school reserves and municipal and school reserves in the municipality, (ii) transfers under section 672 or 673 of municipal reserves, school reserves and municipal and school reserves in the municipality, (iii) disposal of school sites, (iv) the servicing of school sites on municipal reserves, school reserves and municipal and school reserves in the municipality, and (v) the use of school facilities, municipal facilities and playing fields on municipal reserves, school reserves and municipal and school reserves in the municipality, including matters relating to the maintenance of the facilities and fields and the payment of fees and other liabilities associated with them.
The school sites and municipal facilities that must be addressed by the JUPA are “municipal reserves, school reserves, and municipal and school reserves”, as designated by the municipality or the school board under Division 8 of the MGA. If schools are not located on lands designated as a municipal reserve, school reserve, or municipal and school reserve, these schools do not need to be addressed by the JUPA.
Under the Joint Use and Planning Agreements Regulation (Alberta) (the “Regulation”), a municipality is exempt from entering into an agreement with a school board if the school board does not own or occupy a school building within the municipality’s boundaries, unless an approved new school project is being undertaken by or on behalf of the school board within the municipality. Both “school building” and “approved new school project” are defined in the Regulation.
To access Alberta Municipalities Casual Legal Helpline, Alberta Municipalities members can call toll-free to 1.800.661.7673 or email casuallegal [at] abmunis.ca (casuallegal[at]abmunis[dot]ca) and reach the municipal legal experts at Reynolds Mirth Richards and Farmer LLP. For more information on the Casual Legal Service, please contact riskcontrol [at] abmunis.ca (riskcontrol[at]abmunis[dot]ca), or call 310.MUNI (6864) to speak to Alberta Municipalities Risk Management staff. Any Regular or Associate member of Alberta Municipalities can access the Casual Legal Service.
