
At the community scale, adopted measures must include both planning and regulatory measures along with protection, accommodation and restoration techniques.

The concept of using complementary measures to limit risks during storm surges
Examples of planning and regulatory tools appear hereunder. Download the files to find out more…
The tools presented are those described in the guides produced by the Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions Association (ACASA).
Policy and planning frameworks tools
Retreat
Wetland policy
Wetland policies protect coastal wetlands by providing goals and objectives for controlling development in wetland areas and in some cases, wetland restoration.Download
Tax or development incentive
Incentives can be used in the context of coastal adaptation planning including tax incentives, density bonusing, and development incentives.Download
Strategic land acquisition (land bank)
Strategic land acquisition plans are used to proactively select areas of land that a community would like to acquire as public land.Download
Stormwater management plan
Stormwater management plans include guidelines and standards for development that allow for as much rainwater as possible to be absorbed into the ground. This tool is used to avoid flooding during heavy rainfall events.Download
Watershed management plan
A watershed management plan protects water resources, mitigates pollution, protects habitat, and manages stormwater runoff within a regional watershed area.Download
Shoreline/coastal management plan
A shoreline/coastal management plan specifically addresses management of the shoreline and deals with coastal issues.Download
Climate change action/adaptation plan
Climate change action/adaptation plans address the impacts of climate change on a community based on scenarios that are predicted for the local context.Download
Integrated community sustainability plan
Integrated community sustainability plans are management plans that outline a vision for a liveable, healthy, and safe community into the future.Download
Regional/rural plan (non-statutory), land use policy
A regional or rural plan involves inter-municipal planning for the future of a region to deal with issues facing multiple communitiesDownload
Secondary community plan or area plan
A secondary community plan is a legislative tool that guides all other plans and bylaws within a specified area within a municipality. It includes a vision for the future of the area and strategies for achieving that vision and dealing with challenges.Download
Statutory community plan
A statutory community plan is a legislative tool that guides all other plans and bylaws within a municipality. It includes a vision for the future of a community and strategies for achieving that vision and dealing with challenges.Download
Accommodation
Tax or development incentive
Incentives can be used in the context of coastal adaptation planning including tax incentives, density bonusing, and development incentives.Download
Stormwater management plan
Stormwater management plans include guidelines and standards for development that allow for as much rainwater as possible to be absorbed into the ground. This tool is used to avoid flooding during heavy rainfall events.Download
Watershed management plan
A watershed management plan protects water resources, mitigates pollution, protects habitat, and manages stormwater runoff within a regional watershed area.Download
Shoreline/coastal management plan
A shoreline/coastal management plan specifically addresses management of the shoreline and deals with coastal issues.Download
Climate change action/adaptation plan
Climate change action/adaptation plans address the impacts of climate change on a community based on scenarios that are predicted for the local context.Download
Integrated community sustainability plan
Integrated community sustainability plans are management plans that outline a vision for a liveable, healthy, and safe community into the future.Download
Regional/rural plan (non-statutory), land use policy
A regional or rural plan involves inter-municipal planning for the future of a region to deal with issues facing multiple communitiesDownload
Secondary community plan or area plan
A secondary community plan is a legislative tool that guides all other plans and bylaws within a specified area within a municipality. It includes a vision for the future of the area and strategies for achieving that vision and dealing with challenges.Download
Statutory community plan
A statutory community plan is a legislative tool that guides all other plans and bylaws within a municipality. It includes a vision for the future of a community and strategies for achieving that vision and dealing with challenges.Download
Emergency preparredness/management plan
Emergency management plans outline steps to mitigate damage from disasters and steps to respond after a disaster occursDownload
Protection
Climate change action/adaptation plan
Climate change action/adaptation plans address the impacts of climate change on a community based on scenarios that are predicted for the local context.Download
Integrated community sustainability plan
Integrated community sustainability plans are management plans that outline a vision for a liveable, healthy, and safe community into the future.Download
Regional/rural plan (non-statutory), land use policy
A regional or rural plan involves inter-municipal planning for the future of a region to deal with issues facing multiple communitiesDownload
Secondary community plan or area plan
A secondary community plan is a legislative tool that guides all other plans and bylaws within a specified area within a municipality. It includes a vision for the future of the area and strategies for achieving that vision and dealing with challenges.Download
Statutory community plan
A statutory community plan is a legislative tool that guides all other plans and bylaws within a municipality. It includes a vision for the future of a community and strategies for achieving that vision and dealing with challenges.Download
Regulations and land use change tools
Retreat
Abandonment
This is a "do nothing" approach where existing structures and infrastructure are not repaired once damage occurs.Download
Managed retreat/abandonment
Managed retreat and abandonment is a long-term solution for high risk areas along the coast. It involves moving structures and infrastructure back from the coast.Download
Conservation easements
An easement is a written agreement and partnership with flexible arrangements between a landowner and government, or organization, to conserve land without changing ownership of the land.Download
Rolling easements
Rolling easements prohibit hard armouring along the coast and designate land along the coast as public land. Property lines move with the coastline as it changes to ensure that public land remains accessible.Download
Land trust
A land trust is a non-profit organization that acquires and manages land for non-development purposes such as conservation of significant habitats.Download
Land-use conversion & re-development
Land use conversion and redevelopment can be used to remove unsuitable land uses and structures from coastal areas that are publicly owned.Download
Land swap
A land swap can be used to exchange land between two levels of government or between a government and a landowner.Télécharger
Transfer of development credits
Transferable development rights are market incentives used for new developments and are designed to shift development away from certain areas to locations deemed to be safer and more sustainable.Download
Development standards
Development standards establish and prescribe criteria, such as density and setbacks, for new development.Download
Subdivision by-law or regulation
A subdivision by-law or restrictions regulate how existing land is subdivided for new development. This tool can be used to restrict development in coastal areas and prevent development on important coastal lands.Download
Setbacks
Coastal setbacks enforce mandatory distances between the water and man-made structures. There are a variety of setback types including horizontal, elevation, fixed, retreating, and buffers.Download
Land use by-law and zoning
Land use zoning and by-laws are used to establish the types of land use and development permitted in designated areas. A variety of zoning types have been used for coastal planning including: land use zoning (generally), overlay zoning, hazard zoning, performance zoning, conservation/protection zoning, temporal zoning, down zoning.Download
Wetland regulation
Wetland regulations protect coastal wetlands by controlling development in wetland areas through legislation.Download
Accommodation
Foreshore lease
Foreshore lease is when a municipality leases the foreshore from the province in order to have authority to alter that area of land.Download
Waiver
Waivers can be a requirement within a development agreement whereby landowners sign and acknowledge that they understand the risks associated with developing on coastal property.Download
Variances
A variance can allow a developer to build in a way that does not comply with the current bylaw as long as they can prove that the development is suitable for the site.Download
Development standards
Development standards establish and prescribe criteria, such as density and setbacks, for new development.Download
Setbacks
Coastal setbacks enforce mandatory distances between the water and man-made structures. There are a variety of setback types including horizontal, elevation, fixed, retreating, and buffers.Download
Land use by-law and zoning
Land use zoning and by-laws are used to establish the types of land use and development permitted in designated areas. A variety of zoning types have been used for coastal planning including: land use zoning (generally), overlay zoning, hazard zoning, performance zoning, conservation/protection zoning, temporal zoning, down zoning.Download
Protection
Foreshore lease
Foreshore lease is when a municipality leases the foreshore from the province in order to have authority to alter that area of land.Download
Site planning and design tools
Retreat
Conservation subdivision design
Conservation subdivision design is a residential development model which regulates the structure, scale, and location of development, while ensuring that a significant percentage, typically 40 percent or more, of the subdivision area is retained as open space.Download
Urban design standards
Urban design standards include guidelines and standards for development. Urban design standards is on the character of an area created through design.Download
Accommodation
Site Monitoring
Monitoring involves recording changes along the shoreline. This can be an important step in helping to understand coastal risks and habitat health.Download
Green shoreline rating system
The Green Shores Program uses a rating model, based on green building rating models such as LEED, for coastal properties.Download
Urban design standards
Urban design standards include guidelines and standards for development. Urban design standards is on the character of an area created through design.Download