Municipal Bylaws
Municipalities may approach planning in unique ways, which may be reflected in their bylaws. All municipalities are responsible agents for our holistic wellbeing including the protection of natural resources.
Please Note: While this page provides inventories and research to date, data is not complete at this time. This is a work in progress.
Bylaws - Environmental Practices and Features
- Every municipality at each level is responsible for identifying Environmentally Protected Zones as directed through Provincial Policy Statements
- In addition to identifying Environmental Protection Zones, municipal Official Plans must address how these areas will be protected and managed.
- Environmental Protection Zones often include flood zones and habitat for significant and also rare fish and wildlife. These zones can also include headwaters, aquatic resource areas, significant natural heritage features such as old growth forests or rare habitats. Most zones include all wetlands, but some municipalities may only include Provincially Significant Evaluated wetlands.
- Provisions to protect Environmental Protection Zones are most often through site plan agreements (prior to development) and also importantly through alteration bylaws.
- In addition to Environmental Protection Zones, municipalities have comprehensive zoning bylaws that can provide protection for other environmental functions and features as well.
- Additional bylaws to protect the environment but also our wellbeing can include those related to waste management, noise, night lighting, brown or green fields, tree cutting, shoreland buffers, grading, and filling.