Planning and Development
Hay River is Development Focused
This is your home for all information you may need to develop or build a home or business. There are many great new opportunities from the new Residential Housing Development Grant, Fraser Place Lots to the Expression of Interest for developers for the Aspen Heights development.
If you wish to build in Hay River, Information, Application Forms and Inspection Standards are available right here.
The properties that the Town of Hay River has available can be accessed in the Land Inventory Section.
Lastly, all the statutory and planning documents or maps are in the Planning Library.
If you are interested in further information contact the Town of Hay River at 867-874-6522 or townhall@hayriver.com
Zoning and Building Bylaw
In June 2025, Town Council approved changes to the Zoning and Building Bylaw to support diverse housing development, address affordability, and enable more flexible land use in Hay River. These updates align with the Town’s Strategic Housing Plan and the CMHC’s Housing Accelerator Fund.
Key updates include:
- New standards and locations for temporary work camps
- Broadened zoning for transitional housing, emergency shelters, and on-the-land wellness centres
- Increased flexibility for multi-unit housing and modular construction
- Removal of minimum dwelling sizes in residential zones
- More relaxed requirements for parking with garden and living suites
- Updates to animal regulations for community gardens
Accessory Dwelling Units Information
• Creating affordable rental units
• Helping to offset mortgage costs for homeowners
• Allowing for multi-generational housing options
CMHC Housing Design Catalogue
The Town of Hay River, in partnership with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), is pleased to make available the Housing Design Catalogue – a free catalogue of pre-reviewed housing designs, suitable for northern climates.
These designs have been reviewed for compliance with the Town’s regulations. The pubic is encouraged to make use of these designs to reduce upfront costs of housing construction, simplify the permitting process and support efficient housing construction compliant with National Building Code.
This initiative is part of the Town’s commitment to make residential housing more accessible. The designs include both municipal and trucked service options for accessory dwelling units and multi-family housing.
Hay River Land Development Guide
Download the 2023 Strategic Housing Plan