British Columbia is thethird-most populousprovince in Canada, with 5,000,879 residents as of 2021, and is thesecond-largest in land area,^[a] at 920,687 km² (355,479 sq mi).^[2] British Columbia's 161 municipalities cover only11 percent of the province's land mass yet are home to89 percent of its population. Amunicipality is alocal 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 areautonomous,responsible andaccountable to their citizens and to the province. Their powers and responsibilities are regulated through theLocal Government Act,^[3] the Community Charter, and, in the case ofVancouver, theVancouver Charter. They have the power of a natural person, the power to expropriate, and the power to establish and enforcebylaws. They are able to raise funds throughproperty taxes and user fees, and borrow a limited amount through the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia to pay for capital costs.^[4]

Municipalities are governed by a mayor and council who are democratically elected every 4 years on the third Saturday in October. Themost recent election took place on October 15, 2022; the next election will take place on October 17, 2026.^[5] 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.^[4]

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 theCabinet of British Columbia issues aletters patent incorporating the community. Part 2 of theLocal 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 avillage, if between 2,500 and 5,000 atown, and if greater than 5,000 acity. If the new municipality has an area greater than 800 hectares (2,000 acres) and an average population density of fewer than 5 persons per hectare then is it designated adistrict 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.^[4]

A city is a classification of municipalities used in British Columbia.British Columbia's lieutenant governor may incorporate a community as a city byletters 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.^[6]

British Columbia has 53 cities,^{[7][8][9][10]} which had a cumulative population of 3,630,140 in the2021 census. British Columbia's largest and smallest cities are Vancouver andGreenwood with populations of 662,248 and 702 respectively.^[11] The fastest-growing city in British Columbia isLangford, which grew 31.8 percent between 2016 and 2021, while the fastest-shrinking isMerritt, which shrunk by 1.2 percent.^[11] The largest city by land area isAbbotsford, which spans 375.33 km² (144.92 sq mi), while the smallest isDuncan, at 2.06 km² (0.80 sq mi).^[11] The first community to incorporate as a city wasNew Westminster on July 16, 1860,^[7] while the most recent community to incorporate as a city wasMission on March 29, 2021.^[10]Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia.^[12]

Adistrict 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 (2,000 acres) 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.^[6]

British Columbia has 49 district municipalities^[7][9][13] that had a cumulative population of 669,454 in the 2021 Census.^[11] British Columbia's largest and smallest district municipalities areLangley andWells with populations of 132,603 and 218 respectively.^[11] The fastest-growing district municipality in British Columbia isStewart, which grew 28.9 percent between 2016 and 2021, while the fastest-shrinking is theNorthern 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 wasNorth 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.^[7][13] Although portrayed as aregional municipality in its official name, the NRRM is actually classified as a district municipality.^[13]

The loneIndian government district designation was created by the federalshíshálh Nation Self-Government Act and provincialSechelt Indian Government District Enabling Act and granted to theshíshálh Nation Government District (formerly known as the Sechelt Indian Government District), which governs theshíshálh Nation lands consisting of 33 former Indian reserves.^[14][15][16]

If the community wishing to incorporate is located within a trust area under theIsland Trust Act, it must incorporate as an island municipality.^[17] A singleisland municipality designation has been granted toBowen Island.

Amountain 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.^{[citation needed]} British Columbia's lone mountain resort municipality isSun Peaks.

A singleresort municipality designation has been granted toWhistler by the Resort Municipality of Whistler Act.^[18]

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.^[6]

British Columbia has 14 towns^[7] that had a cumulative population of 95,922 in the2021 census.^[11] British Columbia's largest and smallest towns areComox andPort McNeill with populations of 14,806 and 2,356 respectively.View Royal andSmithers 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.^[11] Of British Columbia's current 14 towns, the first to incorporate as a town wasLadysmith on June 3, 1904, while the most recent community to incorporate as a town wasView Royal on December 5, 1988.^[7]

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.^[6]

British Columbia has 42 villages^[7] that had a cumulative population of 48,511 in the2021 census.^[11] British Columbia's largest and smallest villages areCumberland andZeballos with populations of 4,447 and 126 respectively.^[11]Radium Hot Springs andSilverton 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.^[11] Of British Columbia's current 42 villages, the first to incorporate as a village wasKaslo on August 14, 1893, while the most recent community to incorporate as a village was Queen Charlotte (now known asDaajing Giids) on December 5, 2005.^[7]

Communities in British Columbia that once held their own municipal status includeAennofield,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 andWestview.^{[22][23][24][25][26][27][28]} The majority of these former municipalities ceased to exist as a result of amalgamation with or annexation by another municipality.^[22][23][24] Others, such as Phoenix and Sandon,^[27][28] were dissolved from their municipal status as a result of population decline, while Dewdney dissolved due to financial reasons.^[25] TheJumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality was dissolved in 2021.^[29]

• List of designated places in British Columbia
• List of Haida villages
• List of population centres in British Columbia

• Local Government Department History
• Managing Changes to Local Government Structure in British Columbia: A Review and Program Guide
• Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development

• Lists of populated places in British Columbia
• Municipalities in British Columbia

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