Legal frameworks provide planners with power for implementation and regulation. As such, it is important to consider how planning laws can impact communities, especially those that have historically been marginalised and seek equity. Understanding the legal context and how it shapes potential planning responses can help planners identify pragmatic ways to achieve the desired ideal planning outcomes.

Two planning domains in which equitable planning is crucial are affordable housing and the protection of the natural environment. In these short papers written for a planning law class, through reviewing the legal context behind affordable housing strategies in British Columbia, Canada, and a shipbreaking case in Baynes Sound, BC, I explore how existing laws and regulations can shape planning policy responses.