Overview

The District’s Fees and Charges Bylaw has not undergone a comprehensive review since 2019. This amendment is part of a broader effort to streamline how fees are managed across all divisions by removing them from individual bylaws and consolidating them into the Fees and Charges Bylaw. This will improve clarity and consistency, particularly for those processing payments.

Staff considered factors such as costs to the District, staffing resources required, and comparisons with similar jurisdictions:

  • Increased costs of labour (union agreement)
  • Increased cost of utilities, including hydro and gas
  • Increased costs of shipping and supplies
  • New fees to cover costs of services currently subsidized by tax revenue
  • Fees that are fair and comparable to other municipalities

The result is a more scalable, equitable Fees and Charges Bylaw that better aligns with current operational demands and supports long-term fiscal sustainability.

Goals

  1. Increase fees to reflect the cost of service to decrease the amount needed from taxation to cover the costs.
  2. Include all fees charged by the District of Sechelt in one bylaw.

Process

At the October 22, 2025, Committee of the Whole meeting the Committee passed a motion recommending that Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 575-17, 2025 be considered for recommendation of first, second and third readings at the November 5, 2025 Regular Council meeting.

Councill will receive input from the public on the proposed changes until Thurs November 14, 2025

A report on the feedback received from the community will be presented to Council prior to consideration of adoption on November 19, 2025.

Have Your Say!

The public is welcome to submit input until November 14, 2025.


Submit input to the Corporate Officer via:
Email: corporate@sechelt.ca
Telephone: 604-885-1986
In-person: Municipal Hall
Mail: 5797 Cowrie Street, 2nd Floor, PO Box 129, V0N 3A0

Proposed Changes

  • Schedule A – Financial Services
    • Returned payments (NSF Fees) ↑$5
    • Tax and utility account information requests ↑$10
    • Current year property tax certificates (not owner) ↑$70
    • Prior year property tax certificates ↑$15
  • Schedule B – Administrative
    • Returned payments (NSF Fees) ↑$5
    • Tax and utility account information requests ↑$10
    • Current year property tax certificates (not owner) ↑$70
    • Prior year property tax certificates ↑$15
  • Schedule C – RCMP Administrative
    • No changes
  • Schedule D – Planning and Subdivision
    • OCP amendment application ↑$2,500
    • Zoning amendment ↑$500
    • Combined amendment application↑$3,000
    • DPAs 1 – 5 ↑$300
    • DPAs 6, 7, 9, 10 ↑$1,500
    • Development Variance ↑$300
    • Sign Bylaw ↑$500
    • Road Closure ↑$1,500
    • Subdivision ↑250
  • Schedule E – Facilities
    • Approximately 3% increase for all facility fees.
    • Added new fees for fire suppression re-charge on an as-needed basis.
  • Schedule F – Building Permit Fees and Deposits
    • 5% increase for all fees
    • Note that these fees have not changed since the bylaw was adopted in 2019, which means the increase is less than1% per year over 6 years.
  • Schedule G – Plumbing and Sprinkler
    • 5% increase for all fees
    • Note that these fees have not changed since the bylaw was adopted in 2019, which means the increase is less than1% per year over 6 years.
  • Schedule H – Solid Waste
    • No changes
  • Schedule I – Airport Users
    • Tie down fees increased $1/day and $5/month for 2026 and 2027.
    • A provision for fuel fees to be charged at market rate was added.
    • New fees were added for new airport lease agreements and airport lease modification agreements:
      • 2025 $150
      • 2026 $160
      • 2027 $170
  • Schedule J – Film Production
    • Approximately 3% increase for all Film Production fees.
  • Schedule K – Animal Control
    • Licence fees for ‘Nuisance’ and ‘Aggressive’ dogs increased by $50/year.
    • Impoundment fees increased to reflect inflationary factors
  • Schedule L – Events and Vending
    • An application fee of $25 was added for all special event applications.
    • The non-profit special event fee increased from $5 to $10 per event.
    • A daily Parks Vending rate of $25 was added. This provides an opportunity for a vendor to use an exhibit space at the daily rate if it is not occupied by a seasonal vendor.
    • An application fee of $50 was added for the Mobile Vending program.
    • The fee for use of electricity was increased from $50 per day to $75 per day. This fee will be pro-rated if needed for daily Parks Vending usage.
  • Schedule M – Business Licencing
    • A 25% reduction in the short-term rental licence fee, previously approved by Council resolution was added to the bylaw.
    • Basic business licence fees were increased from $125 to $150.
    • The intercommunity licence fee increased from $50 to $75.
  • Schedule N – Harbour Fees
    • No changes
  • Schedule O – Engineering Fees
    • No changes for 2025.
    • $1 increases for vehicle parking ($2 with trailer) for 2026, previously approved by Council.
  • Schedule N – Electric Vehicle Charging Fees – NEW
    • New fees of $0.28/kwh up to full charge and $5/hr beyond added to District-owned charging stations
    • The hourly rate, beyond full charging, is to encourage drivers to move their vehicles once it is fully charged.
    • A 30 min grace period will be given to drivers once their vehicle is fully charged and the ChargePoint app sends a push notification to the driver to move their vehicle during this grace period.
    • The District’s charging stations have been operating free of charge for over 10 years

Amendments

Fees and Charges from different bylaws are being amalgamated into Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 575, 2019.

Fees and charges have been removed from the following bylaws:

  • Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy
  • Blasting
  • Parks, Lands and Roads Temporary Bylaw
  • Harbour Rates
  • Business Licencing

Note that Subdivision and Development Control Servicing Standards Bylaw No. 430, 2003 is in the process of being updated. When the bylaw comes forward for Council’s consideration, the fees will be removed, along with other changes.