The Streamside Protection Regulation provides local governments with an improved planning approach to streamside protection. The regulation was created to provide science-based directives to protect streamside enhancement areas from residential, commercial and industrial development so these areas can provide natural features, functions, and conditions that support fish and fish habitat.

Local governments have been given the flexibility to implement the directives in a manner that takes into account capacity issues, local values, settlement patterns and stream conditions. The regulation will be implemented and phased-in over the next five years. Local governments will also be able to develop their own streamside protection measures, provided that these measures are comparable to the directives.

The regulation requires local governments to bring their zoning bylaws in line with the new regulation and establishment of 15- to 30-metre-wide streamside protection areas on fish-bearing streams in urban areas. They will have the flexibility to take into account local development conditions, while at the same time ensuring the protection of critical fish habitat.