The current Regional Plan has been in effect since October 18, 2014. It establishes long-range, region-wide planning policies outlining where, when, and how future growth and development should take place between now and 2031.
How often is the plan reviewed?
The municipality's first Regional Plan was adopted in 2006. After five years, it underwent a detailed review (RP+5) to make sure it still reflected the region’s goals for growth and development. RP+5 was replaced by the Regional Plan on June 25, 2014 following a public hearing.
The Regional Plan was then reviewed by the Province to ensure consistency with provincial interests; the final step in the Regional Plan review/approval process.
On Saturday, October 18, 2014, with the publication of the Notice of Approval, the 2014 Regional Plan came into effect.
Regional Council commissioned a growth scenarios study [PDF] to consider how different growth scenarios could impact the region’s natural environment, and the health and social well-being of its residents over a 20-year period.
What are the region’s growth targets?
The original Regional Plan targeted:
- 25% of new housing starts (growth) in the regional centre
- 50% in the urban communities
- 25% in the rural areas
At this rate of growth, the municipality could save $670 million in costs over the current pattern of development.
The growth scenarios study went further to say that if a higher rate of growth occurred in the Regional Centre, significant additional cost savings could be achieved by 2031. This conclusion provided Regional Council and the community with information to help refine the Regional Plan’s growth targets.
From 2014 to 2031, Regional Council will strive to see at least 25% of all new housing units within the Regional Centre, and at least 75% of all new housing units in the Regional Centre and the urban communities combined.
Full text of the Regional Plan and related maps
This text-only version of the 2014 Regional Plan [PDF] contains all amendments to February 25, 2017.
Each of the plan’s nineteen maps are provided below in PDF, while Maps 1-12 also available in ArcGIS Online Format.
- Map 1 - Settlement and Transportation
- Map 2 - Generalized Future Land Use
- Map 3 - Trails and Natural Networks
- Map 4 - Parks and Natural Corridors
- Map 5 - Significant Habitats and Endangered Species
- Map 6 - Future Transit and Transportation
- Map 7 - Urban Transit Service Boundary
- Map 8 - Cultural Significance
- Map 9 - Areas of Elevated Archaeological Potential
- Map 10 - Burnside Area
- Map 11 - Blue Mountain - Birch Cove Lakes Conceptual Park Area
- Map 12 - Water Supply Areas
- Map 13A - Hubbards Rural Local Growth Centre
- Map 13B - Upper Tantallon and Tantallon Crossroads Rural Growth Centres
- Map 13C - Enfield Rural Growth Centre
- Map 13D - Lake Echo Rural Local Growth Centre
- Map 13E - Porters Lake Rural District Growth Centre
- Map 13F - Musquodoboit Harbour Rural District Growth Centre
- Map 13G - River-Lakes/Fall River Rural District Growth Centres
These electronic conversions are unofficial copies and are provided for information purposes only. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of these electronic copies, the Halifax Regional Municipality assumes no responsibility for discrepancies that may have resulted from the reformatting for electronic publication or from delays in updating approved amendments.
Regional Subdivision By-law
Regional Subdivision By-law (text and schedules, except for schedules B, H, I and J)
Subdivision By-law Schedules:
Schedule B - Service Requirement Map (revised on Sept 30, 2017)
Schedule H - Interim Growth Management Area (Map)
Schedule I - Future Transportation Routes (Map)
Schedule J - Beaver Bank and Hammonds Plains Growth Control Areas (Map)