Floodplain Management Bylaw Update

The Floodplain Management Bylaw is a planning tool that helps protect people and property from flooding caused by rivers or lakes, erosion along shorelines, and steep creek hazards such as debris floods and debris flows. The bylaw sets limits on where and how development can happen in areas that are prone to these hazards. The RDCK and member municipalities, such as the Village of Salmo, have their own versions of this bylaw. The RDCK Bylaw applies across all rural Electoral Areas (A–K) and all watercourses in these areas, even if a property isn’t zoned.

Both RDCK and Village of Salmo are updating the Floodplain Management Bylaws to reflect current hazard information and standards. RDCK’s bylaw (last updated in 2019) and Salmo’s bylaw (from 1994) do not incorporate more recent hazard maps, updated terminology or requirements. These updates, made possible through Provincial funding, will improve decision-making, reduce community exposure and vulnerability to hazards and align with guideline updates, such as BC’s Provincial Flood Hazard Land Use Management Guideline.

Floodplain Management Bylaws identify areas where developments may be affected by known hazards and must meet specific requirements, such as:

• Minimum ground-floor elevations to protect buildings from flooding (called “Flood Construction Levels”, or FCLs); and,
• Required setback distances from rivers, lakes, and other watercourses.

Renovations to existing buildings can proceed without meeting Flood Construction Level (FCL) requirements, as long as the work does not add to the existing building footprint. Small additions under 25% of the existing footprint may remain at the original elevation if they meet floodplain setback requirements. Building permit requirements still apply.

Basements, however, are more restricted: new basements below the FCL are not permitted, and existing basements can be renovated only if certain safety measures are in place (e.g., windows and doors are above the FCL, and a strong enough foundation to withstand floodwaters). Floodplain setback rules still apply, even when renovating an existing structure.

If your proposed development is in a flood or steep creek hazard area and does not meet the bylaw requirements, you may apply for a site-specific floodplain exemption. To do this, you’ll need to hire a Qualified Professional (QP)—such as an engineer or geoscientist—to look at your property and prepare a report explaining whether your project can still be considered “safe for the use intended.”

RDCK Planning staff review the application and QP report, assess whether the proposal is consistent with relevant guidelines, policies and regulations, and make a recommendation to the Regional Board. The Regional Board ultimately decides whether to approve or deny the exemption. If an exemption is approved, the RDCK requires a restrictive covenant to be registered on the property title. This document outlines the conditions that make the development safe, helps ensure future property owners will be made aware of the flood or steep‑creek risks, and clarifies responsibility and reduces liability for both the property owner and Regional District.

RDCK Planning staff will only recommend support of applications that demonstrate a valid hardship, meaning there are physical limitations on the property that limit the ability to build outside of the hazard area. Provincial guidelines state that personal preferences (like preferred views or building placement) and financial reasons do not count as hardship.

No major changes to RDCK’s floodplain bylaw exemption application process are anticipated. The goal of any updates will be to provide clearer terminology and incorporate more current hazard information. This will help reduce hazard exposure and support a more consistent and transparent development application process across the region.

If you have a watercourse on your property or are located along a lake, river or creek, the bylaw may impact your development. The RDCK Public WebMap provides information on mapped hazard zones and outlines areas subject to regulations under the respective Floodplain Management Bylaws. See the “Community Planning Services Layer” in the Webmap (relevant layers shown below):

If, after referencing the RDCK Public Webmap and the relevant Floodplain Management Bylaw, you are still unclear on whether your property is in a floodplain, contact the RDCK Planning Department at plandept@rdck.bc.ca or (250) 352-1536.

Yes, it’s possible. RDCK and Salmo are updating their bylaws to incorporate new flood, erosion, and steep creek hazard mapping completed since 2019. These updated maps provide more accurate information about where flood and steep creek hazards exist.

Given the current bylaws use older or incomplete maps, some properties may be newly identified within a hazard area in the updated maps while others may no longer be included.

Updated mapping will ensure development requirements are based on the most current understanding of hazards, increasing clarity for property owners when making decisions on where and how to develop and when applying for permits. Updated mapping is a result of new data collection (e.g., lidar, surveys) and advances in hydraulic modelling and climate change science.