Provincial Licencing Requirements for Groundwater Users
Under the provincial Water Sustainability Act (WSA), non-domestic groundwater users are required to apply for a water licence and pay water fees and rentals to the provincial government. Licensing groundwater helps to protect aquifers, streams, and the businesses and livelihoods that depend on reliable access to water and helps to identify priority of use. During times of water scarcity, the priority system lowers the risk of conflict and helps the community better manage through challenging times. Groundwater use licensing ensures there is a fair and transparent process in place to gather information about water use. That information informs all our water management decisions, especially as demand for water increases.
About non-domestic and domestic use
Non-domestic use refers to, but is not limited to, groundwater storage, diversion, or use for institutes, businesses (including home-based businesses), irrigation, greenhouses, industries, and/or municipal or private waterworks.
Domestic groundwater users who use water for household purposes are not required to apply for a licence. However, the province encourages domestic groundwater users to register their well. Private dwellings that use groundwater for drinking water, food preparation, sanitation, fire prevention, providing water to animals or poultry kept for household use or as pets, or irrigation of a garden or lawn not exceeding 1000m2 adjoining or occupying with a dwelling – with the exclusion of multifamily apartments, hotels, or strata-titled or cooperative buildings on a single parcel – are considered domestic users.
Questions about groundwater use? Find more information on domestic and non-domestic groundwater and timelines for registering a groundwater use by visiting Requirements for Groundwater Users or by contacting FrontCounterBC.
Non-domestic groundwater use registration
Non-domestic users, as described above, must apply for a licence through the province. All non-domestic groundwater users, existing or otherwise, who did not apply on or before the March 1, 2022 deadline, and currently don’t have a licence, are required to obtain a water licence before the water can be lawfully used, stored or diverted. A water licence application is done online and you can apply to use water for more than one water use purpose on your application.
If you own or plan to purchase property that uses a well to supply groundwater for any purpose, the general requirements for construction, care and upkeep of your well are provided here.
More information
Learn more about requirements, applications, and dates of precedence by visiting the Government of BC’s Requirements for Groundwater Users.
Residents can also watch a step-by-step video presentation on how to apply for an existing use groundwater application.
Learn more about licensing groundwater in BC at Licencing Questions and Answers.
Engineering Division
604-532-7300
opsinfo@tol.ca