Sub-regional plans are a key component of the province’s approach to maintaining a working landscape on Crown land and supporting a broad range of land uses and values including conservation, Indigenous traditional land use, recreation and economic development. Municipal and privately held land are explicitly excluded. The Government of Alberta will complete planning for up to 14 sub-regions across the province.
While municipal and privately held land are excluded from sub-regional plans, rural municipalities play an important role in managing a broad range of land uses and balancing environmental, economic and social needs locally, regionally and province wide. RMA is engaging with the Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) to better understand how sub-regional plans will intersect with municipal plans and strategies, including areas of alignment and disagreement, and what tools will be available to municipalities whose long-term plans are impacted by a sub-regional plan.
Under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act and Municipal Government Act, municipalities are required to ensure their statutory plans, bylaws and decisions are consistent with regional plans. Amendments introduced under Bill 31, the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, expand potential compliance filing obligations for municipalities in relation to sub-regional plans or issue-specific plans. As proposed, the obligation to file is not automatic and municipalities will need to review individual plans to understand specific requirements. RMA will continue to analyze the potential implications of Bill 31 and advocate for greater municipal consideration in the development of future sub-regional plans.
Existing regional plans will be amended to incorporate the regulatory details of sub-regional plans to support their full implementation. Currently, sub-regional plans need to be enabled under a regional plan. However, Bill 31 eliminates this requirement, and sub-regional plans will be created without specific links to broader regional plans. Two approved regional plans are in effect, and five regional plans have not been started.
EPA is seeking feedback on development of the Ghost-Kananaskis Sub-regional Plan until June 5, 2026. RMA encourages members to provide feedback where relevant.
For more information visit: Land-use Framework – Alberta
Briana Yee
Policy Advisor
825.319.2417
briana@RMAlberta.com
Warren Noga
Manager of Policy and Research
825.319.2285
warren@RMAlberta.com