For local governments

By integrating archaeological resource management into planning and development approval processes, municipalities and regional districts and local government partners play a role in the preservation of B.C.'s past.

Local governments and their partners are ideally situated to identify developments that may threaten protected archaeological sites and notify developers of the need to plan for and manage potential damage to these sites.

On this page

• Planning ahead to protect archaeological sites
• Incorporating archaeology into the planning and development approval process
• Providing information to property owners
• Getting an archaeological site permit

Planning ahead to protect archaeological sites in your jurisdiction

These tools and approaches can help local governments manage protected archaeological sites within their jurisdiction.

• Archaeological Resource Management Handbook for Local Governments (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Heritage Issues for Planners and Officials ​

Collect archaeological data and site records

Archaeological data and site records are available to local governments through an information request. These site records consist of the site form and maps for each protected archaeological site in the provincial archaeological site inventory database. Request archaeological information for your jurisdiction.

Learn about Archaeological Overview Assessments

Archaeological overview assessment studies (AOAs) produce mapping of an entire jurisdiction and identify areas with significant potential to contain archaeological sites. The archaeology branch can assist local governments developing these studies. Learn more about Archaeological Overview Assessments.

Integrate archaeology into your Official Community Plans

Local governments can integrate archaeological values into their official community plans. When archaeological site management is included in official community plans landowners and developers better understand their responsibilities surrounding provincially protected archaeological sites. 

Given the rapid pace of development in the province, protected archaeological sites are being accidentally damaged with increasing frequency. Accidental damage is usually due to a lack of knowledge about archaeological sites and the legislation that protects them. By raising the profile of archaeological site management within official community plans, local governments can alert people to archaeological issues at the earliest stages of development planning.

Awareness helps to avoid or reduce damage to archaeological sites in the future. Early knowledge of archaeological issues also reduces the potential for increased development costs and delays, negative press, and conflict within the community.

The Archaeology Branch recommends that official community plans contain a separate section pertaining to archaeological resource management, or that archaeology be addressed in a distinct subsection within the heritage section.

• Addressing Archaeology in an Official Community Plan (PDF, 183KB)

Incorporating archaeology into the planning and development approval process

Impacts to archaeological sites can be difficult to manage since:

• sites are often buried and hard to identify
• locations of known sites are not widely publicized, because this can lead to looting of these fragile places
• many protected sites are unrecorded or undiscovered

The early identification of any overlaps between development and archaeological sites can help to protect archaeological resources, maintain positive relations with Indigenous governments, and reduce costs associated with development delays.

The cost of unplanned impacts can be high if a developer has to stop construction in order to complete required archaeological impact management studies. Poor relations with the developer, negative media coverage, and community conflicts can result if an archaeological site is damaged during development, and there is also a possibility of charges under the Heritage Conservation Act. 

Project challenges, costs, and impacts on protected sites are all minimized when builders know about archaeological site concerns early in the planning process. Taking steps, such as revising development plans to ‘work around’ an archaeological site or using less intrusive building techniques, may be more cost effective than carrying out archaeological studies to mitigate the impact of development.

Notify developers of archaeological concerns

This standardized Local Government Notification Letter (PDF, 412KB) gives local governments the ability to notify developers of archaeological concerns.

Consider archaeology in local government infrastructure projects

Water, wastewater, and other infrastructure construction has the potential to disturb protected archaeological sites. Identifying projects that may overlap with archaeological sites and preparing an approach for managing development-related impacts helps local governments lower infrastructure development costs. Learn more about archaeology in Local Government Infrastructure Projects

Providing information to property owners

Planning ahead before renovating or building can help ensure private and commercial property owners associated costs are kept to a minimum and damage to archaeological site is reduced or avoided. 

• Property Owner Brochure (PDF, 529KB)
• Archaeological Sites on Private, Commercial or Development Property

Getting an archaeological site permit

Archaeological sites are protected by the Heritage Conservation Act, so damage to these sites must be avoided or managed by those who plan to demolish or build on their property, develop land, or otherwise alter the landscape.

Local governments are also responsible for avoiding or mitigating any impact on protected sites when building infrastructure and buildings, or working on the land.  You can download this Table Comparing Archaeological Studies and Permits (PDF, 365KB) for a quick side-by-side comparison of their descriptions, scopes, considerations, and requirements.  

Learn more about archaeological site permits and when you need to get one.