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WSD Home > Water Rights and Legislation > Water Licence Application

Water Licence Application and Approval Forms

All water in British Columbia is owned by the Crown on behalf of the residents of the province. Authority to divert and use surface water is obtained by a licence or approval in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Water Act and the Water Protection Act .

In British Columbia, simply having access to surface water within or adjacent to property does not authorize a right to divert, use or store water.

Apply for a Water Licence

Quick Licensing

Section 9 – Applications for Changes In and About a Stream

Section 8 – Approval Forms for Short Term Use

Water Licence Application

Summary of Steps in Processing a Water Licence Application

  • A water licence application is submitted by the applicant to either FrontCounterBC, the Integrated Land Management Bureau or the Ministry of Environment.

  • If the application meets completeness criteria for acceptance, the proposal is checked to identify potential impacts, which include: existing licence holders or earlier applicants, minimum in-stream flow requirements, landowners or Crown land tenure holders, other agencies, and the interests of First Nations.

  • Once the notification of potentially affected licensees or other interests have been completed and comments or objections received, a technical assessment of the application is performed by staff with the Water Stewardship Divison (Ministry of Environment) to determine if there is sufficient water available in the source to issue a new water licence.

  • A Regional Water Manager or the Comptroller of Water Rights will review the assessment of the application, consider potential impacts and the availability of water, and will either grant a water licence or refuse the application.

  • There is a right of appeal to the Environmental Appeal Board from a decision of a Regional Water Manager or the Comptroller.

For questions on water availability and technical aspects of your water licence application, please contact the regional Water Stewardship office which services your area.

Complete Application

The links below allow you to print off individual documents and additional information contained in the complete application package.

Additional Information

 
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