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Agricultural Land Commission Act

The Agricultural Land Commission Act, S.B.C. 2002, c. 36, (the “ALC Act”), is the high-level statute that sets out principles and broad rules for the protection of agricultural land in British Columbia.

The ALC Act takes precedence over, but does not replace other legislation and bylaws that may apply to the land. Local and regional governments, as well as other provincial agencies, are expected to plan in accordance with the provincial policy of preserving agricultural land.

  • ALC Act

    The Agricultural Land Commission Act, S.B.C. 2002, c. 36, sets the legislative framework for the establishment and administration of the agricultural land preservation program.

  • ALR Regulations

    The Agricultural Land Reserve Transitional Regulation, B.C. Reg. 171/2002 and the new Agricultural Land Reserve General Regulation, B.C. Reg. 57/2020 identifies the procedures for submitting applications and notices of intent.

    The Agricultural Land Reserve Use Regulation, B.C. Reg. 30/2019 specifies land uses permitted in the ALR.

  • ALC Policies & Bulletins

    The policies of the Commission provide interpretation and clarification of the regulations; outline guidelines, strategies, rules or positions on various issues and provides clarification and courses of action consistently taken or adopted, formally or informally.

  • Bill 52 Changes to the ALC Act and Regulations

    On February 22, 2019, the Agricultural Land Reserve Use Regulation was approved by B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor in Council, bringing into force changes to the Agricultural Land Commission Act under Bill 52 – 2018, Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act, 2018.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    The ALC is currently updating the FAQ page for common questions ranging from general topics, legislative changes respecting residential uses and fill and soil. Please come back soon.

  • Agricultural Land Commission Act

    The Agricultural Land Commission Act, S.B.C. 2002, c. 36, (the “ALC Act”), is the high-level statute that sets out principles and broad rules for the protection of agricultural land in British Columbia.

    The ALC Act takes precedence over, but does not replace other legislation and bylaws that may apply to the land. Local and regional governments, as well as other provincial agencies, are expected to plan in accordance with the provincial policy of preserving agricultural land.

Agricultural Land Reserve Regulations

As of March 12, 2020, the BC Government adopted a new Agricultural Land Reserve General Regulation (ALR General Regulation Reg. 57/2020) and renamed the existing Agricultural Land Reserve General Regulation B.C. Reg 171/2002 the Agricultural Land Reserve Transitional Regulation (ALR Transitional Regulation). Both of these regulations set out application procedures that have partial force and effect.

The remaining portions of the new ALR General Regulation will be brought into force on September 30, 2020, and the ALR Transitional Regulation will be repealed. Order in Council 131/2020 sets out which sections of the new ALR General Regulation and the renamed ALR Transitional Regulation are currently in force and effect.

Read OIC 131/2020 here.

The Agricultural Land Reserve Use Regulation B.C. Reg 30/2019 remains unchanged by the March 12, 2020 changes and identifies permitted uses in the ALR.

Recent Amendments to the ALC Act and the ALR Regulations

August 29, 2024 (Specified Fruit Exception – temporary exception period ends on March 31, 2025)
Order in Council 570/2024 (PDF, 606 KB)

July 25, 2024 (Temporary Wine Grape Exception – temporary exception period ends on March 31, 2025)
Order in Council 539/2024 (PDF, 611KB)

December 11, 2023 (Surrey Langley Skytrain Operations and Maintenance Centre Exclusion)
Order in Council 709/2023 (PDF, 750 KB)

March 3, 2023 (Richmond Ecowaste Exclusion)
Order in Council 147/2023 (PDF, 555KB)

February 18, 2022 (Controlled Environment Structures (CES) Vertical Farming – in force and effect August 31, 2022) 
Order in Council 83/2022 ALR Use Regulation

February 1, 2022 (Temporary Site C Exclusion)
Order in Council 53/2022

July 12, 2021 (Additional Residences – in force and effect December 31, 2021)
Order in Council 438/2021 ALR Use Regulation

April 26, 2021 (Manufactured home as an additional residence for family – extended to December 31, 2021)
Order in Council 254/2021 ALR Use Regulation

September 4, 2020 (Manufactured home as an additional residence for family – extended to July 31, 2021)
Order in Council 498/2020 ALR Use Regulation

June 26, 2020 (NARU Application Fee ($900), Application fees split equally between ALC and local government, Soil and Fill – farm road maintenance)
Order in Council 353/2020 ALC Act, ALR General Regulation, and ALR Use Regulation

March 12, 2020 (Parts of Bill 15 in Force and Effect and changes to the ALR General Regulation)
Order in Council 131/2020 ALC Act and ALR General Regulation

January 28, 2020 (Manufactured home as an additional residence for family – extended to December 31, 2020)
Order in Council 028/2020 ALR Use Regulation

July 4, 2019 (Additional Residences and Manufactured Homes)
Order in Council 385/2019 ALR Use Regulation

May 30, 2019 (Exclusions, Panels, Decision making criteria, Reconsiderations, Enforcement provisions, Notice of SRWs)
Bill 15 – Amendment Agricultural Land Commission Act

February 22, 2019 (New Definitions, Residential Uses, Soil and Fill Uses, Prohibited Fill)
Order in Council 67/2019 ALR General Regulation and ALR Use Regulation

November 27, 2018 (Elimination of Zone 2, Residential Use, Soil and Fill Use)
Bill 52 – Amendment Agricultural Land Commission Act
 

July 13, 2018 (Lawful Cannabis Production)
Order in Council 380/2018 Amendments to BC Regulation 171/2002

November 9, 2017 (Alcohol Production Facilities)
Order in Council 432/2017 Amendments to BC Regulation 171/2002

July 29, 2016 (Agri-Tourism, Gathering for an Event)
Order in Council 602/2016 Amendments to BC Regulation 171/2002
 

July 8, 2016 (Block Exclusion – Process, Tree Planting)
Order in Council 508/2016 Amendments to BC Regulation 171/2002
 

May 19, 2016 (Block Exclusion – Owner Consent)
Bill 25 – 2016 Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment
 

March 14, 2016 (ALC Fee Change)
Order in Council 159/2016 Amendments to BC Regulation 171/2002

December 16, 2015 (Road Works – Site C)
Order in Council 771/2015 Amendments to BC Regulation 171/2002
 

June 15, 2015 (Permitted Uses – Liquor, Processing, Residential Use; Application Status; Reporting Out)
Order in Council 346/2015 Amendments to BC Regulation 171/2002
 

May 7, 2015 (Permitted Uses – Medical Marihuana, Aggregate Extraction, Passive Recreation, Forest Service Road Widening)
Order in Council 200/2015 Amendments to BC Regulation 171/2002

November 27, 2014 (Application of Administrative Tribunals Act, Commissioner Terms, Lieutenant Governor Power to Make Regulations)
Bill 4 – 2014 Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment
 

May 29, 2014 (Establishes Panels, Zones, Zone 2 Criteria, Required OCP Consultation, Performance Indicators)
Bill 24 – 2014 Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act
 

January 1, 2014
Table of Legislative Change – ALC Act
 

November 24, 2011 (Establishes Additional Fees; CEO Refusals and Chair Reconsiderations)
Bill 19 – 2011 Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment