For local governments

Municipalities, regional districts, and local government partners play an important role in heritage conservation in B.C., including protection of sites that have important sacred and spiritual value to First Nations.

Local governments can support informing citizens of their responsibilities under the Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) and may act as proponents who have responsibilities to ensure development projects have appropriate studies and permits.

In addition to the information on this page, please see:

• Archaeological Resource Management Handbook for Local Governments (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Heritage Issues for Planners and Officials
• Heritage Conservation: A Community Guide (PDF, 220KB)

On this page

• How to get archaeological information
• Integrate archaeology into your Official Community Plans
• Consider archaeology in local government infrastructure projects
• Incorporate archaeology into the development approvals process
• Notify developers of archaeological concerns
• Conservation tools provided by legislation

How to get archaeological information

Remote Access Archaeological Database (RAAD)

Local government staff can request access to the Remote Access Archaeological Database (RAAD) to learn about known archaeological sites and areas likely to contain as-yet unrecorded archaeological sites. Staff who have signed the Information Sharing Agreement can access site records, which consist of the site form and maps for each protected archaeological site, as well as areas of interest identified by First Nations (the Informed Contributor’s Layer) and GIS-based Archaeological Overview Assessments (AOAs) to identify areas with the potential for protected sites.

Information requests

While it is preferred that local governments consult RAAD, it may be appropriate to submit an information request for complicated queries. Request archaeological information for your jurisdiction.

Archaeological Overview Assessments (AOA)

Geographic Information System (GIS) -based AOAs identify areas with elevated potential to contain as-yet unrecorded archaeological sites. The Archaeology Branch can assist local governments develop these studies. Learn more about Archaeological Overview Assessments.

Integrate archaeology into your Official Community Plans

Local governments can include archaeological information in Official Community Plans (OCP) to ensure strategic land use decisions consider impacts to recorded and unrecorded archaeological sites.

An OCP can also contain policies or guidance pertaining to archaeological resource management. Addressing Archaeology in an Official Community Plan (PDF, 183KB)

Consider archaeology in local government infrastructure projects

When local governments undertake infrastructure improvements, maintenance or other land-altering activities, they are also responsible for avoiding or mitigating impacts to protected sites. 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.

Incorporate archaeology into the development approvals process

Raising awareness about known archaeological sites and archaeological potential helps to protect heritage and reduce costs associated with unplanned impacts. If a developer must stop construction in order to complete required archaeological impact management studies, the cost can be high. Project challenges, costs, and impacts on protected sites are all minimized when builders know about archaeological site concerns early in the planning process.

Notify developers of archaeological concerns

Local governments can support awareness among property owners and developers in the following ways.

Provide property owners or developers a Notification Letter during development approval processes

• Local Government Notification Letter (PDF, 220KB) 
  • This standardized letter gives local government staff the ability to notify developers of archaeological concerns, without requiring specialized archaeological knowledge.

Provide general information on archaeological requirements, how to access information, and how to get an HCA permit

• Property Owner Brochure (PDF, 100KB)
• Archaeological Sites on Private, Commercial or Development Property
• How to submit and archaeological information request
• Low Impact Construction Recommendations for Small Scale Projects

Conservation tools provided by other legislation

Local governments have access to tools under both the Local Government Act or the Vancouver Charter to support heritage conservation.

Visit Local Government Heritage Planning to learn more about:

• Community heritage registers
• Heritage designations
• Heritage revitalization agreements
• Designation of a heritage conservation area (HCA) in an Official Community Plan

Section 219 of the Land Title Act allows for restrictive covenants. Restrictive covenants are one way to safeguard archaeological sites protected under the Heritage Conservation Act.

• Memorandum - Re: Development of Restrictive Covenants for the Protection of Archaeological Sites (PDF, 135KB)