Land use planning helps municipalities manage land and resources and guides decisions about where:

• to build homes and factories
• to put parks and schools
• roads, sewers and other essential services are needed

Land use planning helps each community to set development goals while keeping social, economic and environmental factors in mind. It also balances the interests of individual property owners with the wider interests of the whole community.

Read this guide to learn more about land use planning, including the Planning Act, official plans, and zoning bylaws. This guide is for information only and offers a summary of legislation and policies that are subject to change. It is not a legal interpretation of the Planning Act or any other act.