Summary

• New site remediation fees under the Environmental Management Act take effect Wednesday, July 1, 2026
• Responsible parties will pay a flat fee for most site remediation services, ranging from $5,000 to $30,000
• Site registry searches will now be free for those seeking information about the environmental condition of land
• Fees to download documents will range, but will generally be $150 or less

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The Province is updating fees under the Environmental Management Act to better reflect the cost of site remediation services.

The changes take effect Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

Making fees clearer, more predictable

New flat fees will replace the current credit system for most site remediation services. Fees will generally range from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on the type of service. The new flat fees provide more predictable costs upfront and replace a credit system that charged a fee up to a certain hourly limit, with additional charges faced for every hour thereafter. The updated fees follow B.C.’s polluter-pay principle, ensuring specialized environmental service costs are paid by those responsible.

Changes to site registry

Fees will also apply when accessing documents in the site registry, replacing site search fees. The site registry changes include:

• Searches are now free, allowing anyone to see available site information. Previous search costs ranged from $10 to $100 per search.
• New fees are generally $150 or less and apply only when documents are downloaded.
• A $100/hour fee applies when records must be manually retrieved and digitized. In 2025, approximately 13% of site registry requests required digitization.
• First Nations and modern Treaty Nations are exempt from fees for accessing/downloading documents already available in the site registry.

All fees collected under the new structure will stay within the ministry to support environmental protection and improved service delivery through the Sustainable Environment Fund. Fee updates will support timely reviews, better service delivery and strong environmental outcomes.

Quick Facts:

• Site remediation fees have not been updated in almost 20 years.
• Updates follow engagement with industry, regulatory agencies, affected ministries and local, regional and First Nations governments.
• Site remediation fees are governed by the Contaminated Sites Regulation under the Environmental Management Act.

Learn More:

• For a detailed breakdown of fees, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/site-remediation/apply-for-services/pay-site-remediation-fees
• To access the site registry, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/site-remediation/site-information
• For information about the engagement process, visit: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/govtogetherbc/engagement/land-remediation-enhancements/
• To learn more about environmental protection and sustainability in B.C., visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment