Local government grants and transfers

Local governments may receive funding from several sources, including the B.C. government and the Government of Canada.

Grants and other monetary transfers to local governments are either conditional or unconditional. Conditional grants are designated for a specific purpose and may not be used for another project, while unconditional grants may be used for any purpose the recipient local government sees fit.

​BC community climate funding guide for Indigenous communities and local governments

A comprehensive list of funding opportunities for Indigenous communities and local governments to reach their climate action goals.

• BC Community Climate Funding Guide for Indigenous Communities and Local Governments

Canada-BC safe restart fund for local governments 

The Canada-B.C. Safe Restart Fund will provided provincial funding (50/50 cost-shared) to local governments throughout British Columbia to support operating costs and revenues impact due to COVID-19.

One of the three streams of funding provided $425 million for Local Governments to address local government facility reopening and operating costs, emergency response costs, lost revenues and other COVID-19-related impacts.

• municipal fund information (PDF, 165KB)
• regional district fund information (PDF, 170KB)
• frequently asked questions about the fund (PDF, 124KB)

To ensure full transparency regarding the use of funds, local governments are required to annually report on how this grant was spent. This will be part of annual financial reporting under section 167 of the Community Charter. Each local government will provide a schedule to the audited financial statements respecting the amount of funding received, the use of those funds, and the year-end balance of unused funds. Each local government must continue to annually report on the use of grant money until the funds are fully drawn down.

Growing communities fund

The Growing Communities Fund provides local governments with provincial funding to address the increasing need for infrastructure and amenities to serve population growth in a way that reflects each unique community.

Learn more about the Growing Communities Fund

Infrastructure grants

Local governments may access infrastructure funding through a variety of grant programs.

• Local Government Infrastructure
• Infrastructure Grants

Local government climate action program (LGCAP)

LGCAP provides local governments and Modern Treaty Nations with funding to support the implementation of local climate action that reduces emissions and prepares communities for the impacts of a changing climate.

• Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP)

Regional district basic grants

Regional districts may receive assistance with administration costs through this unconditional grant.

• Regional District Basic Grants

Restructure grants

Municipalities and regional districts that wish to examine their governance structure may access funding from the provincial government.

• Local Government Restructure Grants

Small community grants

Municipalities may receive assistance in providing basic services through this unconditional grant.

• Small Community Grants​

Traffic fine revenue sharing transfers

Municipalities may receive 100 percent of net revenues from traffic violations if they are directly responsible for paying for policing.

• Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing Transfers