The Development Appeal Board hears appeals of Development Officer decisions and renders decisions based on the evidence presented. The Board acts as a quasi-judicial tribunal in accordance with established procedures, and its mandate comes from the Community Planning and Development Act of the Northwest Territories and the City of Yellowknife’s Zoning By-law.

Yellowknife City Council appoints members of the public to the Board. The Board consists of a Chairperson, a member of City Council and at least two members from the general public. Currently, there are seven members, of whom three must be in attendance to hold a hearing. The City Clerk acts as the Secretary to the Board.

The Board may confirm, reverse or vary a decision that is appealed, and may impose conditions that it considers appropriate in the circumstances.

The Board has 60 days from the date the appeal hearing concludes in which to render its decision in writing. The decision of the Board is final and binding on all parties and is not subject to further appeal.

The Appeal Hearing must commence within 30 days after the notice of appeal is received and shall be completed as soon as it is reasonable.

Who Can Appeal

If your development permit is refused, you may appeal the refusal to the Board. However, conditions required by the Zoning By-law on the development permit are not subject to appeal.

  • If you have not received a decision within 40 days after the application was submitted, you may consider the application to be deemed refused and file an appeal
  • The applicant has 14 days after the permit is either approved or refused to provide a written notice of appeal, paired with the $400 appeal fee
  • The Board will review the appeal and determine if it warrants an appeal hearing

The development permit will not come into effect until a decision has been granted by the Board.

Appealing another Party’s Development Permit

A person may only appeal to the Board, regarding other application permits, because the person is adversely affected and:

  • There was a misapplication of a zoning by-law
  • The proposed development goes against the zoning by-law, the community plan or an area development plan
  • Relates to the use of land or a building that has been permitted at the discretion of a development authority
  • The application had been approved on the basis that the use of land or building was like another included in that same zone
  • The application did not fully conform to a zoning by-law; or
  • The permit relates to a non-conforming building or non-conforming use

If you have questions regarding a development permit, please contact the Development Officer at (867) 920-5600.

If you have questions regarding the appeal process, please contact the Secretary to the Development Appeal Board: 

Phone: (867) 920-5646

Email: @email