It is necessary that buildings, structures, and in some cases vegetation maintain a minimum setback from County roads and Alberta highways. The purpose of the setback requirement is to ensure good sight lines, create a 'clear zone' adjacent to the road for safety reasons, avoid prevailing shadows on the road that may cause slippery road conditions in the winter, and
allow space for possible future road widening and intersection improvements. The
minimum setback distances vary between types of road and types of development. Alberta Transportation has their own setback distances from highways.
