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List of municipalities in British Columbia

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Summary

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Map of Canada with British Columbia highlighted in red — Location of British Columbia in Canada

Skyline of Vancouver — Skyline of [[Vancouver]], British Columbia's largest city

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

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

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

Skyline of Abbotsford — Abbotsford]], the largest city outside of [[Greater Vancouver

Coquitlam's Town Centre — Skyline of [[Coquitlam]], British Columbia's sixth largest city and suburb of Vancouver

Kelowna Skyline — Skyline of [[Kelowna]], the largest city in the interior of British Columbia

Areal view of [[Saanich, British Columbia — Victoria

British Columbia is the third-most populous province in Canada, with 5,000,879 residents as of 2021, and is the second-largest in land area, at 920687 km2. British Columbia's 161 municipalities cover only of the province's land mass yet are home to 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 and to the province. Their powers and responsibilities are regulated through the Local Government Act, 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.

Municipalities are governed by a mayor and council who are democratically elected every 4 years on the third Saturday in October. The most recent election took place on October 15, 2022; the next election will take place on October 17, 2026. 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.

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. 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 fewer 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 ha and an average population density of fewer 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.

Cities

Main article: List of cities in British Columbia

A city is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia. British Columbia's lieutenant governor may incorporate a community as a city by letters patent, on the recommendation of the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, if its population is greater than 5,000 and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50 percent voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.

British Columbia has 53 cities, which had a cumulative population of 3,630,140 in the 2021 census. British Columbia's largest and smallest cities are Vancouver and Greenwood with populations of 662,248 and 702 respectively. The fastest-growing city in British Columbia is Langford, which grew 31.8 percent between 2016 and 2021, while the fastest-shrinking is Merritt, which shrunk by 1.2 percent. The largest city by land area is Abbotsford, which spans 375.33 km2, while the smallest is Duncan, at 2.06 km2. The first community to incorporate as a city was New Westminster on July 16, 1860, while the most recent community to incorporate as a city was Mission on March 29, 2021. Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia.

District municipalities

Main article: List of district municipalities in British Columbia

A district municipality is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia. British Columbia's lieutenant governor may incorporate a community as a district municipality by letters patent, under the recommendation of the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, if the area is greater than 800 ha and has a population density of fewer than 5 people per hectare, and the outcome of a vote involving affected residents was that greater than 50 percent voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.

British Columbia has 49 district municipalities that had a cumulative population of 669,454 in the 2021 Census. British Columbia's largest and smallest district municipalities are Langley and Wells with populations of 132,603 and 218 respectively. The fastest-growing district municipality in British Columbia is Stewart, which grew 28.9 percent between 2016 and 2021, while the fastest-shrinking is the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, which declined by 18.8 percent.

Of British Columbia's current 49 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. Although portrayed as a regional municipality in its official name, the NRRM is actually classified as a district municipality.

Indian government districts

The lone Indian government district designation was created by the federal shíshálh Nation Self-Government Act and provincial Sechelt Indian Government District Enabling Act and granted to the shíshálh Nation Government District (formerly known as the Sechelt Indian Government District), which governs the shíshálh Nation lands consisting of 33 former Indian reserves.

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. 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 Housing and Municipal Affairs through the Local Government Act if there exists alpine ski lift operations, year-round recreational facilities, and commercial overnight accommodations. British Columbia's lone mountain resort municipality is Sun Peaks.

Resort municipalities

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

Towns

Main article: List of towns in British Columbia

A town is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia. British Columbia's lieutenant governor 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 percent voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.

British Columbia has 14 towns that had a cumulative population of 95,922 in the 2021 census. British Columbia's largest and smallest towns are Comox and Port McNeill with populations of 14,806 and 2,356 respectively. View Royal and Smithers are the fastest-growing and fastest-shrinking towns in the province, growing by 11.2 percent and shrinking by 0.4 percent respectively between 2016 and 2021. 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.

Villages

Zeballos]], British Columbia's smallest municipality

Main article: List of villages in British Columbia

A village is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia. British Columbia's lieutenant governor may incorporate a community as a village by letters patent, on 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 percent voted in favour of the proposed incorporation.

British Columbia has 42 villages that had a cumulative population of 48,511 in the 2021 census. British Columbia's largest and smallest villages are Cumberland and Zeballos with populations of 4,447 and 126 respectively. Radium Hot Springs and Silverton are the fastest-growing and fastest-shrinking villages in the province, growing by 72.6 percent and shrinking by 23.6 percent respectively between 2016 and 2021. 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 (now known as Daajing Giids) on December 5, 2005.

List of municipalities

Name	Status	Regional district	2021 Canadian census
City	Fraser Valley	December 12, 1995	375.33
City	North Okanagan	March 31, 1913	5.22
City	Metro Vancouver	September 22, 1892	90.57
City	Strathcona	June 24, 1947	144.38
City	Central Kootenay	January 1, 1974	19.87
City	Fraser Valley	April 26, 1873	261.34
City	Capital	June 24, 1985	17.66
City	Metro Vancouver	July 25, 1891	122.15
City	Comox Valley	January 1, 1915	32.42
City	East Kootenay	November 1, 1905	31.97
City	Peace River	May 26, 1936	26.72
City	Metro Vancouver	November 10, 1879	179.66
City	Cowichan Valley	March 4, 1912	2.06
City	North Okanagan	March 1, 1905	4.26
City	East Kootenay	July 28, 1904	15.11
City	Peace River	December 31, 1947	32.67
City	Kootenay Boundary	April 15, 1897	10.37
City	Kootenay Boundary	July 12, 1897	2.42
City	Thompson-Nicola	October 17, 1967	297.93
City	Central Okanagan	May 4, 1905	211.85
City	East Kootenay	March 29, 1944	60.51
City	Capital	December 8, 1992	41.43
City	Metro Vancouver	March 15, 1955	10.18
City	Metro Vancouver	September 12, 2014	267.82
City	Thompson-Nicola	April 1, 1911	26.04
City	Fraser Valley	March 29, 2021	226.98
City	Nanaimo	December 24, 1874	90.45
City	Central Kootenay	March 18, 1897	11.93
City	Metro Vancouver	July 16, 1860	15.62
City	Metro Vancouver	August 10, 1891	11.83
City	Nanaimo	June 19, 1945	14.52
City	Okanagan-Similkameen	January 1, 1909	43.03
City	Metro Vancouver	April 25, 1914	86.34
City	Alberni-Clayoquot	October 28, 1967	19.66
City	Metro Vancouver	March 7, 1913	29.16
City	Metro Vancouver	March 11, 1913	25.85
City	qathet	October 15, 1955	28.91
City	Fraser-Fort George	March 6, 1915	316.74
City	North Coast	March 10, 1910	66.00
City	Cariboo	March 21, 1928	35.35
City	Columbia Shuswap	March 1, 1899	41.28
City	Metro Vancouver	November 10, 1879	128.87
City	Kootenay Boundary	March 18, 1897	59.72
City	Columbia Shuswap	May 15, 1905	155.19
City	Metro Vancouver	November 10, 1879	316.11
City	Kitimat-Stikine	December 31, 1927	57.33
City	Kootenay Boundary	June 14, 1901	34.90
City	Metro Vancouver	April 6, 1886	115.18
City	North Okanagan	December 30, 1892	96.43
City	Capital	August 2, 1862	19.45
City	Central Okanagan	June 26, 2015	122.09
City	Metro Vancouver	April 15, 1957	5.17
City	Cariboo	March 15, 1929	33.12
District municipality	Cariboo	July 27, 1965	53.01
District municipality	Thompson-Nicola	December 4, 2007	10.73
District municipality	Capital	December 12, 1950	41.20
District municipality	Peace River	September 25, 1962	63.55
District municipality	Thompson-Nicola	December 3, 2007	55.65
District municipality	North Okanagan	December 21, 1906	66.57
District municipality	East Kootenay	July 16, 1971	108.12
District municipality	Capital	September 1, 1912	7.08
District municipality	Bulkley-Nechako	December 19, 1952	23.45
District municipality	Capital	December 7, 1993	38.01
District municipality	Fraser Valley	April 6, 1929	40.87
District municipality	Bulkley-Nechako	March 4, 1957	72.88
District municipality	Peace River	November 16, 1965	826.70
District municipality	East Kootenay	May 22, 1951	10.75
District municipality	Fraser Valley	January 1, 1895	168.59
District municipality	Kitimat-Stikine	March 31, 1953	239.28
District municipality	Central Okanagan	May 2, 1995	122.16
District municipality	Metro Vancouver	April 26, 1873	307.22
District municipality	Nanaimo	June 25, 2003	27.68
District municipality	Squamish-Lillooet	December 31, 1946	27.63
District municipality	Thompson-Nicola	November 10, 1970	324.28
District municipality	Fraser-Fort George	May 19, 1966	154.19
District municipality	Capital	December 3, 1984	69.57
District municipality	Kitimat-Stikine	December 15, 1980	24.34
District municipality	Cowichan Valley	June 18, 1873	195.41
District municipality	Capital	August 19, 1965	37.16
District municipality	Metro Vancouver	May 13, 1907	160.66
District municipality	Northern Rockies	February 6, 2009	84,759.31
District municipality	Capital	July 2, 1906	10.52
District municipality	Central Okanagan	January 1, 1909	16.10
District municipality	North Coast	June 29, 1966	167.16
District municipality	Mount Waddington	May 5, 1966	38.55
District municipality	Capital	March 1, 1906	103.59
District municipality	Sunshine Coast	February 15, 1956	39.02
District municipality	Columbia Shuswap	December 4, 1989	12.80
District municipality	Capital	December 7, 1999	56.60
District municipality	North Okanagan	July 21, 1892	254.92
District municipality	East Kootenay	October 6, 1964	191.30
District municipality	Squamish-Lillooet	May 18, 1948	104.71
District municipality	Kitimat-Stikine	May 16, 1930	551.57
District municipality	Okanagan-Similkameen	December 21, 1906	74.04
District municipality	Peace River	August 23, 1958	16.92
District municipality	Alberni-Clayoquot	February 5, 1932	10.56
District municipality	Peace River	April 9, 1981	1,557.41
District municipality	Alberni-Clayoquot	February 26, 1952	6.48
District municipality	Bulkley-Nechako	January 22, 1926	53.93
District municipality	Cariboo	June 29, 1998	158.09
District municipality	Metro Vancouver	March 15, 1912	87.18
First Nations government district	qathet and Sunshine Coast	March 17, 1988
Island municipality	Metro Vancouver	December 4, 1999	50.12
Mountain resort municipality	Thompson-Nicola	June 3, 2010	40.85
Resort municipality	Squamish-Lillooet	September 6, 1975	240.00
Town	Comox Valley	January 14, 1946	16.87
Town	Central Kootenay	May 14, 1924	8.41
Town	Sunshine Coast	March 4, 1929	4.31
Town	Columbia Shuswap	June 26, 1957	11.33
Town	Cowichan Valley	June 3, 1904	12.04
Town	Cowichan Valley	August 19, 1944	8.24
Town	Okanagan-Similkameen	December 31, 1945	5.49
Town	Okanagan-Similkameen	January 14, 1946	8.41
Town	Mount Waddington	February 18, 1966	13.77
Town	Okanagan-Similkameen	September 11, 1951	59.28
Town	Nanaimo	May 5, 1942	17.98
Town	Capital	September 30, 1952	5.11
Town	Bulkley-Nechako	October 6, 1921	15.26
Town	Capital	December 5, 1988	14.33
Village	Mount Waddington	January 14, 1946	1.69
Village	Metro Vancouver	December 7, 1987	27.53
Village	Thompson-Nicola	June 27, 1952	50.86
Village	Metro Vancouver	August 22, 1979	5.50
Village	Bulkley-Nechako	December 6, 1923	6.54
Village	Thompson-Nicola	November 28, 1967	10.40
Village	East Kootenay	June 29, 2004	11.07
Village	Thompson-Nicola	April 22, 1969	3.75
Village	Thompson-Nicola	July 16, 1963	8.14
Village	Comox Valley	January 1, 1898	29.04
Village	North Coast	December 5, 2005	35.58
Village	Bulkley-Nechako	September 27, 1966	4.06
Village	Kootenay Boundary	November 4, 1952	2.70
Village	Strathcona	August 26, 1965	10.92
Village	Bulkley-Nechako	June 29, 1971	39.85
Village	Fraser Valley	May 27, 1949	5.49
Village	Kitimat-Stikine	February 15, 1956	2.89
Village	Central Kootenay	August 14, 1893	3.01
Village	Okanagan-Similkameen	October 30, 1956	2.09
Village	Metro Vancouver	December 17, 1970	2.53
Village	North Okanagan	December 20, 1955	5.93
Village	Thompson-Nicola	May 3, 1945	6.73
Village	North Coast	May 11, 1961	20.69
Village	Fraser-Fort George	April 7, 1932	4.62
Village	Kootenay Boundary	May 25, 1967	12.23
Village	Kootenay Boundary	June 22, 1956	1.46
Village	Central Kootenay	November 24, 1964	8.04
Village	Central Kootenay	January 12, 1929	0.87
Village	Squamish-Lillooet	July 20, 1956	61.36
Village	Mount Waddington	June 16, 1965	7.03
Village	North Coast	December 31, 1975	13.07
Village	Peace River	January 6, 1932	2.06
Village	East Kootenay	December 10, 1990	6.34
Village	Central Kootenay	October 30, 1946	2.44
Village	Strathcona	June 27, 1968	4.44
Village	Central Kootenay	May 6, 1930	0.35
Village	Central Kootenay	June 1, 1901	0.78
Village	Strathcona	June 17, 1970	5.26
Village	Bulkley-Nechako	July 18, 1952	7.04
Village	Fraser-Fort George	December 13, 1962	5.16
Village	Kootenay Boundary	December 8, 1952	1.89
Village	Strathcona	June 27, 1952	1.55
	4,497.15	****
	91,547.50	****
	11.03	****
	50.12	****
	40.85	****
	240.00	****
	200.83	****
	442.98	****
	97,030.46	****
	920,686.55	****

Former municipalities

Communities in British Columbia that once held their own municipal status include Aennofield, Alberni, Brocklehurst, Chapman Camp, Columbia, Cranberry Lake, Dewdney, Dufferin, Fort Nelson, Fraser Mills, Glenmore, Guisachan, Kinnaird, Marysville, Matsqui, Mission City, Natal, Nicomen Island, North Kamloops, Phoenix, Point Grey, Sandon, South Fort George, South Vancouver, Sumas, Tadanac, Valleyview and Westview. The majority of these former municipalities ceased to exist as a result of amalgamation with or annexation by another municipality. Others, such as Phoenix and Sandon, were dissolved from their municipal status as a result of population decline, while Dewdney dissolved due to financial reasons. The Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality was dissolved in 2021.

Notes

References

(February 1, 2005). "Land and freshwater area, by province and territory". Statistics Canada.
(March 14, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, 2021 and 2016 censuses – 100% data". [[Statistics Canada]].
(1996). "''Local Government Act''". British Columbia Queens Printer.
(December 15, 2014). "Municipal Election Schedule in Canada". Intergovernmental Committee on Urban and Regional Research.
Union of British Columbia Municipalities. "Local Government in British Columbia: A Community Effort".
(November 12, 2012). "Local Government Act: Part 2 — Incorporation of Municipalities". Government of British Columbia Queen's Printer.
(September 9, 2014). "Order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council: Order in Council No. 513". Province of British Columbia.
(June 26, 2015). "Order in Council No. 357". Province of British Columbia.
(March 29, 2021). "Order in Council 0187-2021".
(September 5, 2024). "Victoria".
"British Columbia Regional Districts, Municipalities, Corporate Name, Date of Incorporation and Postal Address". British Columbia Ministry of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development.
"Statistics Relating to Regional and Municipal Governments in BC 2011". Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
"shíshálh Nation Self-Government Act". Minister of Justice.
"Sechelt Indian Government District Enabling Act". Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
"Island Trust Act". Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
"Resort Municipality of Whistler Act". Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
(February 9, 2022). "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), British Columbia". [[Statistics Canada]].
(January 29, 2009). "Order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council (Order in Council No. 033)". Province of British Columbia.
"Resume of Orders in Council: Volume 37, Number 8 (Order in Council 158)". British Columbia Queen's Printer.
(July 13, 2022). "Ancestral Haida name restored to Haida Gwaii village". Government of British Columbia.
Boivin, John. (August 25, 2023). "Census recount bumps up Silverton's official population to 181".
"Municipal Census Populations (1921–2011)". BC Stats.
"Name Details: Brocklehurst (Community)". GeoBC.
"Name Details: Grand Forks (City)". GeoBC.
(March 14, 2014). "Profiles of Historic Sites: Dewdney Community". Mission District Historical Society, Heritage Places Branch.
(December 6, 2013). "Profiles of Historic Sites: Nicomen Island Community". Mission District Historical Society, Heritage Places Branch.
"Name Details: Phoenix (Abandoned Locality)". GeoBC.
"From Boom to Bust in 20 Years: Sandon's History as an Incorporated City". Sandon Museum.
(December 13, 2021). "Province of British Columbia Order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council No. 699/2021". Province of British Columbia.

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