Legislative Authority

In Saskatchewan, the primary responsibility for community planning, development issues, land use and municipal services rests with the local municipalities. To manage these interests, municipalities have the authority to carry out planning, establish zoning controls, utilize development permits, require servicing agreements and other such authorities to manage land use and development issues.

The Planning and Development Act, 2007 (The Act), establishes planning and land use authority in Saskatchewan. The Act prescribes 2 sets of regulations:

• The Subdivision Regulations are applied by the province unless superseded by a local subdivision bylaw or zoning bylaw regulation; and
• The Dedicated Lands Regulations apply to the administration of lands known as environmental reserves, municipal reserves, public reserves, buffer strips, and certain walkways.

Copies of the Act and Regulations can be obtained from the Queens Printer.

The Act and Regulations provide certain powers for:

• the Minister of Municipal Affairs;
• the Councils for urban, rural and northern municipalities; and
• planning districts.

Ministerial Authority

The Act enables the Minister to coordinate land use planning issues within the province. This includes the authority to:

• establish provincial land use policies and statements of provincial interest;
• issue orders respecting planning districts;
• approve official community plans, zoning bylaws adopted by municipalities; and
• undertake any study pertaining to land use.

The Community Planning Branch provides a coordinated role between municipal and provincial interests to ensure:

• provincial interests are incorporated into official community plans and zoning bylaws;
• municipal planning bylaws do not conflict with provincial interests; and
• municipal interests are considered or incorporated within provincial initiatives.

Municipal Authority

The Act provides municipalities with significant authority to manage their community, municipal servicing and development interests. The Act permits a council to pass an official community plan and zoning bylaw that will:

• set out the desired framework for future development by defining goals, objectives and policies;
• help clarify the municipal role in the development process;
• provide council with the guidance needed to make municipal decisions;
• empower council to enforce these decisions;
• reduce land use conflicts;
• provide opportunities for input by all affected interests in community planning;
• inform the members of the community how council intends to direct and manage the community's needs and expectations; and
• establish a framework for all parties to follow, thereby, creating certainty for the developer.

The Act also allows council to establish a municipal planning commission to advise them on planning matters. Municipalities have the ability to establish advisory planning districts and district commissions to assist them in joint management of land use and development interests. The commissions provide a formal process for inter-municipal discussions of mutual interest and create opportunity for consistent land use policies and zoning between the affiliated municipalities. Municipalities may establish a district planning authority and assign certain powers vested in the councils to the authority.