Taxable areas for the speculation and vacancy tax
Only those owning property classed as residential and located in a designated taxable area in B.C. must complete a declaration for the speculation and vacancy tax.
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New for 2024 - Speculation and vacancy tax expansion
The speculation and vacancy tax has helped return vacant housing back into the market to be used as homes in core urban centres that, at the time of implementation, were experiencing near-zero vacancy rates and housing prices that were disproportionately high compared to local incomes.
To bring the benefits of the speculation and vacancy tax to more areas of B.C., including moderating speculation, ensuring homes are used by people and revenue that supports affordable housing, the tax is expanded.
The following taxable areas are new for the 2023 tax year. Residential property owners in these new areas will declare for the first time in January 2024, once they have received their declaration letter:
- City of Duncan
- District of North Cowichan
- District of Squamish
- Town of Ladysmith
- Town of Lake Cowichan
- Village of Lions Bay
The tax will continue to apply to these areas:
- Capital Regional District (CRD)
- Metro Vancouver Regional District
- City of Abbotsford
- City of Chilliwack
- City of Kelowna
- City of Nanaimo
- City of West Kelowna
- District of Lantzville
- District of Mission
List of taxable areas
Following are the designated taxable areas, including maps for each region. The maps are for your convenience only. Refer to the legislation for details.
The following Capital Regional District municipalities are taxable areas:
- Central Saanich
- Colwood
- Esquimalt
- Highlands
- Langford
- Metchosin
- North Saanich
- Oak Bay
- Saanich
- Sidney
- Sooke
- Victoria
- View Royal
Refer to the map of the Capital Regional District (PDF) for your reference.
The following Metro Vancouver Regional District municipalities are taxable areas:
- Anmore
- Belcarra
- Burnaby
- Coquitlam
- Delta
- Langley (City)
- Langley (Township)
- Maple Ridge
- New Westminster
- North Vancouver (City)
- North Vancouver (District)
- Pitt Meadows
- Port Coquitlam
- Port Moody
- Richmond
- Surrey
- University Endowment Lands
- Vancouver
- West Vancouver
- White Rock
Refer to the map of the Metro Vancouver Regional District (PDF) for your reference.
Refer to the map of the City of Abbotsford (PDF) for your reference.
Refer to the map of the City of Chilliwack (PDF) for your reference.
Refer to the map of the City of Kelowna (PDF) for your reference.
Refer to the map of the City of Nanaimo (PDF) for your reference.
Refer to the map of the City of West Kelowna (PDF) for your reference.
Refer to the map of the District of Lantzville (PDF) for your reference.
Refer to the map of the District of Mission (PDF) for your reference.
Excluded areas
Reserve lands, treaty lands and lands of self-governing Indigenous Nations are not part of the taxable areas.
Islands that are accessible only by air or water are not part of the taxable areas, except for Vancouver Island.
Some residential properties are excluded from the speculation and vacancy tax even though they are located within a taxable area. These include residential properties owned by:
- An Indigenous Nation
- Municipalities, regional districts, governments and other public bodies
- Registered charities
- Housing co-ops
- Certain not-for-profit organizations
You can also refer to the legislation for a list of exclusions.
If your residential property is excluded for one of these reasons, you only need to complete a declaration if you have received a declaration letter.
This information is provided for your convenience and guidance and is not a replacement for the legislation.
