In Ontario, GDS is supported by different legislation, including:
The Planning Act provides for municipalities to mandate sustainable urban design through site plan approvals.
The Provincial Policy Statement identifies municipal responsibility to advance sustainable development and resiliency in the face of climate change.
It directs planning authorities towards land use and development patterns that promote compact form, active transportation and transit, and design and orientation that maximize energy conservation, climate mitigation and renewable energy systems.
The Municipal Act allows municipalities to pass environmental protection and conservation by-laws. It also allows municipalities to participate in long-term energy planning for energy use in their community. Includes provision for municipal climate change bylaws.
The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe provides strategic direction for growth management and encourages integration of climate change considerations into the planning and management of growth as a guiding principle.
Regional Policy Statements influence tiered municipalities in Ontario and present unique opportunities for coordinating sustainable development.
Note: Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024
As of July 1, 2024, Bill 185 deems the Regional Municipalities of Peel, Halton, and York upper-tier municipalities without planning responsibilities, making lower-tier municipalities the approval authority for most planning applications.