<p>The effective application of urban design principles relies on the enforcement of planning regulations, guidelines, and standards. While scholars globally have examined compliance and non-compliance with these regulations, this study seeks to improve existing knowledge by studying the phenomenon from the perspective of professional planners in the Ghanaian context. Planning practitioners are key stakeholders in the planning process and are therefore vital in helping to achieve the sustainable development goals especially Goal 11 which seeks to ensure sustainable cities and communities. Therefore, understanding their insights on the implications of non-compliance with planning regulations for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals is of great relevance to the sustainability and urban planning literature. In this study, a total of 47 planning professionals were interviewed from twelve (12) Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study found that non-compliance with planning regulations in the study region has led to the creation of slums, pollution of water, and encroachment in ecologically sensitive areas. These have implications for the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 1, 6, and 11. There is the urgent need to revise the building permitting process by selling the service to developers instead of waiting for developers to patronize the service.</p>