It is charged with maintaining relationships with New Brunswick's municipalities, administering its unincorporated Local Service Districts and the administration of its environmental policy, including the Province's Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation.

[1] The department was established on March 23, 2000 when Premier Bernard Lord restructured the New Brunswick Cabinet.

On March 15, 2012 it was re-established when the departments of Environment and Local Government were merged under the incumbent Minister of Local Government Bruce Fitch.

* Holder continued as minister in the new Department of Environment.

** Fitch had been serving as minister of local government.