In Prince Edward Island, two primary pieces of legislation govern land use and ownership:
Lands Protection Act
The Lands Protection Act helps to regulate property rights in PEI, with specific focus on the amount of land a person or corporation can own. It is in place to address three main challenges that the Island has faced with regard to property rights:
- historical difficulties arising from absentee landowners;
- the Island's small size and high population density; and
- the unique ecology, environment and land of the Island, which requires careful stewardship to ensure its protection.
Planning Act
The Planning Act of PEI governs the regulation of efficient planning at provincial and municipal levels. It is in place to regulate a number of land-related activities, including permitted land uses, structures within zones, and development in coastal areas. One of the main objectives of this legislation is to protect Prince Edward Island's unique environment.