Mines Act permit holder requirements
Last updated on July 14, 2025Permit holders must follow the Mines Act and the conditions of their permit. This may include:
- Notification of work start and stop dates
- Reporting changes of a mine manager
- Sending in yearly reports
- Checking permit expiry dates
- Requesting a permit amendment
This page contains information on what a Mines Act permit holder needs to do to stay compliant. Proponents can access and manage their permits using MineSpace.
Legislation
- Section 15 of the Mines Act
- Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia
- ​6.2.1, 6.2.2 - Notice of seasonal start and stop dates
- 9.2.1(3) - Annual summary of exploration activities (ASEA) form (PDF, 148KB) - activities conducted over the previous year, to be submitted to MineSpace March 31st of each year
- 10.4.4, 10.4.5 - Annual reporting requirements for major mines​
Additional mining legislation
Key legislation and regulations for mineral exploration and mining in B.C.
Notification of work start/stop dates
Part 6 of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia states the requirements for notification to start work in, at, or about a mine, and notification to stop work in, at, or about a mine.
Notice to start work
Part 6.2.1
The manager shall give 10 days’ notice to an inspector of intention to start work in, at, or about a mine, including seasonal reactivation.
Notice to stop work
Part 6.2.2
The manager shall give notice to an inspector of intention to stop work in, at, or about a mine, permanently, indefinitely, or for a definite period exceeding 30 days, and except in an emergency, the notice shall be not less than seven days.
Ongoing engagement with First Nations and other tenure holders
Early and ongoing engagement with Indigenous groups is recommended throughout the mine permitting process.
Maintain open communication with overlapping and potentially affected tenure holders.
Maintaining your Mines Act permit
To keep your Mines Act permit in good standing, ensure that other required authorizations are in good standing. For example:
- Mineral titles: claims and leases
- Licence of occupation
- Road use agreements
- Other authorizations
Mine inspections
At any time, an inspector may inspect a mine, or any site considered by the inspector to be a mining activity site. For more information about mine inspections, refer to the inspection process website.
The purpose of a mine inspection is to verify compliance with regulatory requirements. If needed, an inspector will take appropriate compliance action.
Inspection reports for regional mines can be found on the compliance and enforcement reporting website.
Inspection reports for major mine operations are posted on the BC Mine Information website.
Mine inspection fees
Permit holders pay a mine inspection fee to cover the cost of health and safety inspections. You must file a return and pay the inspection fee for each mine, pit, or quarry for which you hold a permit, until reclamation is completed and your reclamation security has been returned to you.
Paid twice a year for each mineral and coal mine site for which you hold a Mines Act permit, at the end of each reporting period.
Paid annually for each sand and gravel pit for which you hold a Mines Act permit, at the end of the calendar year.
Paid annually for each quarry for which you hold a Mines Act permit, at the end of the calendar year.
​​Annual report submission
Regional mines
Annual reporting includes summaries of mineral and coal exploration activities, placer mining, sand, gravel, and quarry production, and multi-year area-based work program annual updates.​
Major mines
Annual reclamation reporting for producing mineral, metal, and coal mines requires permittees to submit annual reclamation reports.
Mines Act permit amendments
Changes to existing authorizations under a Mines Act permit are sometimes necessary. These may include a notice of departure, a permittee name change, an extension request or an amendment to a Mines Act permit.
Guidance documents
Guides, brochures, policies and best management documents specific to the authorization type can be found on the Mine permitting guidance document page
Contact information
- Regional mines offices
- Mines incident reporting
- Mines inquiries and complaints
- Geological survey
- Major mines
- Mine health and safety
- Mines auditing
- Mineral titles