Understanding Regional Districts

Local Government in British Columbia

Local Governments

Municipalities and regional districts provide British Columbians with essential local and regional services such as clean water, sewer systems, parks and recreation, and fire protection. These local governments plan and shape their communities, and exercise the vision through the adoption of bylaws.

Whether you live in a rural area, a small town, or a big city, locally elected officials represent citizens and taxpayers; they make decisions together to meet your community’s needs now and in the future.

Regional District Board Organization

Regional district boards consist of elected representatives from electoral (unincorporated) areas, municipalities and Treaty First Nations where applicable. The size of the board varies depending on the composition of the regional district area.
The purposes of a regional district include taking care of the region’s public assets and fostering the current and future economic, social and environmental well-being of the region.

Collectively, the regional district board is the governing body of the regional district. It has authority to make decisions through resolutions and bylaws, consistent with the purposes of the regional district. The board is ultimately responsible for the services provided and actions taken by the regional district.

Each regional district in BC is governed by a board consisting of a chair and a varying number of directors. Each electoral area has one elected director while municipalities and Treaty First Nations members may have one or more appointed directors depending on the population. The chair of the board is elected from among the directors each November and has specific responsibilities outlined in legislation. For more information, please click HERE

Elections

The next general local election will be in 2026

General local elections in B.C. are held every four years on the third Saturday in October. The general local elections were held on October 15, 2022.

Information for 2022:

General local elections (and by-elections) are the most direct way for the public to influence their local government, school district or other local governance body by determining the individuals who then make decisions and govern on their behalf following general voting day.

General local elections include elections for municipal councils, regional district electoral areas, boards of education, specified parks boards, local community commissions and the Islands Trust.

During the election process, candidates generally outline their platforms and objectives if they were to be elected. By choosing the candidates with the ideals and qualities that are most acceptable to the electors, citizens can directly influence the nature of the community where they reside or own property.

2022 general local elections education materials are now available online. To view information about local elections and to download electronic versions of the guides, brochures, and video content, please click HERE