Managing development

Over many decades, Canadians have consistently affirmed the importance of limiting development in national parks.

This value is reflected in Parks Canada policy and legislation with established limits on the amount of development that can occur within Jasper National Park.

There are various kinds of development in Jasper National Park, from the homes and businesses in the Jasper townsite to the roads, trails, and campsites that help visitors and Jasper residents enjoy the park.

When thoughtfully planned, development can help visitors connect to and learn about the park and minimize the ecological degradation that can come with high human use.

The community of Jasper

The community of Jasper is home to approximately 5,000 year-round residents, welcoming over 2 million visitors each year. Its vision – as developed by Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper following public consultation – is to be a small, friendly and sustainable community set in the natural splendour of Jasper National Park.

The Canada National Parks Act sets out three key provisions for the community’s development:

1. The townsite boundary is fixed;
2. The amount of commercial floor area that can be developed in the Jasper townsite is capped at 118, 222 m²; and
3. The land zoned for commercial development is designated.

These provisions are in place to uphold the community’s small-town character and limit the impact of development on the surrounding park, in response to the consistent preferences expressed by residents and visitors.

Town boundary

The townsite boundary was established in 2001, following four years of consultation.

The boundary included the developed footprint of the town at the time and additional suitable lands to facilitate future residential development. The lands surrounding the townsite boundary are difficult to service, or are rocky, steep terrain that is difficult to build on.

Within the townsite boundary, there is potential for taller buildings, increased housing through densification, development of vacant lots, and infill projects. This flexibility enables the town to adapt to evolving community needs over time.

The townsite boundary supports sustainable financial future for the Municipality of Jasper by avoiding the high infrastructure and maintenance costs, as well as the additional underground services (water, sewer, electrical, natural gas) and roadways, that building outside the boundary would require.

Commercial floor area

Commercial floor area is the space within a building that is used for commercial purposes, like hotels, restaurants, or shops. It does not include staff housing or parking areas.

The amount of commercial floor area that can be developed in Jasper is limited in legislation to 118, 222 m². This limit was established in 2004 in response to concerns about excessive development in national parks. It also helps preserve land within the townsite for housing and other community needs.

The Canada National Parks Act also sets out which lots can be used commercially in Jasper.

Each year since the introduction of the commercial floor area limit, Parks Canada has advertised any remaining area, and encouraged businesses seeking to increase their area to apply for the space through an annual allocation process outlined in the community plan.

As businesses evolve and redevelop, they may build back smaller or convert commercial space to residential uses. Any commercial floor space lost through redevelopment will be returned to the available pool for new commercial development and redevelopment. There is currently no commercial floor area remaining to be allocated.

A 2025 Commercial Floor Area Allocation process will only proceed if commercial floor space is returned to the pool. Any future commercial floor space that becomes available will be advertised in July of each year through advertisements in local publications and posting on the Jasper National Park Public Notices webpage.

Declared wilderness

Large tracts of protected wilderness are becoming a scarce and valuable resource in Canada and around the world. They are critical for animal species with large home ranges and for migrating wildlife.

As such, 97% of Jasper National Park has been legally designated as wilderness.

Only limited development required for park administration, public safety and provision of basic visitor facilities—like trails, backcountry campgrounds, alpine huts, trail shelters and patrol cabins—is allowed in declared wilderness areas in Jasper.

This helps protect and preserve the mountain landscapes that make Jasper special, for wildlife, residents, and visitors alike. For more information, please refer to Section 8 of the 2022 Jasper National Park Management Plan.