B.C. broadens groundwater diversion exemptions for construction and adds new rules for riparian-area development assessments

The Water Sustainability Regulation now allows construction dewatering (pumping groundwater to keep a site dry) without a water authorization, provided daily volumes stay under 300 m³ (no professional oversight required) or under 1,000 m³ (must be designed or supervised by a registered hydrogeologist or geotechnical engineer who keeps records for at least three years). If limits are exceeded or the 24-month diversion window is breached, the operator must report to the nearest regional office within 72 hours and follow any remediation directions. A new exemption also permits ice-road construction in the Northeast regional economic zone for decommissioning and remediation work, subject to record-keeping and seasonal melt conditions. Separately, the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation is being overhauled—effective January 1, 2027—to create a new category of low-risk developments (trails, bioengineered erosion structures, post-wildfire rebuilds, hazard-tree removal, and others) that meet the riparian protection standard if done according to specified conditions, and to introduce a new "condition and impact assessment" process that the minister can trigger when development has already occurred or started before a report was submitted. Businesses and professionals involved in construction near waterways, riparian areas, or in the Peace/northeast region should review record-keeping obligations, professional oversight requirements, and updated assessment report formats before proceeding.

BC brings most of the Health Professions and Occupations Act into force, with one narrow carve-out

A new order in council replaces the commencement schedule in an earlier regulation to specify exactly which sections of the Health Professions and Occupations Act are now in force. The vast majority of the Act—covering governance, registration, discipline, and related matters across regulated health professions—is brought into effect. The one explicit exception is the portion of section 605 that would repeal and replace the definition of 'practitioner' in the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act; that specific change is not yet activated. Health profession regulators, practitioners, and organizations that operate under BC's health profession regulatory framework should review the newly commenced provisions to understand their current obligations. Legal and compliance teams at affected health colleges and regulated practice settings should confirm which operational requirements are now active.

BC disability and income assistance recipients now face stricter limits on housing crisis supplements and moving supplements

Recipients of Employment and Assistance and Disability Assistance now face a cap of one crisis supplement for shelter per family unit in any 12-month period, and no more than two moving-related supplements (covering items such as moving costs, security deposits, and storage) per family unit in any 12-month period. Exceptions to the shelter crisis supplement cap exist for specific hardship situations, including uninhabitable accommodations, a frustrated tenancy, accepting a subsidized or supportive housing unit, family reunification involving a child in care, preventing a child from entering care, fleeing an abusive spouse or relative, or experiencing or facing homelessness. The definitions of 'security deposit' and 'pet damage deposit' have been updated to also cover equivalent amounts paid to cooperative housing associations, not just standard rental arrangements. Affected individuals and families should be aware that once a shelter crisis supplement is received in a 12-month window, a second one will require demonstrating one of the listed hardship grounds. Social service workers and housing support organizations assisting these clients should review casework processes to reflect the new limits and exceptions.

B.C. brings Interpretation Amendment Act 2019 into force and repeals Daylight Saving Time Regulation

A new Order in Council brings the Interpretation Amendment Act, 2019 into force and simultaneously repeals the Daylight Saving Time Regulation (B.C. Reg. 136/2006). The Interpretation Amendment Act, 2019 made changes to how British Columbia legislation is interpreted generally, and its coming into force alongside the repeal of the daylight saving time regulation signals a shift in how time is to be treated under B.C. law. Businesses and individuals whose operations, contracts, or compliance obligations depend on time references in B.C. legislation — including scheduling, deadlines, and time-sensitive notices — should review how these changes affect their practices. Legal counsel should assess whether any existing instruments or agreements referencing B.C. time conventions require updating.

B.C. brings sections 3–24 of the Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2025 into force

A new Order in Council brings sections 3 to 24 of the Attorney General Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2025 into force. The proclamation document itself does not describe the content of those sections, so the specific legal changes they introduce are not detailed here. Organizations and individuals subject to statutes administered by the Attorney General's ministry should review sections 3 to 24 of S.B.C. 2025, c. 25 directly to understand what obligations or rights have changed. Legal counsel or compliance leads with exposure to B.C. Attorney General-administered legislation should prioritize that review.

B.C. child care licensing rules updated: new work-experience paths, competency standards, and approved-institution list revised

The Child Care Licensing Regulation has been amended in several practical ways. First, the name reference to the governing child care statute has been updated to reflect its new title. Second, applicants seeking early childhood educator certification now have two routes to satisfy the work-experience requirement: completing at least 500 hours of relevant experience within the past five years with a written supervisor reference, or demonstrating sufficient child care experience that satisfies the director — each tied to a newly defined set of competency areas covering child development, curriculum, health and safety, nutrition, and relationship-building. Third, the list of approved educational institutions in Schedule D has been restructured with clearer column labelling and updated institution names (for example, several schools now appear under their current names with former names noted). Child care operators, ECE applicants, and training institutions should review whether their credentials and institution listings reflect the updated requirements and terminology.

Home Owner Grant threshold lowered: eligible properties must be assessed at $2,075,000 or less

The assessed value threshold used to determine eligibility for the Home Owner Grant has been reduced from $2,175,000 to $2,075,000. Homeowners whose property is assessed above $2,075,000 will no longer qualify for the grant. Those near this value should check their current BC Assessment notice to determine whether they remain eligible. No other aspects of the grant program appear to have changed.

Designated accommodation tax rate rises to 3% and both expiry dates extended to 2031

Two changes have been made to the Designated Accommodation Area Tax Regulation. First, the accommodation tax rate for the area covered by Schedule 2.1 item 1 is increasing from 2% to 3%. Second, two expiry dates that had been set for 2026 are both being pushed out to May 1, 2031 — one relating to a designated accommodation area listed in Schedule 1 (item 23.1), and the other being the end date for the higher rate in Schedule 2.1. Operators collecting accommodation tax in the affected designated area will need to update their systems and remittances to reflect the higher 3% rate. Businesses and platforms that handle short-term accommodation bookings in this area should review their tax collection processes to ensure they are charging and remitting the correct rate.

BC Energy Regulator cuts pipeline permit fees and revises LNG facility levies for several major projects

The BC Energy Regulator has amended the fees and levies payable under the Fee, Levy and Security Regulation for certain energy projects. Two existing pipeline permit fees have changed: one fee drops from $1,700 to $420, and the Eagle Mountain Pipeline Project fee is reset to $2,180. A new $760 fee is introduced for the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project. On the LNG facility side, levies for Class C permit holders have been reduced — one drops from $900,000 to $600,000 and another from $2,500,000 to $1,400,000. Two new project-specific levies are added: $600,000 for the Cedar LNG Project and $500,000 for the Ksi Lisims LNG Project. Operators and permit holders connected to these named projects should review their fee and levy obligations to confirm which amounts now apply to them.

B.C. Energy Regulator overhauls dormancy, liability reduction, and consultation rules for oil and gas permit holders

The British Columbia Energy Regulator has amended five regulations governing dormant and former energy sites, hydrogen facilities, processing facilities, service obligations, and pipeline consultation. Key practical changes include: renaming 'local Indigenous nation' to 'local first nation' in the Dormancy and Shutdown Regulation (while preserving the broader term in the Service Regulation); introducing a new 'qualified professional' requirement for site assessments, pipeline decommissioning plans, and restoration verification reports; creating a new pathway for wells notified under the Drilling and Production Regulation to qualify as dormant; and replacing the previous community engagement sections with more structured obligations requiring permit holders to respond within 30 days to meeting requests and submit formal engagement reports to the regulator. Liability reduction plan rules are substantially rewritten, introducing tier-based eligibility thresholds (100–500 sites for Tier 1; over 500 for Tier 2), tiered restoration deadlines, and a new 'substitution' mechanism allowing eligible permit holders to do specified work on non-dormant sites in place of covered dormant sites, subject to regulator approval and up to a 5-year timeline extension. A new 'remedial liability reduction plan' pathway is created for smaller permit holders with at least 5 qualifying sites who receive a written notice from the regulator. Pipeline permit applicants will face updated consultation obligations toward municipalities and the Transportation Minister when pipelines are located in highway rights of way and carry petroleum, natural gas, or associated water; this Schedule 5 change takes effect October 1, 2026. Permit holders with dormant or former sites, companies operating hydrogen or processing facilities, and pipeline applicants should review their current plans and processes against the new requirements.

B.C. creates comprehensive permitting and operating rules for wind and solar energy projects

The British Columbia Energy Regulator has adopted a new regulation that establishes end-to-end requirements for renewable energy projects (primarily wind and solar) that go through the streamlined provincial permitting process. Before applying for a permit, developers must conduct public consultation with nearby landowners, local governments and federal entities within 1.5 km of a project area, engage local First Nations and document their concerns, and prepare engineering, adverse-impacts and social-economic impact reports. Permit holders must then develop and maintain a suite of operational programs covering environmental management, wildfire mitigation, emergency response, security, access management and a First Nations cultural heritage plan. The regulation also sets specific technical standards for wind turbines, including setbacks from roads and buildings, shadow flicker limits, noise controls and solar glare restrictions, and requires progressive land restoration during construction. Projects must be fully decommissioned if operations cease or are suspended for 24 months, and operators must post security, notify the regulator at key milestones and report wildlife incidents involving at-risk species promptly. Wind and solar projects already in operation as of January 1, 2026 receive transitional relief from some requirements until October 1, 2026.