List of municipalities in British Columbia

Map of Canada with British Columbia highlighted in red

Location of British Columbia in Canada

British Columbia is the third-most populous province in Canada with 4,400,057 residents as of 2011 and is the second-largest in land area^{[lower-alpha 1]} at approximately 922,500 km² (356,200 sq mi).^[2] British Columbia's 162 municipalities cover only 7001110000000000000♠11% of the province's land mass yet are home to 7001890000000000000♠89% of its population. A municipality is a local government incorporated by the province allowing a community to govern itself and to provide and regulate local services. These services typically include, but are not limited to, the provision of drinking water, sewers, roads, fire protection, street lights, garbage/recycling collection, land use planning, building inspection, and parks.

Within their limited jurisdictions, municipalities are autonomous, responsible and accountable to their citizens, to the province and their future residents in the case for the unpopulated Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality.^[3] Their powers and responsibilities are regulated through the Local Government Act of British Columbia,^[4] the Community Charter, and, in the case of Vancouver, the Vancouver Charter. They have the power of a natural person, the power to expropriate, and the power to establish and enforce bylaws. They are able to raise funds through property taxes and user fees, and borrow a limited amount through the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia to pay for capital costs.^[5]

Municipalities are governed by a mayor and council who are democratically elected every 4 years on the third Saturday in October or appointed by the province such as the council for Jumbo Glacier.^[3] The most recent election most recent election took place on November 15; the next election will take place on October 20, 2018.^[6] Each municipality is a member of a regional district to which their councils elect representatives. The board of directors of the regional district is used as a forum to discuss regional issues.^[5]

To become a municipality, a community, with the assistance of the provincial Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, defines its borders and holds a referendum on the issue. In the case of Jumbo Glacier, a request to incorporate the unpopulated municipality was submitted by the Regional District of East Kootenay.^[3] If successful the Cabinet of British Columbia issues a letters patent incorporating the community. Part 2 of the Local Government Act sets out a classification scheme that gives each new municipality a designation. If the population is less than 2,500 people the new municipality is designated a village, if between 2,500 and 5,000 a town, and if greater than 5,000 a city. If the new municipality has an area greater than 800 hectares (2,000 acres) and an average population density of less than 5 persons per hectare then is it designated a district municipality. The municipality must request change in designation but is not compelled to do so, despite population growth or loss - Greenwood has retained its city status, for example, rather than relinquishing it as other boomtowns of its era have done. There is no longer any legal difference between the designations.^[5]

Municipal status types

Skyline of Vancouver, British Columbia's largest city

Skyline of Surrey, British Columbia's second largest city and suburb of Vancouver

Skyline of Burnaby, British Columbia's third largest city and suburb of Vancouver

Skyline of Richmond, British Columbia's fourth largest city and suburb of Vancouver

Skyline of Abbotsford, the largest city outside of Greater Vancouver

Skyline of Coquitlam, British Columbia's sixth largest city and suburb of Vancouver

Kelowna Skyline, the largest city in the interior of British Columbia

Areal view of Saanich, the largest municipality on Vancouver Island and suburb of the capital Victoria

Cities

Main article: List of cities in British Columbia

A city is a classification of municipalities used in the Canadian Province of British Columbia. British Columbia's Lieutenant Governor in Council may incorporate a community as a city by letters patent, under the recommendation of the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development, if its population is greater than 5,000 and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50% voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.^[7]

British Columbia has 51 cities,^[8]^[9]^[10] had a cumulative population of 3,033,046 and an average population of 59,471 in the 2011 Census. British Columbia's largest and smallest cities are Vancouver and Greenwood with populations of 603,502 and 708 respectively.^[11] The largest city by land area is Abbotsford, which spans 375.55 km² (145.00 sq mi), while the smallest is Duncan, at 2.07 km² (0.80 sq mi).^[11] The first community to incorporate as a city was New Westminster on July 16, 1860,^[8] while the most recent community to incorporate as a city was West Kelowna on June 26, 2015.^[10]

District municipalities

Main article: List of district municipalities in British Columbia

A district municipality is a classification of municipalities used in the Canadian Province of British Columbia. British Columbia's Lieutenant Governor in Council may incorporate a community as a district municipality by letters patent, under the recommendation of the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development, if the area is greater than 800 ha (2,000 acres) and has a population density of less than 5 people per hectare, and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50% voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.^[7]

British Columbia has 50 district municipalities^[8]^[10]^[12] that had a cumulative population of 746,125 and an average population of 14,923 in the 2011 Census.^[11] British Columbia's largest and smallest district municipalities are Saanich and Wells with populations of 109,752 and 245 respectively.^[11]

Of British Columbia's current 50 district municipalities, the first to incorporate as a district municipality was North Cowichan on June 18, 1873, while the most recent community to incorporate as a district municipality was the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) on February 6, 2009.^[8]^[12] Although portrayed as a regional municipality in its official name, the NRRM is actually classified as a district municipality.^[12]

Indian government districts

The lone Indian government district was granted by the federal Sechelt Indian Band Self-Government Act and provincial Sechelt Indian Government District Enabling Act to the Sechelt Indian Government District which governs the Sechelt Indian Band lands consisting of 33 former Indian reserves.^[13]^[14]^[15]

Island municipalities

If the community wishing to incorporate is located within a trust area under the Island Trust Act, it must incorporate as an island municipality.^[16] A single island municipality designation has been granted to Bowen Island.

Mountain resort municipalities

A mountain resort municipality designation is granted by the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development through the Local Government Act if there exists alpine ski lift operations, year-round recreational facilities, and commercial overnight accommodations. There are two mountain resort municipalities in British Columbia: Sun Peaks and Jumbo Glacier.

Resort municipalities

A single resort municipality designation has been granted to Whistler by the Resort Municipality of Whistler Act.^[17]

Towns

Main article: List of towns in British Columbia

A town is a classification of municipalities used in the Canadian Province of British Columbia. British Columbia's Lieutenant Governor in Council may incorporate a community as a town by letters patent, under the recommendation of the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development, if its population is greater than 2,500 but not greater than 5,000 and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50% voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.^[7]

British Columbia has 14 towns^[8] that had a cumulative population of 87,514 and an average population of 6,251 in the 2011 Census.^[11] British Columbia's largest and smallest towns are Comox and Port McNeill with populations of 13,627 and 2,505 respectively.^[11] Of British Columbia's current 14 towns, the first to incorporate as a town was Ladysmith on June 3, 1904, while the most recent community to incorporate as a town was View Royal on December 5, 1988.^[8]

Villages

Main article: List of villages in British Columbia

A village is a classification of municipalities used in the Canadian Province of British Columbia. British Columbia's Lieutenant Governor in Council may incorporate a community as a village by letters patent, under the recommendation of the Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development, if its population is not greater than 2,500 and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50% voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.^[7]

British Columbia has 42 villages^[8] that had a cumulative population of 44,962 and an average population of 1,070 in the 2011 Census.^[11] British Columbia's largest and smallest villages are Cumberland and Zeballos with populations of 3,398 and 125 respectively.^[11] Of British Columbia's current 42 villages, the first to incorporate as a village was Kaslo on August 14, 1893, while the most recent community to incorporate as a village was Queen Charlotte on December 5, 2005.^[8]