BILL
NUMBER
TITLE CHAPTER
NUMBER
14 COMMUNITY CHARTER c. 26

Commencement:
292  
This Act comes into force by regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Royal Assent – May 29, 2003
  • B.C. Reg. 423/2003 – Act in force Jan. 1, 2004


BILL 14 – 2003
COMMUNITY CHARTER

Contents

Section
 
Part 1 -- Principles, Purposes and Interpretation
1  Principles of municipal governance
2  Principles of municipal-provincial relations
3  Purposes of Act
4  Broad interpretation
5  Definitions and other interpretation rules
 
Part 2 -- Municipal Purposes and Powers
Division 1 -- Purposes and Fundamental Powers
6  Municipalities and their councils
7  Municipal purposes
8  Fundamental powers
9  Spheres of concurrent authority
 
Division 2 -- Scope of Jurisdiction
10  Relationship with Provincial laws
11  Area of jurisdiction
 
Division 3 -- Ancillary Powers
12  Authority to establish variations, terms and conditions
13  Services outside municipality
14  Intermunicipal service, regulatory and other schemes
15  Licensing and standards authority
16  Authority to enter on or into property
17  Municipal action at defaulter's expense
18  Authority to discontinue providing a service
19  Requirements for security to be paid to municipality
20  Emergency powers
 
Part 3 -- Additional Powers and Limits on Powers
Division 1 -- Partnering and Other Agreements
21  Partnering agreements
22  Agreements granting exclusive or limited franchises
23  Agreements with other public authorities
 
Division 2 -- Restrictions on Providing Assistance
24  Publication of intention to provide certain kinds of assistance
25  General prohibition against assistance to business and exceptions
 
Division 3 -- Municipal Property
26  Notice of proposed property disposition
27  Exchange or other disposal of park land
28  Disposal of water systems, sewage systems and other utilities
29  Municipal ownership of subdivision park land
30  Reservation and dedication of municipal property
 
Division 4 -- Expropriation and Compensation
31  General expropriation power
32  Authority to enter on and use property
33  Compensation for expropriation and other actions
34  Appropriation of stream channel or bed without compensation
 
Division 5 -- Highways
35  Ownership and possession of highways
36  General authority in relation to highways
37  Intermunicipal boundary highways
38  Temporary traffic restriction and traffic control
39  Additional powers in relation to highways
40  Permanent closure and removal of highway dedication
41  Restrictions in relation to highway disposition, closure or alteration
42  Agreements respecting compensation for extraordinary traffic
43  Agreements respecting municipal equipment on utility poles
44  Agreements to reserve land for highway purposes
45  Highway construction and dikes
46  Use of highways and public places
 
Division 6 -- Animal Control
47  Classes of animals
48  Seizure and related powers
49  Special powers in relation to dangerous dogs
 
Division 7 -- Authority in relation to Trees
50  Restrictions in relation to authority
51  Compensation not payable
52  Right to reconsideration by council
 
Division 8 -- Building Regulation
53  General authority in relation to buildings and other structures
54  Building permits and occupancy permits
55  Requirement for professional certification
56  Requirement for geotechnical report
57  Note against land title that building regulations contravened
58  Cancellation of note against land title
 
Division 9 -- Business Regulation
59  Powers to require and prohibit
60  Business licence authority
61  Restriction on authority to require examination or certification
 
Division 10 -- Other Spheres
62  Public place powers
63  Protection of persons and property
64  Nuisances, disturbances and other objectionable situations
65  Signs and other advertising
 
Division 11 -- Other Powers
66  Fire chief powers
67  Disposal of property in police possession
68  Restriction on authority to fluoridate
69  Specific authority in relation to drainage, sewage and dikes
70  Drainage control
71  Orders and awards respecting drainage or reclamation works
 
Division 12 -- Remedial Action Requirements
72  Council may impose remedial action requirements
73  Hazardous conditions
74  Declared nuisances
75  Harm to drainage or dike
76  Time limit for compliance
77  Notice to affected persons
78  Person affected may request reconsideration by council
79  Shorter time limits in urgent circumstances
80  Recovery of municipal costs through sale of property
 
Part 4 -- Public Participation and Council Accountability
Division 1 -- Elections, Petitions and Community Opinion
81  Election proceedings
82  Petitions to council
83  Council may seek community opinion
 
Division 2 -- Approval of the Electors
84  Approval of the electors
85  Assent of the electors
86  Alternative approval process
87  Matters requiring approval or assent may be combined
88  Agreements requiring approval or assent
 
Division 3 -- Open Meetings
89  General rule that meetings must be open to the public
90  Meetings that may or must be closed to the public
91  Other persons attending closed meetings
92  Requirements before meeting is closed
93  Application of rules to other bodies


Division 4 -- Public Notice and Access to Records

94  Requirements for public notice
95  Public access to municipal records
96  Agreements that require elector approval or assent
97  Other records to which public access must be provided
 
Division 5 -- Reporting
98  Annual municipal report
99  Annual meeting on report
 
Division 6 -- Conflict of Interest
100  Disclosure of conflict
101  Restrictions on participation if in conflict
102  Restrictions on inside influence
103  Restrictions on outside influence
104  Exceptions from conflict restrictions
105  Restrictions on accepting gifts
106  Disclosure of gifts
107  Disclosure of contracts with council members and former council members
108  Restrictions on use of insider information
109  Court order for person to give up financial gain
 
Division 7 -- Disqualification
110  Circumstances in which a person is disqualified from office on council
111  Application to court for declaration of disqualification
112  Status of a person subject to an application
113  Costs of an application
 
Part 5 -- Municipal Government and Procedures
Division 1 -- Council Roles and Responsibilities
114  Council as governing body
115  Responsibilities of council members
116  Responsibilities of mayor
117  Duty to respect confidentiality
118  Size of council
119  Term of office for council members
120  Oath or affirmation of office
121  Resignation from office
 
Division 2 -- Council Proceedings
122  Exercise of powers by bylaw or resolution
123  General voting rules
124  Procedure bylaws
125  Council meetings
126  Calling of special council meetings
127  Notice of council meetings
128  Electronic meetings and participation by members
129  Quorum for conducting business
130  Designation of member to act in place of mayor
131  Mayor may require council reconsideration of matter
132  Authority of presiding member
133  Expulsion from meetings
134  Authority to compel witnesses
 
Division 3 -- Bylaw Procedures
135  Requirements for passing bylaws
136  When a bylaw comes into force
137  Power to amend or repeal
138  Municipal codes and other general bylaws
139  Consolidation of bylaws
140  Revision of bylaws
 
Division 4 -- Committees, Commissions and Other Bodies
141  Standing committees of council
142  Select committees of council
143  Municipal commissions
144  Authority to rescind appointment
145  Application of procedure rules to other bodies
 
Division 5 -- Officers and Employees
146  Officer positions
147  Chief administrative officer
148  Corporate officer
149  Financial officer
150  General employment matters
151  Suspension of officers and employees
152  Termination of officers
153  Prohibition against interfering with municipal officers and employees
 
Division 6 -- Delegation
154  Delegation of council authority
155  Special rules respecting delegation of hearings and other proceedings
156  Reconsideration of delegate's decisions
 
Division 7 -- Other Matters
157  Municipal days of recognition
158  Freedom of the municipality
159  Notice to municipality
160  Notice by municipality: obligation satisfied if reasonable effort made
161  Court order allowing substituted service
162  Certified copies of municipal records
163  Evidence of municipal bylaws and other records
 
Part 6 -- Financial Management
Division 1 -- Financial Planning and Accountability
164  Fiscal year
165  Financial plan
166  Public process for development of financial plan
167  Annual financial statements
168  Reporting of council remuneration, expenses and contracts
 
Division 2 -- Audit
169  Municipal auditor
170  Audit committee
171  Auditor's reports
172  Complaints to council or auditor about financial affairs
 
Division 3 -- Expenditures, Liabilities and Investments
173  Limit on expenditures
174  Limit on borrowing and other liabilities
175  Liabilities under agreements
176  Liabilities imposed under prescribed enactments
177  Revenue anticipation borrowing
178  Short term capital borrowing
179  Loan authorization bylaws for long term borrowing
180  Elector approval required for some loan authorization bylaws
181  Temporary borrowing under loan authorization bylaw
182  Municipal financing through regional district
183  Investment of municipal funds
184  Property accepted in trust
185  Ownership of corporations
186  Self insurance
187  Indemnification against proceedings
 
Division 4 -- Reserve Funds
188  Establishment of reserve funds
189  Use of money in reserve funds
 
Division 5 -- Restrictions on Use of Municipal Funds
190  Purposes for which borrowed money may be used
191  Liabilities for use of money contrary to Act
 
Part 7 -- Municipal Revenue
Division 1 -- General
192  General revenue sources
193  Authority for fees and taxes
 
Division 2 -- Fees
194  Municipal fees
195  Fees in relation to soil removal and deposit
196  Fees in relation to fire and security alarm systems
 
Division 3 -- Property Value Taxes
197  Annual property tax bylaw
198  Assessment averaging and phasing options
199  Property tax rates regulations
 
Division 4 -- Parcel Taxes
200  Parcel tax bylaw
201  Property subject to parcel tax
202  Parcel tax roll for purpose of imposing tax
203  Content of parcel tax roll
204  Parcel tax roll review panel
205  Review panel to hear complaints and make corrections
206  Authentication of parcel tax roll
207  Appeal to Supreme Court from review panel decision
208  Updating the parcel tax roll
209  Validity of parcel tax roll
 
Division 5 -- Local Service Taxes
210  Authority for local area services
211  Requirements for establishing a local area service
212  Petition for local area service
213  Local area service on council initiative -- subject to petition against
214  Local area service on council initiative -- subject to elector assent
215  Business improvement areas
216  Local service taxes
217  Borrowing in relation to a local area service
218  Enlargement or reduction of local service area
219  Merging of local service areas
 
Division 6 -- Statutory Exemptions
220  General statutory exemptions
221  Grandparented pollution abatement exemptions
222  Phased farm property tax exemption
223  Exemptions under regulations
 
Division 7 -- Permissive Exemptions
224  General authority for permissive exemptions
225  Partnering, heritage, riparian and other special exemption authority
226  Revitalization tax exemptions
227  Notice of permissive tax exemptions
 
Division 8 -- Tax Liability of Occupiers
228  Taxation of Crown land used by others
229  Taxation of municipal land used by others
230  Taxation of occupier of exempt land
 
Division 9 -- General Revenue Collection Authority
231  Recovery of taxes and fees
232  Collection agreements with other taxing authorities
 
Division 10 -- Property Tax Due Dates and Tax Notices
233  Options for tax due dates
234  General tax collection scheme
235  Alternative municipal tax collection scheme
236  Owner may elect which scheme to use
237  General tax notices
238  Persons may request copies of tax notices
 
Division 11 -- Adjustments to Taxes
239  Interest on overpayment of taxes
240  Adjustments for assessment changes
241  Taxation based on supplementary roll
242  Apportionment of property value taxes if land subdivided
243  Apportionment of parcel taxes if land subdivided
 
Division 12 -- Payment of Taxes
244  Application of tax payments
245  Taxes in arrear
246  Delinquent taxes
247  Treatment of outstanding taxes on subdivision or cancellation of subdivision
248  Statement of outstanding taxes
249  Certificate of outstanding taxes
 
Division 13 -- Recovery of Taxes
250  Taxes are a special charge on the land
251  Liability of assessed owner
252  Recovery of taxes by the legal remedy of distress
253  Power to accept real property in place of taxes
254  Tax sales
255  Notice of delinquent taxes on Crown land
256  Recovery of taxes on Crown land subject to an agreement for sale
257  Recovery of taxes on Crown land held under lease or licence
 
Division 14 -- Recovery of Special Fees
258  Special fees may be collected as property taxes
259  Special fees that are liens against property
 
Part 8 -- Bylaw Enforcement and Related Matters
Division 1 -- Bylaw Enforcement
260  Enforcement powers
261  Payment of fines and other penalties to municipality
262  Recovery of penalty by legal remedy of distress
 
Division 2 -- Offence Act prosecutions
263  Penalties in relation to Offence Act prosecutions
 
Division 3 -- Ticketing for Bylaw Offences
264  Ticket offences
265  Penalties in relation to ticket offences
266  Laying information and serving ticket
267  Choice of paying fine or disputing ticket
268  Effect of paying fine
269  Hearing of dispute
270  Failure to appear at hearing
271  Failure to respond to ticket
272  Time extensions if person not at fault in failing to respond or appear
273  Regulations in relation to ticket offences
 
Division 4 -- Enforcement by Civil Proceedings
274  Actions by municipality
 
Division 5 -- Other Matters
275  Entry warrants
 
Part 9 -- Governmental Relations

Division 1 -- Provincial-Municipal Relations

276  Required consultations
277  Consultation agreements
278  Enforcement of obligations
279  No forced amalgamations
 
Division 2 -- Provincial Regulations
280  Regulations providing exemptions from approval requirements
281  Regulations providing additional powers and exceptions
282  General regulation authority
283  Variation authority
 
Division 3 -- Dispute Resolution
284  Request for assistance in relation to intergovernmental dispute
285  Voluntary binding arbitration
286  Mandatory binding arbitration
287  Final proposal arbitration
288  Full arbitration
289  General provisions regarding arbitration process
290  Implementation of arbitrator's decision
291  Regulations respecting arbitrations
292  Commencement
 
Schedule -- Definitions and Rules of Interpretation
1  Definitions
2  Application of Local Government Act definitions
3  Special rule for Mountain Time Zone
4  References to municipal officers