For property owners and developers

Property owners and developers can request archaeological site information and, if necessary, engage a professional archaeologist before developing on private or commercial property.

The Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) protects archaeological sites on public and private land, regardless of whether they have been previously recorded or disturbed, and what site features are present. Construction, renovations, and landscaping can damage and destroy an archaeological site. Property owners have a legal responsibility to ensure archaeological sites are not disturbed without appropriate permits in place.

To understand provincial permitting that housing projects may require, please visit Permit Connect BC.

On this page

• Steps for property owners and developers
• Starting a project
• Requesting archaeological information about a property
• Hiring an archaeologist
• Managing archaeological impacts

Steps for property owners and developers

These steps are outlined in the Property Owner Brochure (PDF, 530KB).

Starting a project

Incorporating archaeological considerations into your project is sometimes built into the steps you may already be taking.

For instance, many local governments have information on the location of protected archaeological sites, so if you apply for a rezoning, demolition or building permit, and the issuing local government determines that your activities may disturb the archaeological site, they may notify you. They may also request that you hire a professional consulting archaeologist to review the situation and decide if further archaeological studies are necessary.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will also notify you of possible sites on your land if you apply to subdivide rural property. The ministry may also request that the property owner complete an impact assessment to find out exactly where the site is located and will place the site under a restrictive covenant.

In many cases, archaeological sites are not within development zones. For example, sites on waterfront properties are usually close to the water and are often contained within zoning setbacks that protect other overlapping values, such as environmental values.

This brochure is a good resource to keep on hand: Property Owner Brochure (PDF, 530KB)

Requesting archaeological information about a property

Knowing about a possible archaeological site is the first step toward protecting it and reducing potential archaeological costs. Before starting a project, you can find out if there is a known site on or near the property, by submitting an archaeological information request.

Many local governments have information on the location of protected archaeological sites. A local government may notify you when you apply for a rezoning, demolition or building permit that activities may disturb an archaeological site. Some local governments ask property owners to obtain archaeological information prior to issuing their own development permits.

Hiring an archaeologist

If you’re concerned proposed developments or renovations may impact an archaeological site, or you’ve been advised to hire a professional consulting archaeologist, the Archaeology Branch recommends the following steps.

Managing archaeological impacts

Archaeological sites are an irreplaceable part of history and have ongoing importance to First Nations.

Property owners and developers are responsible for the costs of archaeological work. These costs can be minimized by taking early action and using low-impact construction methods.

Archaeological Impact Assessment

To understand potential impacts to archaeological sites prior to development the Archaeology Branch recommends completing an Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) under a HCA s.12.2 Heritage Inspection Permit. The results of an AIA can provide recommendations to minimize or avoid site impacts.

Low Impact Construction Methods

Archaeological sites are an irreplaceable part of history and are protected under provincial legislation. Development activities (new construction, redevelopment, renovations, changes to utilities or services, landscaping, etc.) can damage or destroy archaeological sites. Choosing low-impact construction methods minimize ground disturbance, thereby reducing impacts to archaeological sites, the costs of archaeological work, and construction timelines. This guide provides a summary of low-impact construction methods to support planning (PDF 341 KB).

Low impact building techniques can reduce impacts to archaeological sites and reduce the costs of archaeological work. Consider the following low impact building techniques:

• Adjust the location or orientation of structures to reduce or avoid impacts to an archaeological site
• Import fill - slab on grade construction within clean fill will avoid impacts to any archaeological sites below
• Adapt construction techniques to reduce the degree of site impact, for example, cantilevers can extend the square footage of a structure beyond the foundation footprint, building on pads and or pilings, and substituting an above ground basement for an in-ground foundation
• Use existing utilities access

Learn more about low impact construction methods (PDF 341 KB).

Costs to homeowners

• Property owners and developers are responsible for the costs of archaeological work. These costs can be minimized by taking early action and employing a low-impact approach to development
• The costs of archaeological work may vary depending on the scope of the work required and location of the project. It will also vary based on the firm or individual providing the services
• Completing additional archaeological excavations to recover information that will be impacted by development mitigates impacts to the site, but will add time and costs to projects
• HCA permits and information provided by the Province are free