This Ordinance establishes the Physical Planning Board and provides rules relative to (control on) planning and development. Other administrative bodies for purposes of this Act are the Minister and the Director of Planning. The Director may, and if so required by the Governor shall, submit to the Minister proposals for the preparation of a development plan. There shall be various types of development permission, including a permission to subdivide land.

This Ordinance provides rules relative to the subdivision of land and relevant titles in such divided land and common property. It prescribes that land, including the whole or a part of a building, may be subdivided by registering a strata plan in the manner provided by or under this Ordinance. The proprietors of strata lots contained in a strata plan, shall, upon registration of the plan, become a body corporate. The Ordinance sets out duties of a corporation and defines requirements of a strata plan. Strata plans may be unified.

These Regulations specify, in the Schedules, permitted development, i.e. development permitted without the requirement to apply for or obtain a grant of development permission. They shall apply to all land in the Islands except, among other things: (a) undeveloped Crown land, other than undeveloped Crown land in respect of which a lease has been granted; (b) land within a conservation area declared under the Physical Planning Ordinance; and (c) land within any declared area under the National Parks Ordinance.