Access to Information and Protection of Privacy

Alberta has introduced updated legislation governing access to information and the protection of personal privacy, which now applies to Lethbridge County. On June 11, 2025, The Access to Information Act (ATIA) and The Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) officially took effect, replacing The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). These new laws are designed to balance the public’s right to access government-held information with individual’s rights to privacy, specifically in relation to data managed by public-sector organizations, including municipalities, across Alberta.

Summary of POPA:

This legislation sets out how the County is permitted to collect, use, and share your personal information. It also outlines conditions under which non-personal information can be generated, used, or shared by public bodies.
You have the right to request that Lethbridge County update or correct any personal details it holds about you.
If you believe your personal information was collected, used, or shared improperly by a public body, you have the option to file a privacy complaint.

Summary of ATIA:

You are entitled to request access to records maintained by the County, though certain exceptions may apply.
You have the right to view any personal information the County holds about you.

Before you Submit

You may not need to file a formal access to information request; many records are already publicly accessible or shared on a regular basis.

Available Online:

Lethbridge County is committed to transparency and actively shares information with the public through a variety of platforms, including:

Posting information considered to be of public interest on the County’s website and social media platforms.
Bi-weekly publishing and relevant updates of information in the County Insider
The County’s Interactive Map

Available Upon Request:

A large number of County records can be accessed without the need to submit a formal access to information request. Residents are encouraged to reach out directly to the relevant County department that may hold the information they’re looking for. Please note that it is the policy of Lethbridge County to charge fees for access to information under the ATIA Act.

Requesting Access to or Correct Information

Once you have identified the type of request you need to make, you can proceed by filling out the appropriate request form.

To help process your request efficiently, please be as specific as possible. Include:

the details of the records you wish to access;
the County department or business unit you believe holds the records; and
the relevant time period the records pertain to.

Accessing information Outside of the ATIA Act

There are a number of records that can be released under certain circumstances. Examples include:

Document Type	Release Requirements
Building permit information and related documentation	The records requested would be reviewed to determine whether any of the exceptions to disclosure in the ATIA Act apply and then all or part of the records would be released on the basis of this review.
Drawings and plans	These documents can be viewed but are copyrighted and cannot be copied unless you have written permission from the company/person that created them. If the drawings are hand drawn and do not have a copyright, the document belongs to the person who created the drawings and their written permission is required. While the County can advise you of the name of the company you need to contact, it is the requestor’s responsibility to obtain the required permission. Note: The County is unable to copy oversized drawings. These will be sent for commercial reproduction at the expense of the requestor or you may contact the creator of the drawings/plans directly.
Real Property Reports	Can a Real Property Report be released to a prospective purchaser of property, to a new owner, or to anyone else? The records requested would be reviewed to determine whether any of the exceptions to disclosure in the ATIA Act would apply and then all or part of the records would be released based upon the application of the Act It is unlikely that the report on a residential property would contain personal information or commercial or technical information under section 16 of the Act
Assessment Roll Information	The assessment roll is made available for inspection at the Lethbridge County administration office. Please note that it can be viewed only.
Tax and Utility Account Information	If you are not the registered owner of the subject property, or named on the account, written permission is required from the registered owner or the individual named on the account.
Contact information for residents (ie. for service of documents, collection of debt or other legal matters)	Under the Act, this information can only be disclosed if another piece of legislation provides for it. Lethbridge County is only permitted to release information for the purpose for which it was collected (ie. purposes of administering utility accounts or licensing program). The information is not collected for the examples given and, therefore, the County is prohibited by the Act in providing information to requestors. Under certain circumstances, address information may be obtained through the Land Titles Office. *Examples of legislation include Maintenance Enforcement Act, Income Tax Act.
Release of Cemetery Records	Under the Act, disclosure of personal information is an unreasonable invasion of privacy if the individual has been deceased for less than 25 years. Although this can be considered on a case by case basis, the County’s practice is not to release personal information until the 25 year requirement is met
Information Regarding a Complainant	The County’s practice is to not release the personal information of an individual who files a complaint against another individual unless this information is necessary to resolving the issue (eg. required at trial). If the name of the complainant is to be released, the individual will be advised prior to having their name disclosed.
Information Regarding Bylaw Infractions	The County is unable to advise whether or not an individual or business has been issued a notice or offence ticket regarding the violation of a bylaw. The County can only confirm that bylaws are enforced when individuals and businesses are found to be in non-compliance.
Contract information	Contract information can be released to the public but may be released in a severed form. Under the Act, information harmful to the business interests of a contractor and/or proprietary information must be protected.

The ATIA Act requires public bodies to respond within 30 calendar days of receiving your request. The response will either provide the requested information or explain why the information is not being disclosed. In the case of a request for correction of personal information, the response will either state that the correction has been made or advise that the record has not been corrected but it has been annotated. The 30 day deadline may be extended if, for example, large volumes of records are involved or if third parties need to be consulted.

Learn More

For additional details on Alberta’s access and privacy legislation, visit: