Local Government Act

[RSBC 1996] CHAPTER 323

Contents
Section
Part 1 — Purposes, Principles and Interpretation
 1 Purposes of this Act
 2 Purposes of regional districts
 3 Principles for governmental relations
 4 Broad interpretation
 5 Definitions
 5.1 Application of Community Charter definitions
 6 Not Enacted
 6.1 References to regional district officers
 6.2 Special rule for Mountain Time Zone
 6.3 Not Enacted
 6.4 How notices must be published in a newspaper
 6.5 Giving notice to regional districts
 6.6 Power to make regulations
 6.7 Not in force
 6.8 Designation of resort regions
Part 1.1
 5 Repealed
 6 Repealed
 6.1– 6.2 Repealed
 6.3 Repealed
 6.4–6.6 Repealed
 6.7 Repealed
Part 2 — Incorporation of Municipalities
 7 Incorporation of a new municipality
 8 Vote required for the incorporation of a new municipality
 9 Procedure and costs for vote on incorporation
 10 Incorporation of municipality in conjunction with resource development
 11 Incorporation of a mountain resort municipality
 11.1 Incorporation of island municipality in Islands Trust area
 12 Incorporation of reserve residents as village
 13 What must and may be included in letters patent
 14 Exceptions for industrial plants
 15 Publication of letters patent
 16 Repealed
 17 Classification of municipalities
 18 Change of municipal classification
 19 Repealed
 20 Extension of boundaries
 21 Redefinition of boundaries
 22 Collection of taxes
 23 Transfer of Provincial tax money if rural land included in municipality
 24 Bylaws extend to additional area
 25 Repealed
 26 Reduction of municipal area
 27 Redefinition of adjoining municipalities
 28 Conditions on extension or reduction
 29 Disincorporation of a municipality
 30 Dissolution of improvement district
 31 Rights and liabilities not affected by surrender or revocation of letters patent
 32 Existing licences preserved
Part 3 — Electors and Elections
 Division1 —  Interpretation
 33 Definitions
 34 Time not extended for voting days
 35 This Act prevails in relation to use of information
 Division2 —  Arrangements for Elections
 36 General local elections every 3 years
 36.1 Municipal elections at large unless on a neighbourhood constituency basis
 37 By-elections
 38 Minister's order for election to be conducted
 39 Election bylaws
 40 Costs of elections
 41 Appointment of election officials
 42 Chief election officer duties and powers
 43 Presiding election official duties and powers
 Division3 —  Election Proceedings Generally
 44 Public notices
 45 Solemn declarations
 46 Keeping order at election proceedings
 47 Adjournment of election proceedings
 48 Exceptional assistance in election proceedings
 Division4 —  Electors
 49 Who may vote at an election
 50 Resident electors
 51 Non-resident property electors
 52 Rules for determining residence
 53 When a person may register as an elector
 54 Voting day registration only
 55 Application for registration
 56 How to register in advance
 57 How to register as a resident elector at the time of voting
 57.1 How to register as a non-resident property elector at the time of voting
 58 Repealed
 59 Automatic registration by inclusion on Provincial list of voters
 60 Effect of registration
 61 Register of electors
 62 List of registered electors
 63 Protection of privacy
 64 Objection to registration of an elector
 65 Resolving objections
 Division5 —  Qualifications for Office
 66 Who may hold elected office as a member of a local government
 67 Disqualification of local government employees
 68 Only one elected office at a time in the same local government
 Division6 —  Nominations and Declaration of Election
 69 Nomination period
 70 Notice of nomination
 71 Nomination of candidates
 72 Nomination documents
 72.1 Nomination deposits
 73 Nomination by delivery of nomination documents
 74 Declaration of candidates
 75 Challenge of nomination
 76 Declaration of election by voting or acclamation
 77 Notice of election by voting
 78 Appointment if an insufficient number of candidates are elected
 Division7 —  Candidates and Representatives
 79 Ballot showing candidate endorsement by elector organization
 80 Withdrawal, death or incapacity of candidate
 81 Appointment of candidate representatives
 82 Presence of candidate representatives at election proceedings
 Division8 —  Campaign Financing
 83 Definitions
 84 Election campaign
 85 Financial agent required for candidates, elector organizations and campaign organizers
 85.01 Information to be provided to chief election officer
 85.1 Campaign accounts
 86 Restrictions on accepting contributions and incurring expenses
 87 Restrictions on making campaign contributions
 88 Financial agent must record contributions and expenses
 89 Valuation of campaign contributions and election expenses
 89.1 Transfer of candidate's surplus campaign funds
 90 Duty to file disclosure statement
 90.1 Duty to file supplementary reports
 90.2 Late filing of disclosure statements
 91 Court order for relief from filing obligations
 92 Candidate disqualification for failure to file disclosure statement
 92.1 Disqualification of elector organization or campaign organizer for failure to file
 92.2 Public notice of failure to file
 92.3 Disqualification list
 92.4 Candidate disqualification for false or incomplete reports
 92.5 Disqualification of elector organization or campaign organizer for false or incomplete reports
 93 Disclosure statements and supplementary reports to be available for public inspection
 Division9 —  Voting Opportunities
 94 Voting opportunities for electors
 95 Required general voting opportunities
 96 Additional general voting opportunities
 97 Required advance voting opportunities
 98 Additional advance voting opportunities
 99 Special voting opportunities
 100 Mail ballot voting
 Division10 —  Arrangements for Voting
 101 Voting places
 102 Use of voting machines
 103 Municipal voting divisions
 104 Form of ballots
 105 What must and must not be included on a ballot
 106 Order of names on ballot
 107 Order of names on ballot determined by lot
 108 Ballot boxes
 Division11 —  Conduct of Voting Proceedings
 109 Persons who must be present at voting places
 110 Persons who may be present at voting places
 111 Sealing of ballot boxes containing ballots
 112 Time for voting extended
 Division12 —  Voting
 113 Voting to be by secret ballot
 114 Each elector may vote only once
 115 Requirements before elector may be given a ballot to vote
 116 Challenge of elector
 117 If another person has already voted under an elector's name
 118 Replacement of spoiled ballot
 119 How to vote by ballot
 120 One person to a voting compartment
 121 Persons needing assistance to mark their ballots
 122 Persons unable to enter a voting place
 Division13 —  Counting of the Vote
 123 When and where counting is to be done
 124 Who may be present at counting
 125 Who does the counting
 126 Opening of ballot boxes
 127 Combination of ballots for counting
 128 Procedures for counting
 129 Rules for accepting votes and rejecting ballots
 130 Objections to the acceptance of a vote or the rejection of a ballot
 131 Ballot account
 132 Packaging of ballots
 133 Delivery of election materials to chief election officer
 134 Preliminary election results
 135 Determination of official election results
 136 Declaration of official election results
 137 When elected candidates may take office
 Division14 —  Judicial Recount
 138 Application for judicial recount
 139 Judicial recount procedure
 140 Results of judicial recount and orders as to costs
 141 Determination of results by lot if tie vote after judicial recount
 142 Runoff election if tie vote after a judicial recount
 Division15 —  Declaration of Invalid Election
 143 Application to court
 144 Hearing of the application
 145 Power of the court on an application
 146 Costs of an application
 147 Status of an elected candidate
 Division16 —  Final Proceedings
 148 Report of election results
 149 Publication of election results
 150 Retention and destruction of election materials
 Division17 —  Election Offences
 151 Vote buying
 152 Intimidation
 152.1 Prohibition against certain election advertising on general voting day
 153 Other election offences
 153.1 Prosecution of organizations and their directors and agents
 154 Penalties
 Division18 —  General
 155 Powers of minister in relation to elections
 156 Regulations
Part 4 — Other Voting
 Division1 —  Interpretation
 157 Definitions
 158 Other voting to be conducted in same manner as an election
 Division2 —  Assent of the Electors
 159 How assent is obtained
 160 Repealed
 Division3 —  Other Voting Proceedings
 161 Who may vote at other voting
 162 General voting day for other voting
 163 Arrangements for other voting
 164 Notice of other voting
 165 Ballots for other voting
 166 When counting for other voting is to be done
 167 Special procedures if voting is conducted by more than one jurisdiction
 168 Other general matters
 Division4 —  Scrutineers
 169 Scrutineers for other voting
 170 Notice of applications to volunteer as a scrutineer
 171 Applications to volunteer to act as scrutineer for other voting
 172 Appointment of scrutineers for other voting
 Division5
 172.1–172.91 Repealed
Part 5 — Regional District Corporate Powers and Their Use
 Division1 —  Regional District Corporate Status
 173 Regional district corporations
 174 Board is governing body
 175 Area of jurisdiction
 Division2 —  General Corporate Powers
 176 Corporate powers
 Division3 —  Agreements
 177 Disclosure of information relating to agreements
 178–179 Repealed
 180 Approval for out-of-Province and out-of-country agreements with public authorities
 Division4 —  Assistance
 181 Definition of "assistance"
 182 Prohibition against assistance to business
 183 Exception for assistance under partnering agreements
 183.1 Exception for heritage conservation purposes
 184 Limitation on assistance by means of tax exemption
 185 Publication of intention to provide certain kinds of assistance
 Division5 —  Disposing of Land and Improvements
 186 Disposition of land and improvements
 187 Notice of proposed disposition
 188 Use of money from sale of land or improvements
 189 Repealed
 190 Disposal of utilities and water and sewer systems
 Division6 —  Delegation of Board Authority
 191 Limitations on delegation authority
 192 How delegation must occur
 193 Delegation of hearings
 194 Reconsideration of delegate's decisions
 Division7 —  Incorporation of Corporations
 195 Incorporation of corporations
Part 5.1 — Regional District Officers and Employees
 Division1 —  Officer Positions
 196 Officer positions
 197 Chief administrative officer
 198 Corporate administration
 199 Financial administration
 Division2 —  Regional District Officers and Employees Generally
 200 Appointment of officers and employees
 201 Oath of office for officers
 202 Termination of officer
 203 Employers' organization
 Division3 —  Certification of Senior Officials
 204 Board of examiners
 205 Powers of board
 206 Board may make regulations
 206.1 Application
Part 5.2 — Regional District Boards and Their Proceedings
 Division1 —  Board Members
 207–209 Repealed
 210 Oath of office for board members
 211 Repealed
 212 Resignation from office
 213–214 Repealed
 215–217 Repealed
 Division2 —  Chair
 218 Powers and duties of chair
 219 Chair may require board reconsideration of a matter
 220–221 Repealed
 Division3 —  Board Meetings
 222 Repealed
 222.1 Regular and special board meetings
 223–224 Repealed
 225–226 Repealed
 227 Proceedings at board meetings
 228–231 Repealed
 Division4 —  Board Proceedings
 232–235 Repealed
 236 Minutes of board meetings
 237 Minutes of board committee meetings
 237.1 Meetings and hearings outside regional district
 238–241 Repealed
 242 Repealed
 Division4.1
 242.1–242.8 Repealed
 Division5
 243–251 Repealed
 252–253 Repealed
 254–256 Repealed
Part 6 — Challenge and Enforcement of Bylaws
 Division1
 257–258 Repealed
 258.1 Repealed
 259 Repealed
 259.1–259.3 Repealed
 Division2 —  Challenge of Bylaws
 260 Extended definition of "bylaw"
 261 Validity of council proceedings
 262 Application to court to set aside bylaw
 263 Assessment or rate stands unless bylaw set aside
 264 Declaratory orders
 265 Right of action on illegal bylaw
 Division3 —  Enforcement of Regional District Bylaws
 266 Fines and penalties
 266.1 Ticketing for bylaw offences
 266.2 Application of the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act
 267 Bylaw contraventions — offences and penalties
 267.1 Additional sentencing powers in relation to Offence Act prosecutions
 268 Inspections to determine whether bylaws are being followed
 269 Regional district action at defaulter's expense
 270 Repealed
 Division4 and 5
 271–280 Repealed
 280.1–280.6 Repealed
Part 7 — Legal Proceedings
 Division1 —  Proceedings by Regional Districts
 281 Enforcement by civil proceedings
 282 Repealed
 283 Recovery of utility rates by legal remedy of distress
 284 Scale of costs on distress
 Division2 —  Proceedings against Municipality
 285 Limitation period for actions against municipality
 286 Immunity unless notice given to municipality after damage
 287 Immunity for individual municipal public officers
 287.1 Defence for financial officer
 287.2 Indemnification against proceedings
 288 Immunity against certain nuisance actions
 289 Immunity in relation to failure to enforce building bylaws
 290 Limitation on municipal liability regarding building plan approval
 291 Proceedings against municipality in relation to actions of others
 292 Repealed
 Division3 —  Enforcement of Orders against Municipality
 293 Writ of execution against municipality
 294 Copy of writ to be left with municipal officer
 295 Tax to be imposed if amount not paid
 296 Payment of amount levied
 297 Officers of municipality as officers of court
 298 Certain municipal property exempt from seizure
 Division4 —  Miscellaneous
 299 Repealed
 300 Self insurance by local authorities
 301 Repealed
 301.1 Nisga'a Final Agreement
 301.11 Repealed
Part 8 — Special Powers Relating to Property
 Division1 —  Reservation and Dedication of Regional District Property
 302 Power to reserve and dedicate regional district land for public purpose
 303 Control of Crown land parks dedicated by subdivision
 304 Exchange of park land
 305 Repealed
 305.1–305.2 Repealed
 Division2 —  Municipal Forest Reserves
 306 Establishment of municipal forest reserve
 307 Sale or lease of municipal forest reserve
 308 Cutting and removal of timber
 Division3 —  Expropriation and Compensation
 309 Expropriation power
 309.1 Repealed
 310 Authority in relation to services
 311 Entry on land to mitigate damage
 312 Compensation for expropriation and other actions
 313 Repealed
 Division4 —  Other Regional District Powers
 314 Power to accept property on trust
 314.1 Authority to enter on or into property
 315 Repealed
 Division4.1 —  Special Municipal Powers
 315.1 Irrigation services
 315.2 District municipality drainage works
 Division4.2 —  Other Powers
 315.3 Further powers in relation to assets
 316–326 Repealed
Part 9
 327 Repealed
 327.1 Repealed
 328–329 Repealed
 329.1 Repealed
 330–331 Repealed
 331.1–331.4 Repealed
 332–334 Repealed
 334.1–334.4 Repealed
 335 Repealed
 335.1–335.5 Repealed
 336–338 Repealed
Part 10 — Municipal Taxation: Special Cases
 339–343 Repealed
 343.1–343.2 Repealed
 344 Repealed
 344.1 Repealed
 345 –351 Repealed
 352 Forest land
 353 Taxation of certain utility company property
 354 Repealed
 355–358 Repealed
Part 10.1 — Regional District Fees, Charges and Interest
 359 Repealed
 359.1–359.3 Repealed
 360 Repealed
 360.1 Repealed
 361 Repealed
 361.1–361.9 Repealed
 362 Repealed
 363 Imposition of fees and charges
 363.1 Interest calculation
 363.2 Special fees and charges that are to be collected as taxes
 364 Special fees and charges that are liens against property
Part 11 — Annual Municipal Tax Sale
 365–383 Repealed
 384–387 Repealed
 388 Repealed
 389–395 Repealed
 396–402 Repealed
 403 Annual tax sale
 404 Exemption of Crown land from tax sale
 405 Notice of tax sale
 406 Municipality may bid at tax sale
 407 Upset price and conduct of tax sale
 408 Purchaser to give authority to register tax sale title
 409 Collector to provide certificate of sale
 410 Tax sale of Crown land subject to an agreement to purchase
 411 Provincial government may accept tax sale purchaser
 412 Resale of land purchased by municipality at tax sale
 413 Notice of tax sale must be filed in land title office
 414 Owners must be given notice of tax sale and redemption period
 415 Assessment and taxes during redemption period
 416 Application of surplus from tax sale
 417 Redemption by owner
 418 Redemption payments by instalments
 419 Notice of redemption must be filed in land title office
 420 Registration of purchaser
 421 Effect of tax sale on rights of owner
 422 Action by owner to have tax sale set aside
 423 Reinstatement of taxes if sale set aside
 424 Restrictions on legal actions in relation to tax sale
 425 Repossessed tax sale land
 426 Procedure on default of purchaser under agreement
 427 Redemption by municipality of land sold for Provincial taxes
 428 Repealed
 429–447 Repealed
Part 12
 448–449 Repealed
 450 Repealed
 451 Repealed
 452 Repealed
 453–479 Repealed
Part 13
 480 Repealed
 481 Repealed
 482–483 Repealed
 484 Repealed
 485 Repealed
 486 Repealed
 487–502 Repealed
 503 Repealed
 504 Repealed
 505–506 Repealed
Part 14
 507–508 Repealed
 509 Repealed
 510–516 Repealed
Part 15 — Specific Regional District Service Powers
 Division1 and 2
 517 Repealed
 517.1 Repealed
 518 Repealed
 518.1 Repealed
 519 Repealed
 520–521 Repealed
 Division3 —  Fire Protection
 522 Special fire protection powers
 Division4 —  Health
 523 Health protection authority
 Division5
 524–539 Repealed
 Division6 —  Sewers, Storm Drains and Drainage
 540 Special drainage and sewerage authority
 541 Watercourse may be included in drainage system
 542 Requirements respecting drainage works
 543 Appropriation of stream channel or bed
 544 Control of drainage
 545 Repealed
 546 Remedial authority in relation to drainage and dikes
 547 Highway construction and dikes
 548 Interjurisdictional watercourses
 549 Repealed
 Division7 —  Waste and Recycling
 550 Authority in relation to waste disposal and recycling services
 Division8 —  Miscellaneous
 551 Regulation of signs and advertising
 552 Use of rights of way
 553 Irrigation services
 554 Repealed
 555 Authority subject to Water Act
Part 16
 556–575 Repealed
 576 Repealed
 577–584 Repealed
Part 17
 585–592 Repealed
 593 Repealed
 594–599 Repealed
 600 Repealed
 601–604 Repealed
 605 Repealed
 606 Repealed
 607 to 609 Repealed
Part 18
 610–614 Repealed
 615–619 Repealed
Part 19
 620–650 Repealed
 650.1 Repealed
 651 Repealed
 651.1–651.2 Repealed
Part 20 — Regulation of Carriers and Commercial Vehicle Licensing
 Division1 —  Regulation of Carriers
 652–656 Repealed
 657 Regulation of carriers
 Division2
 658–663 Repealed
 Division3 —  Licensing of Commercial Vehicles
 664 Definitions
 665 Application of Division
 666 Commercial vehicle licensing bylaw
 667 Exemptions from licensing requirements
 668 Licence plate must be displayed
 669 Issue and transfer of licence plates
 670 Term of licences
 671 Fees to be paid to UBCM
 672 Offences
 673–679 Repealed
 680 Repealed
 681–682 Repealed
 683 Repealed
 684–691 Repealed
Part 21 — Building Regulations
 Division1 —  Building Code and Other Building Regulations
 692 Provincial building code and regulations
 693 Building Code Appeal Board
 Division2 —  Regional District Building Regulations
 693.1 Restrictions on authority
 694 Regional district building regulations
 694.1 Requirement for security
 695 Application of Community Charter provisions
 696 Regulating doors and emergency exits
 697 Municipality may adopt national codes
 Division3 —  Hazardous Conditions
 698 Remedial authority in relation to hazardous conditions
 699–701 Repealed
Part 22 — Miscellaneous Powers
 702 Repealed
 Division1 —  Regulation of Animals
 702.1 Application in relation to regional district animal control service
 703 Animal control authority
 704–706 Repealed