Saskatchewan is thesixth-most populousCanadian province with 1,132,505 residents as of2021 and is the fifth-largest in land area at 588,244 km² (227,122 sq mi).^[1] In 2021, Saskatchewan's 774municipalities covered52.1% of the province's land mass and were home to94.9% of its population.^[2][3][a] These 774 municipalities arelocal government "creatures of provincial jurisdiction" withnatural persons power.^[4] One of the key purposes of Saskatchewan's municipalities are "to provide services, facilities and other things that, in the opinion of council, are necessary or desirable for all or a part of the municipality".^[4] Other purposes are to: "provide good government"; "develop and maintain a safe and viable community"; "foster economic, social and environmental well-being" and "provide wise stewardship of public assets."^[4]

The Government of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Municipal Relations recognizes three general types of municipalities and seven sub-types – urban municipalities (cities, towns, villages andresort villages),rural municipalities and northern municipalities (northern towns, northern villages and northern hamlets).^[2] Cities are formed under the provincial authority ofThe Cities Act, which was enacted in 2002.^[5] Towns, villages, resort villages and rural municipalities are formed under the authority ofThe Municipalities Act, enacted in 2005.^[6] The three sub-types of northern municipalities are formed under the authority ofThe Northern Municipalities Act, enacted in 2010.^[7] As provincial laws, these three acts were passed by theLegislative Assembly of Saskatchewan withroyal assent granted by theLieutenant Governor.

Of Saskatchewan's 774 municipalities, 454 of them are urban municipalities (16 cities, 147 towns, 250 villages and 41 resort villages), 296 are rural municipalities and 24 are northern municipalities (2 northern towns, 11 northern villages and 11 northern hamlets).^[2]The Cities Act,The Municipalities Act andThe Northern Municipalities Act stipulate governance of these municipalities.^[5][6][7] Saskatchewan's Ministry of Municipal Relations is responsible for providing provincial programs and services to municipalities.^[8]

In 2021, just over43% of Saskatchewan's population resided in its two largest cities.Saskatoon, the largest city, is home to24% of the province's population (266,141 residents), whileRegina, Saskatchewan's capital city, is home to20% (226,404 residents).^[3] The resort villages ofKrydor andWaldron are tied as Saskatchewan's smallest municipalities by population with 15 people each.^[3] The largest municipality by land area is theRural Municipality of Hudson Bay No. 394 at 12,399.12 km² (4,787.33 sq mi), while the smallest by land area is the Resort Village ofGreig Lake at 0.10 km² (0.039 sq mi).^[3]

As of 2020, Saskatchewan has 454 urban municipalities, which includes the sub-types of cities, towns, villages and resort villages.^[2]

A city can be created from a town by Saskatchewan's Minister of Municipal Relations byministerial order via section 39 ofThe Cities Act if it has a population of 5,000 or more and the change in status is requested by the town council.^[5] A city does not automatically revert to town status if the population drops below 5,000; this only occurs if the city council requests it, the majority of electors vote to revert to town status, or the minister is of the opinion that the reversion to town status is in the public interest.^[5]Melville retains its city status despite dropping below the 5,000 population threshold in the 1990s.

Saskatchewan has 16 cities includingLloydminster, which traverses the provincial border withAlberta.^[2] Unlike Lloydminster,Flin Flon, which traverses the provincial border withManitoba, is not officially recognized as a city. Saskatchewan's 16 cities had a cumulative population of 689,475 in the2021 Census.^[3] Saskatchewan's largest and smallest cities areSaskatoon and Melville with populations of 266,141 and 4,493.^[3] The largest and smallest city by land area are Saskatoon andMeadow Lake with 226.56 km² (87.48 sq mi) and 12.37 km² (4.78 sq mi).^[3]

Cities are governed by a council of six councillors and a mayor, although the council may vary the number of councillors to any even number that is at least two.^[5]: s.54 A council may designate a person under the age of 18 years a "youth member" to participate in its session, but such a member is not a councillor and may not vote.^[5]: s.56 A city may by bylaw be divided intowards to elect its council.^[5]: s.57 The mayor presides over the council as a member and isex officio a member of every committee of the council unless the council determines otherwise.^[5]: s.66

A town can be created from a village or resort village by Saskatchewan's Minister of Municipal Relations by ministerial order via section 52 ofThe Municipalities Act if it has a population of 500 or more.^[6] Upon reaching a population of 5,000, a town's council may request the minister to change its status to a city in accordance with section 39 ofThe Cities Act.^[5] Should a town's population decline to less than 500, its council may request its status be reverted to village or resort village status.^[6]

Saskatchewan has 147 towns that had a cumulative population of 145,995 in the 2021 Census.^[2][3] Saskatchewan's largest and smallest towns areNipawin andFleming with populations of 4,570 and 70.^[3] The largest and smallest town by land area areBattleford andFrancis with 23.26 km² (8.98 sq mi) and 0.62 km² (0.24 sq mi).^[3]

Towns, villages, and resort villages are all governed by a council with a mayor and two councillors, although they may vary that number to any even number at least two unless they are divided into wards.^[6]: s.80

A village can be created from anorganized hamlet by Saskatchewan's Minister of Municipal Relations by ministerial order via section 51 ofThe Municipalities Act if it meets four requirements. It must have:^[6]

• been an organized hamlet for three or more years;
• a population of 300 or more;
• 150 or more dwellings or businesses; and
• a taxable assessment of at least $30 million.^[5][9]

Upon reaching a population of 500, a village's council may request the minister to change its status to a town in accordance with section 52 ofThe Municipalities Act.^[6]

Saskatchewan has 250 villages that had a cumulative population of 40,447 in the 2021 Census.^[2][3] Saskatchewan's largest village isCaronport with a population of 1,033, whileKrydor, andWaldron are all tied as the province's smallest villages with populations of 15 each.^[3] The largest and smallest villages by land area areChristopher Lake andMinton with 4.59 km² (1.77 sq mi) and 0.25 km² (0.097 sq mi).^[3]

Like a village, a resort village can be created from an organizedhamlet by Saskatchewan's Minister of Municipal Relations by ministerial order via section 51 ofThe Municipalities Act if it has:

• been an organized hamlet for three or more years;
• can demonstrate with a municipal census of the organized hamlet a permanent and seasonal population of 300 if the most recent national census shows a population of at least 100;
• 150 or more dwellings or businesses;
• a taxable assessment of at least $35 million;
• and is predominantly of a resort nature^[6][9]

Upon reaching a population of 500, a resort village's council may request the minister to change its status to a town in accordance with section 52 ofThe Municipalities Act.^[6]

Saskatchewan has 41 resort villages that had a cumulative population of 6,578 in the 2021 Census.^[2][3] Saskatchewan's largest resort village by population isCandle Lake with 1,160 inhabitants while the smallest isSunset Cove with a population of 21.^[3] The largest and smallest resort municipalities by land area are Candle Lake andGreig Lake with 62.93 km² (24.30 sq mi) and 0.010 km² (0.0039 sq mi).^[3]