Municipal Affairs and Provincial Planning
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Provincial Planning
Working closely with the Environment, Labour and Justice Department and the Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Department, the branch deals with the creation of new provincial land use policies, legislation and regulations through the Planning Act and the Lands Protection Act and their associated regulations. The branch assists individuals and organizations, both within and outside of government, in an effort to achieve sustainable development.Land use planning in PEI
Under the Planning Act, Prince Edward Island municipalities have the option to assume responsibility for land use planning through the development and adoption of official plans and land use bylaws. Thirty-one municipalities have opted to take on responsibility for planning. The Planning Act guides the development of these documents.
In areas where municipalities have not assumed responsibility for planning, the Province remains responsible for development control.
Before purchasing land, seeking to subdivide, or making plans to build, you should first determine whether the land is located within a municipality and whether the municipality has an official plan and zoning bylaw in place. If you are not in a municipality or are in a municipality with no official plan and zoning bylaw in place, the land comes under the jurisdiction of the Province and is governed by a general set of subdivision and development regulations; otherwise the municipality establishes the zoning provisions, subdivision requirements, and building requirements.
For a list of municipalities with official plans, visit the municipal planning page. If the land falls outside of a municipal planning authority, then please contact Inspection Services within the Department of Environment, Labour and Justice.
PEI Planning Decisions
PEI Planning Decisions is a centrally-located site designed to help members of the public, property owners and developers access information on recent planning decisions relating to subdivisions, development and building permits and municipal bylaw amendments, including rezoning. This site contains information posted by municipalities with local land use planning responsibility and the provincial Department of Environment, Labour and Justice. Where municipalities have chosen to instead post listings on their own website, links to those websites will be provided.
Corporate Land Use Inventory Information
Land Information
Maps and Geographic Information Systems Resources (access on-line versions of the Public Land Atlas and the PEI Atlas)
 Interactive Maps |
Lands Protection Act and Land Identification Regulations
Under the Lands Protection Act, individuals cannot own more than 1000 acres and corporations cannot own more than 3000 acres of land. In order for Government to keep track of land ownership, non-residents and corporations must apply to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC) when purchasing a parcel that would result in a total land holding exceeding 5 acres of land or a shore frontage greater than 165 feet. Permission to acquire land is granted by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, who may attach conditions as set out in the Lands Protection Act, including restrictions on subdivision, that the land be identified for non-development use under the Land Identification Regulations, or that the land be consolidated with an adjoining parcel (see Land Identification Program).
Following acquisition, a land owner may apply to IRAC to have any such condition amended or cancelled. The Provincial Planning Branch in these instances review the application and make recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
For additional information on the Lands Protection Act, or to make an application to IRAC, visit the IRAC website.
