Special Permits

The category of Special Permits includes: 

  • Pedigree Cattle Permit
  • Rodeo and Exhibition Permit
  • Annual Horse Permit

Special permits allow horses, pedigree cattle and rodeo and exhibition livestock to be transported out of Alberta without a Livestock Permit, as long as they are not leaving the province for the purpose of sale or slaughter. The advantage of these permits is that the owner can transport the animal out of Alberta more than once in a calendar year.

A Special Permit expires on December 31st of the year they were issued, or when there is a change of ownership before then. A Livestock Manifest is not required when transporting cattle or horses that are on a Special Permit.

The fee for a Special Permit is $10.00 a head with a minimum of $20.00. To receive a special permit, please contact your nearest LIS Field Office.

A Livestock Inspector may issue a Special Permit, following an inspection of the animal if:

  • the Livestock Inspector is satisfied that the person in possession of the animal is the owner or the owner’s agent;
  • the inspection fee has been paid; and
  • the animal is not being transported out of Alberta for the purpose of sale or slaughter.

The advantage of a Special Permit is that the owner can transport the animal out of Alberta more than once in a calendar year.

Special Permits do not authorize livestock to return to Alberta if the out-of-province destination requires livestock to be inspected and a permit issued for livestock to leave that jurisdiction.  

Inspection 

Unless an inspection is waived, all cattle and horses must be inspected prior to a Special Permit being issued.  A Livestock Inspector may waive an inspection of livestock required to issue a Special Permit if:

  • a Special Permit was issued for the same livestock in the previous calendar year; and
  • the person produces the original “blue” copy of the Special Permit issued the previous year.

A decision to waive an inspection of livestock may be revoked by the Livestock Inspector at any time before the Special Permit is issued.

Whenever possible, the owner of the livestock is to transport the livestock to a staffed inspection site or other convenient (and cost effective) location agreed to by the Livestock Inspector for a Special Permit inspection.

All Special Permit inspections are “cash” inspections and the Special Permit form is the permit holder’s receipt for the inspection fee. LIS does not invoice producers for inspections for Special Permits.