Government Services Guide
Where do I go for...?
Government and Public Body Roles
-
Municipal Government (City of Nanaimo)
Visit www.nanaimo.ca or call 250-754-4251 for the following:
- Bylaw and parking enforcement
- Civic cemeteries
- Council meetings
- Community Safety Officer program
- Fire Rescue
- Garbage, sewer, and water user rates
- Licensing (business, dog, liquor*, special event)
- Municipal property taxes
- Parks, fields, and trails (excluding regional/provincial parks**)
- Permitting (building, burning, development, parade and special events, tree removal and pruning)
- Police services
- Recreation services and facilities
- Sustainability initiatives
- Traffic/road maintenance and snow removal (excluding highways)
- Zoning and community planning
*Liquor licences are issued by the provincial Liquor Control and Regulation Branch (LCRB).
-
School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith)
Visit www.sd68.bc.ca or call 250-754-5521 for the following:
- Catchment areas and busing
- Management and operations of public elementary and secondary schools and facilities
-
Regional District (Regional District of Nanaimo)
Visit www.rdn.bc.ca or call 250-390-4111 for the following:
- Regional landfill (250-722-2044)
- Regional transit (250-390-4531)
- Regional parks
Regional parks in the Nanaimo area include:
- Benson Creek Falls Regional Park
- Mount Benson Regional Park
- Bension View Regional Trail
- Nanaimo River Regional Park
- Morden Colliery Regional Trail
- Trans Canada Trail
- Regional landfill (250-722-2044)
-
Provincial Government
Visit www.gov.bc.ca or call 1-800-663-7867 for the following:
- Agricultural land regulations
- BC Assessment and property assessment files
- Birth certificates
- Child protection, adoptions and foster care
- Creation of new provincial legislation
- Gas, provincial income and sales taxes
- Health care (including homeless outreach and social services)
- Highway maintenance and snow clearing on highways (including highways within City boundaries)
- Home Owner Grant
- Hospitals
- Housing and tenancy (including affordable and social/homeless housing)
- ICBC
- Land titles and survey systems
- Marriage licences and certificates
- Provincial courts
- Provincial parks
- Provincial student loans
- School system
- Speculation and vacancy tax
- Wildlife and conservation
- WorkSafe BC
Provincial parks in the Nanaimo area include:
- Hemer Provincial Park
- Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park
- Petroglyph Provincial Park
- Saysutshun (Newcastle Island) Marine Provincial Park
-
Federal Government
Visit www.canada.ca or call 1-800-622-6232 for the following:
- Banking and interest rates
- Child tax benefits
- Climate and disaster planning/funding
- Creation of new federal legislation
- Criminal law and RCMP
- Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan
- Environment concerns
- Federal courts
- Federal student loans
- First Nations land and title issues
- Fisheries
- Foreign affairs
- Immigration
- Income tax
- International travel and borders
- Military
- National parks
Frequently asked Questions
I have to go to court, where is the courthouse?
Both the Nanaimo Provincial Court and Nanaimo Supreme Court are located at 35 Front Street. For information about the different levels of court, go to bccourts.ca.
Can I get married at City Hall?
We do not hold wedding ceremonies at City Hall, but we do have parks and facilities where you can celebrate your special day. For booking information, please visit our website, or call 250‑756‑5200. For marriage licences, contact Service BC.
Who can I talk to if I am having issues with my landlord or tenant?
The Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) provides information, resources and dispute resolution services for tenants and landlords. To contact the RTB, call 1‑800‑665‑8779 or email hstro@gov.bc.ca.
I want to apply for my Home Owner Grant. Where do I go?
The Home Owner Grant program is administered by the Province of BC. To apply and learn more, call 1-888-355-2700 or visit gov.bc.ca.
Contact Numbers and Local Addresses
BC Assessment
1-866-825-8322
901-5800 Turner Road
Land Title Office
1-877-577-5872
Regional District of Nanaimo
250-390-4111
6300 Hammond Bay Road
Regional Transit
250-390-4531
6300 Hammond Bay Road
Residential Tenancy Branch
1-800-665-8779
Service BC
250-741-3636
460 Selby Street
Service Canada
1-800-622-6232
60 Front Street
Last updated: January 8, 2025
Help us improve our website
Collection and use of your personal information
Information collected on this form is done so under the general authority of the Community Charter and
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA), and is protected in accordance with FOIPPA. Questions about the collection of your personal information may be referred to the Legislative Services Department at 250-755-4405, or via email at foi@nanaimo.ca. Please also see our Privacy Policy.
-
Parks, Rec & Culture
- Recreation Facilities & Schedules
- Parks & Trails
- Activity Guide
- Events
- Register for a Program
- Drop-In Schedules
- Public Art
- Culture
- Poetry
-
City Services
- Garbage & Recycling
-
Home & Property
- Property Taxes
- User Rates
- Change Your Address
- Damage/Injury Claims
- City Charges and Your Property Title
- Pre-Authorized Withdrawals - Terms & Conditions
- Pre-Authorized Withdrawals (PAWS)
- Water & Sewage
- Emergency Services
- Online Services
- Cemetery Services
- City Services Directory
-
Property & Development
- Urban Forestry
-
Building Permits
- Online Building Permit Application
- Building Permit Revision
-
Application for a Residential Building Permit
- Access (driveway) Permit
- Accessory Building Permit
- Alteration Permit
- Building Envelope Repair
- Carriage House
- Demolition Permit
- Fence or Retaining Wall Permit
- Geotechnical Reports
- Locate Permit
- New Construction Permit
- Plumbing or Services Permit
- Secondary Suite Permit
- Special Inspection Permit
- Swimming Pool Permit
- Woodstove Installation Info
- Green Home Initiatives
-
Apply for a Commercial Building Permit
- Access (driveway) Permit
- Commercial Alteration Permit
- Building Envelope Repair Permit
- Demolition Permit
- Fence or Retaining Wall Permit
- Geotechnical Reports
- Leasehold Improvement
- Locate Permit
- New Commercial Construction Permit
- Occupant Load Permit
- Signs Permit
- Special Inspection Permit
- Sprinkler Requirements
- Fees and Bonding
- Commercial Plumbing Permit
- Bylaws for Building
- Forms and Guidelines
- Book a Building Inspection
- Report Illegal Construction
- Request Building Plans
- Building Permit Statistics
- Permit Fee Calculator
- Building News and Alerts
- Fast Track Building Permits
- Development Applications
- What's Building in my Neighbourhood
- Development Activity Map
- Community Planning
- NanaimoMap
- Rebates
- Engineering Survey
- Land Use Bylaws
- Soil Removal and Depositing
- Heritage Buildings
- Sustainability
- Transportation & Mobility
-
Your Government
- Government Services Guide
- News & Events
-
City Council
- Advocacy
- Contact Mayor & Council
- Council Meetings
-
Boards & Committees
- Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness
- Board of Variance
- Design Advisory Panel
- Finance and Audit Committee
- Governance and Priorities Committee
- Mayor's Leaders' Table
- Nanaimo Performing Arts Guild
- Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel
- Special District 68 Sports Field and Recreation Committee
- Public Safety Committee
- Understanding Council Committee Structures
- Council Policies
- Mayor's Office
- Council Initiatives
- Proclamations
- Bastion Lighting Requests
- City Bylaws
- Alternative Approval Process
- Budget & Finance
- Records, Information & Privacy
- Elections
- Contacts
- Careers
- Maps & Data
- Projects
- Tourism Nanaimo
- Community Safety and Wellbeing
- Grants
- Awards
- Accessibility & Inclusion
-
Doing Business
- Economic Development
- Doing Business with the City
- Business Licences
- Filming in Nanaimo
- City Owned Property
- Encroachments onto City Property
- Liquor Licences
- Cannabis Retail
- Business Improvement Areas
- Procurement Services
- Get Involved
- About Nanaimo
- Green Initiatives