A separated city is a municipality that exists independently of the surrounding county or rural municipality, rather than being part of a two-tier regional structure. Alberta's major cities—Calgary, Edmonton, and others—are separated from surrounding municipal districts, meaning they're not governed by or financially connected to regional government. Separated cities handle all municipal services themselves without upper-tier involvement. This contrasts with regions like Ontario's two-tier municipalities where cities are part of regional governments. Separation can create challenges for regional coordination, as urban and rural areas have distinct governments despite geographic proximity and interconnected economies.