Municipal Training Solutions

The Alberta Development Compliance Officer (DCO) Course is designed for individuals working in, or preparing to work in, the municipal planning and development field in Alberta. Specifically, it is intended for:

Primary Audience

• Development Compliance Officers (DCOs): Those tasked with monitoring land use, enforcing municipal bylaws, and ensuring compliance with development permits.
• Municipal Staff in Planning & Development Departments: Including Development Officers, Planners, and other staff supporting compliance activities.
• Enforcement and Regulatory Staff: Such as Municipal Bylaw Officers, Peace Officers, Inspectors, and staff who collaborate on development-related enforcement.

Secondary Audience

• Municipal Administrators and Managers: To better understand compliance processes and oversight responsibilities.
• Council Members and Policy Advisors: To gain insight into how compliance is enforced within their municipality.
• Industry Professionals: Developers, contractors, and consultants who want a working knowledge of municipal compliance expectations.

Why This Course Matters

An effective DCO approaches every complaint with professionalism and preparation. That’s why this course includes:

• Investigative techniques to help you gather facts.
• Legal processes to ensure your actions are fair and defensible.
• Guidance on working with external agencies to build collaboration.
• Clear explanations of Alberta’s Municipal Government Act and local Land Use Bylaws, which form the foundation of your authority.

The Role of Respect and Understanding

Enforcement can be costly for municipalities and stressful for property owners. An effective DCO minimizes conflict and expense by:

• Encouraging voluntary compliance whenever possible.
• Explaining issues clearly and respectfully.
• Building trust through consistent, calm, and professional communication.
• Respect and understanding are your strongest tools. When people feel heard and respected, cooperation is far more likely to follow.

The Alberta Alberta Development Compliance Officer (DCO) Course is a professional training program developed by Municipal Training Solutions (MTS) in collaboration with municipal experts and in alignment with Alberta’s Municipal Government Act (MGA) and municipal land use bylaw practices.

At present, it is not a provincially legislated certification nor a post-secondary accredited credential. Instead, it provides a specialized professional designation recognized within the municipal sector. Graduates who successfully complete the course receive a Certificate of Completion, issued by Municipal Training Solutions, which can be presented to employers as evidence of formal training.

While the DCO Course is not currently accredited by a university or college, it has been carefully designed to meet the practical and legislative needs of Alberta municipalities. Many local governments may choose to adopt it as a preferred or required qualification for Development Compliance Officer roles, as this in-depth course curriculum is not currently offered anywhere else in Canada.

The Alberta DCO Course is delivered in a flexible blended format to meet the needs of municipal staff and professionals across Alberta:

Online Learning:

Core modules are offered through a secure online training platform, allowing participants to access content anytime and anywhere. The program is largely self-paced, meaning students can progress at their own speed while balancing work and personal commitments.

Participant Requirement:

Each participant is required to have access to a computer equipped with the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), as well as Microsoft Teams with webcam and audio equipment capabilities with a reliable internet connection. These tools are essential for engaging in online instructor support sessions, participating in discussions, and successfully completing the requirements of the DCO Course.

Additional Notes:

• Mobile Devices and Tablets: May be used for viewing course materials; however, they are not recommended for completing assignments or participating in instructor-led sessions.
• Web Browser: Participants should use an updated browser such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox to ensure compatibility.
• Responsibility: Participants are responsible for ensuring that their equipment and internet connection meet the above requirements prior to the course commencement.

Instructor Support:

While the course is self-paced, participants benefit from structured instructor support. Each level includes up to 30 hours of scheduled online guidance, supplemented by case study discussions and Q&A opportunities. This ensures learners can reinforce key concepts, gain practical insights, and clarify questions as they progress through each section.

Practical Assignments:

Each level of the Alberta Development Compliance Officer Course includes quizzes at the end of each section, practical case scenarios, and a 50-question open-book exam designed to apply knowledge in real-world compliance contexts. Participants must achieve a minimum passing grade of 70% in order to progress to the next level. In addition, Level 3 includes a comprehensive practical assignment, which accounts for 50% of the overall grade for that level.

How You’ll Learn:

The ABDCO program is delivered in three progressive levels, each consisting of 30 sections supported by information papers, videos, PowerPoint presentations, and 30 hours of online training:

Level 1 – Basics:

Introduces the Municipal Government Act, bylaw interpretation (with emphasis on the Land Use Bylaw), Designated vs. Delegated Authority, and professional ethics. Core skills include safety awareness, hazard assessments, terminology, report writing, and burden of proof. Practical training covers site inspections, accurate notetaking, managing public interactions, drafting Warning Letters, and issuing Stop Orders.

Level 2 – Intermediate:

Expands judgment and technical skills, covering confidentiality, bylaw administration, Microsoft Copilot, evidence collection, SOP development, and complaint cost assessment. Participants learn conflict styles, resolution strategies, and inspection conflict management. Modules include the SDAB process, land title interpretation, Orders to Remedy, affidavits, commissioning, work-alone procedures, cautionary properties, body camera use, and a review of field equipment kits.

Level 3 – Advanced:

The course program challenges participants to process a complaint from receipt through to a Court of King’s Bench injunction. Advanced content includes the Environmental Protection Act, forbearance and encroachment agreements, advanced registry searches, council policies, environmental inspections, landscaping plan interpretation, compliance certificates, MGA Section 553 cost recovery, and council briefings. Additional modules address Safety Codes processes, court injunctions, drone applications, commissioner duties, salary comparisons, and equipment SOPs. Each level concludes with a 50-question open-book exam, requiring a minimum score of 70% to progress. Level 3 also includes a course assignment, and successful graduates will be awarded the Development Compliance Officer Certificate.

The Municipal Resources Subscription is an upcoming feature designed to go beyond what is publicly available on individual municipal websites. While bylaws and policies can often be accessed separately through municipal portals, this subscription service will centralize and connect bylaws from municipalities across Alberta into a single, user-friendly platform.

Key differences include:

• Centralized Access: Instead of searching multiple municipal websites, subscribers will have one streamlined database to quickly locate and compare bylaws.
• Consistency: Documents will be organized in a standardized format, making it easier to navigate across different jurisdictions.
• Efficiency: Time spent tracking down and cross-referencing regulations will be significantly reduced, allowing Development Compliance Officers and municipal staff to focus on enforcement and decision-making.
• Professional Tool: Unlike public access, this subscription is specifically designed for municipal professionals who require efficient, accurate, and consistent access to bylaw information.

In short, the subscription transforms scattered, publicly available bylaws into a powerful centralized resource that saves time, improves consistency, and supports municipal compliance work.

Alberta Development Compliance Officer (DCO) Course:
The training is offered in three progressive levels. The cost is $900.00 plus GST per level, payable upon registration.

Municipal Resources Subscription:
Pricing for the subscription service will be announced shortly. This upcoming tool will provide centralized access to municipal bylaws across Alberta for ease of use.