Regulatory burden refers to the cumulative cost and effort required for municipalities to comply with provincial rules, reporting requirements, and administrative processes. This includes staff time for reporting, consulting, and navigating approval processes; direct costs of meeting standards; and delays from lengthy provincial reviews. While individual regulations may be reasonable, the combined burden can strain municipal resources, particularly for smaller communities with limited staff. Municipal associations advocate for reducing unnecessary regulatory burden through streamlined reporting, risk-based approaches that reduce requirements for proven performers, and better coordination between provincial ministries making demands on municipalities.