Regional planning addresses land use, infrastructure, and development issues across areas larger than individual municipalities, coordinating decisions that affect multiple communities. Regional plans consider transportation networks, environmental protection, housing distribution, employment lands, and growth management at a scale where individual municipal decisions affect neighbours. In Ontario, upper-tier municipalities prepare regional official plans. BC regional districts develop regional growth strategies. Alberta has regional planning commissions. Provincial governments often guide regional planning through policy statements and frameworks. Effective regional planning prevents fragmented development, protects agricultural land and natural areas, and ensures infrastructure investments support coordinated growth patterns.