A single-tier municipal system has one level of local government responsible for all municipal services, contrasting with two-tier systems where responsibilities are divided between upper-tier regional governments and lower-tier local municipalities. In single-tier systems, one council handles everything from roads and water to planning and recreation. Most Canadian cities operate as single-tier municipalities, though structures vary by province. Single-tier systems offer simpler governance and clearer accountability but may lack economies of scale for some services. Amalgamation of municipalities often creates larger single-tier cities from formerly two-tier or fragmented structures. The appropriate municipal structure depends on geography, population distribution, and historical development patterns.