Functional Responsibility:
The Local Authorities Board was created to assume some of the functions of the Public Utilities Board. In addition to the Local Authorities Board Act, numerous sections within the Municipal Government Act required the approval of the board. There were also several sections within the Municipal Taxation Act, Municipal Tax Exemption Act, New Towns Act, School Act, Planning Act, County Act, Clean Water Act, Irrigation Act, Hospital Act, and Tax Recovery Act that fell under the jurisdiction of the board. The Local Authorities Board was bound by the Administrative Procedures Act.

The Local Authorities Board was an independent quasijudicial tribunal. It had all the rights, privileges, and immunities as the Court of Queen's Bench with regard to proceedings, the attendance and examination of witnesses, production and inspection of documents, enforcement of its orders, payment of costs, and all other matters necessary for it to effect its powers. The orders, decisions, rules, and regulations of the board could be appealed to the Court of Appeal on questions of jurisdiction or law but not on questions of fact.

The Local Authorities Board considered and made recommendations or decisions on applications by local authorities. As set out in the enabling legislation, the board had jurisdiction and power to inquire into the merit of any application of a local authority for permission to raise money by way of debenture or upon the security of stocks. The board could supervise the expenditure of funds borrowed by local authorities and deal with their financial affairs. It also had the power to separate land from an urban municipality and deal with subdivision plans.

Predecessor and Successor Bodies:
Until 1961, the Public Utilities Board administered some of the functional responsibilities that would later be assumed by the Local Authorities Board. The Public Utilities Board was created to supervise all matters that applied to local government indebtedness.

With the proclamation of the Municipal Government Act, the Alberta Assessment Appeal Board, Alberta Planning Board, and Local Authorities Board were combined to form the Municipal Government Board. The Municipal Government Board is responsible for the resolution of assessment and housing disputes and annexation issues in Alberta.

Administrative Relationships:
The board reported to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. The board was not subject to direction by any minister, Member of the Legislative Assembly, or government official in respect to its quasijudicial duties. The board's orders relating to petitions for annexation had no effect unless approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council who could approve an order, prescribe conditions that the order was subject to, and approve the order subject to those conditions, vary the order, and approve the order as varied, or oppose the order.

Administrative Structure:
The Lieutenant Governor in Council appointed members of the board and designated the chair. At the board's inception, it was composed of a maximum of three members. By the mid-1980s, the board's size had increased to six members with a staff of ten; by the end of the decade, the staff had been reduced to eight.

Names of Chief officers:
Chairs of the Local Authorities Board
Colin G. MacGregor 1961-1974
Donald A. Bancroft 1974-1979
Charles Ivan Shelley 1979-1987
Bryan T. Clark (Acting) 1987-1990
Bryan T. Clark 1990-1992
Archie Ray Grover 1992-1993
John Charles Davis 1993-1994