Foothills County
Okotoks & Foothills County acreages.
River-bottom parcels and farm-scale holdings around Okotoks and the Sheep and Highwood rivers.
The Town of Okotoks is its own municipality on the Sheep River, surrounded by Foothills County south of Calgary. The acreages around it range from river-valley parcels to open farmland, with town services and Highway 2 close at hand. West of town, the Okotoks Erratic — Big Rock — has been a Provincial Historic Resource since 1978.
Foothills County is the larger of the two counties that frame Calgary's acreage market, with a 2021 Census population of 23,199 across roughly 3,600 km² — about 6.4 people per square kilometre. Around Okotoks the land varies by about 135 m within five kilometres.
Land use and parcels
Foothills County's CR Country Residential district, under Land Use Bylaw 60/2014, provides for acreage development: new parcels of 0.81 ha (2.0 ac) to 8.49 ha (20.99 ac), at a density of one lot per 2.02 ha (5 ac) up to 32 lots per quarter section. Larger rural holdings sit in the county's agricultural districts.
Inside the Town of Okotoks, the town's own land use bylaw applies.
What to check in Okotoks & Foothills County
- The current provincial flood map for parcels near the Sheep or Highwood rivers — the June 2013 floods were catastrophic in High River and caused more limited damage in Okotoks
- Whether the parcel is in the county or the town
- Farmland assessment on larger holdings
- Well capacity and water quality on river-bottom land
Property tax
Foothills County's 2026 total residential rate is 6.285498 mills, up 1.98% from 2025; $42.58 of every $100 of residential tax goes to the provincial education requisition. Compare counties.
Pricing in Okotoks & Foothills County
Alberta has no public register of sale prices, and acreage-only statistics are not published, so this guide does not quote acreage prices. For recent comparable country sales, ask Dusko directly.
For context only: CREB's August 2026 report for its Foothills Region — all residential property types, including Okotoks, High River and Diamond Valley, not acreages alone — shows 116 sales, a benchmark price of $679,600 and 3.10 months of supply. Source: CREB.
Questions about Okotoks & Foothills County acreages
Is Okotoks part of Foothills County?
No. Okotoks is an independent town on the Sheep River, surrounded by Foothills County. Inside the town, the Town of Okotoks' own land use bylaw applies; acreages around it follow Foothills County's Land Use Bylaw 60/2014.
Source: Visit Okotoks · Land Use Bylaw 60/2014
What is the Okotoks Erratic (Big Rock)?
Big Rock is a 16,500-tonne glacial erratic just west of Okotoks. Alberta designated it a Provincial Historic Resource in 1978, and it is a sacred site to the Blackfoot peoples.
Source: Okotoks Erratic (Big Rock)
Was Okotoks affected by the 2013 flood?
Less than High River. The June 2013 floods hit High River hardest, and the town was evacuated; Okotoks had more limited damage along the Sheep River. Check any parcel near the Sheep or Highwood rivers on the current provincial flood map.
Source: Flood preparedness and protection · Sheep River flood damages in 2013 (Appendix A)
What is the property tax rate in Foothills County?
Foothills County's 2026 total residential mill rate is 6.285498, up 1.98% from 2025. Of every $100 of residential tax, $42.58 goes to the provincial education requisition. Parcels inside the Town of Diamond Valley are taxed at the town's rate instead.
Source: Mill rates (2026)
How many people live in Foothills County?
Foothills County had 23,199 people in the 2021 Census, up 2.6% from 22,616 in 2016, across about 3,604 km², or 6.4 people per square kilometre.
- Elevation
- To downtown
Elevation: NRCan CDEM via AWS Terrain Tiles (OGL–Canada) · Rivers & roads © OpenStreetMap contributors
Nearby
Neighbouring acreage country.
Level country residential land between Calgary's south edge and Okotoks, close to Highway 2.
The Sheep River valley and the Cowboy Trail, where the foothills begin to climb.
Ranch country, long foothills ridges and the quietest roads within an hour of Calgary.
Private consultation
Buying or selling in Okotoks & Foothills County?
Tell Dusko about the property or the kind of land you are looking for. Conversations are confidential and there is no obligation.