'Need To Reside' Requirement for the Banff town site

In order to protect the park environment, land for communities and other development inside Canada's national parks is restricted. In Banff's case, the total area of the town is limited by federal legislation to an area of less than 5 sq. kilometres.

With this limited land base, the town must provide all of the basic services required by visitors as well as accommodate the people who provide those services. Consequently residency in Banff (like any other national park community) is restricted to people who are deemed as having a 'need-to-reside'. By federal regulation, someone is generally considered to have a 'need-to-reside' if (s)he:
 

• is employed or operates a business in the park, or

• is a full-time student in the park, or

• has retired after not less than five years of employment in the park, or

• is the spouse or dependent of someone who meets the above criteria.

The above information is from the town of Banff website.

For more information, contact Parks Canada 403. 762.1500. or visit the Parks Canada brochure ( click through to Need to Reside PDF )