Welcome to the B.C. and Alberta Food System Policy Database

This database is a centralized resource for planners, policy makers, community advocates, local organizations and the policy curious to search for policy precedents and to better understand how local government policy in B.C. and Alberta is addressing local food systems. Search by a range of characteristics to find food system policies that have been adopted by local governments across B.C and Alberta. For more information about using the database and how it was developed see How to use the Database. 

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Institute for Sustainable Food Systems
Displaying 161 - 170 of 268 Results
Topics
Sub Topics

Cowichan Food Charter

Topic(s): Development and Productive use of Agricultural Land, Education, First Nations and Indigenous Food Systems, Food Processing, Storage & Distribution, Food Sales, Access & Procurement, Nutrition and Public Health, Water Management, Wildlife/Environmental/Pest Management

Sub-topic(s): climate change and greenhouse gases, food distribution, local food culture, local procurement, research and data collection

Region: Cowichan Valley | Document Type: Food Charter | Year: 2009

View policy:  HTML PDF

Topic Sub-topic Policy or Policy Excerpt
nutrition and public health;   There will be no more chronic hunger, and no more malnourished children;
food sales, access and procurement;   Farmers will be better connected to consumers through farm markets, Community Supported Agriculture, and school and work lunch programs;
wildlife/environmental/pest management;   Farmers’ roles as environmental stewards will be protected and financially supported;

water management;

development and productive use of agricultural land;

   Agricultural resources including water, land, and the knowledge of farmers will be protected;
food processing, storage and distribution; food distribution; Regulations will strengthen the capacity of local farmers to produce and reach their markets;
food sales, access and procurement; local food culture; A “Buy Local” campaign that promotes local food production and consumption will be expanded;

education;

first nations and indigenous food systems;

   Traditional teachings about food preservation, seed saving, eating seasonally, and eating locally will be encouraged and supported;
food sales, access and procurement local procurement; Institutional buyers such as hospitals and universities will have the flexibility and incentive to buy more local products;
 

climate change and greenhouse gases; 

research and data collection;

 Ongoing research will ensure long-term food security in the face of a changing climate;

 

City of Revelstoke Food Charter

Topic(s): Development and Productive use of Agricultural Land, Education, Food Production, Food Sales, Access & Procurement, Food Self Reliance, Nutrition and Public Health, Policy Partnerships, Advocacy & Development, Waste Management, Wildlife/Environmental/Pest Management

Sub-topic(s): composting, soil, community food system education, local food culture, wildlife and ecosystem management, hunting/fishing/gathering, livestock

Region: Columbia-Shuswap | Document Type: Food Charter | Year: 2014

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Topic Sub-Topic Policy or Policy Excerpt
policy partnerships, advocacy and development process;   Consider potential impacts on food security in all government, business and personal decisions.

food sales, access and procurement;


nutrition and public health;

   Improve access to healthy and affordable foods.
food self reliance;   Facilitate household and community-based food production and preservation for self-reliance;

waste management;

wildlife/environmental/pest management;

composting;
soil;

wildlife and ecosystem management;

 Promote composting and the preservation of healthy soil.
  hunting/fishing/gathering; Encourage responsible and sustainable harvesting of wild foods.
development and productive use ofagricultural land;   Help to preserve regional farmlands and increase use of arable land for sustainable food production.

food production;

   Support local and regional farmers and food producers.

food production;

 livestock; Encourage humane treatment of animals raised for food.
nutrition and public health;   Promote food safety.
education; community food system education; Identify educational opportunities that promote food knowledge.
  local food culture; Celebrate the diversity of our food cultures.
wildlife/environmental/pest management wildlife and ecosystem management; Manage food production in ways that reduce conflict with wildlife.

 

Salt Spring Island Area Farm Plan

Topic(s): Education, Food Production, Food Sales, Access & Procurement, Nutrition and Public Health, Policy Partnerships, Advocacy & Development, Wildlife/Environmental/Pest Management

Sub-topic(s): community food system education, local procurement, seeds, GE/GMO, crops, wildlife and ecosystem management, partnerships/advocacy/liaising

Region: Islands Trust | Document Type: Agriculture Area Plan/Strategy | Year: 2008

View policy:  HTML PDF

Topic Sub-Topic Policy or Policy Excerpt Document Location
education; community food system education; Increase agricultural awareness of new and potential residents. Recommendation 8;
wildlife/environmental/pest management; wildlife and ecosystem management; Encourage the implementation of beneficial farm management practices. Recommendation 11;
wildlife/environmental/pest management; wildlife and ecosystem management; Explore potential programs that support environmental services on farms. Recommendation 12;
education; community food system education; Improve local agricultural literacy through the provision of agriculture focused public education activities and events. Recommendation 13;
education; community food system education; Increase agricultural education opportunities for children and youth. Recommendation 14;
education;   Increase local agricultural training and mentoring opportunities. Recommendation 16;
food sales, access and procurement;   Develop a coordinated approach to production and sale of locally
grown products.		 Recommendation 18;
food sales, access and procurement; local procurement; Encourage the development of local agricultural product purchasing
policies.		 Recommendation 21;

food production;

seeds;

crops;

 Increase local seed production capability. Recommendation 22;

food production;

GE/GMO;

crops;

 Encourage producers to adopt a genetically engineered (GE) free policy for locally grown agricultural products. Recommendation 23;

nutrition and public health;

policy partnerships, advocacy and development;

   Establish local food safety protocols and standards that reflect the needs of small producers and processors. Recommendation 24;
policy partnerships, advocacy and development; partnerships/advocacy/liaising Participate in regional, provincial and national agricultural discussions. Recommendation 25

Please see document for detailed actions.

District of North Saanich Food Charter

Topic(s): Development and Productive use of Agricultural Land, Economic Development, Education, Food Sales, Access & Procurement, Nutrition and Public Health, Waste Management, Water Management

Sub-topic(s): community food system education, farmers' markets, local food culture, local procurement, partnerships/advocacy/liaising

Region: Capital | Document Type: Food Charter | Year: n.d.

View policy:  PDF

Topic Sub-Topic Policy or Policy Excerpt

food sales, access and procurement;


nutrition and public health;
 		 The right of all residents to adequate amounts of local safe nutritious food;
water management;   The right of all residents to quality and supply of water for home and agricultural use;
development and productive use ofagricultural land;   The protection of our local agricultural land base;
economic development; local food culture; Support local farmers by encouraging residents to purchase seasonal products and other farm foods;
nutrition and public health;   Promote health strategies which increase the good health of all members of the municipality;
nutrition and public health;   Promote food safety programs and services;
nutrition and public health;   Work with the local School Board to encourage the Healthy Snack program in local schools;
  partnerships/advocacy/liaising; Partner with community, cooperative, business and government organizations to increase the availability of healthy foods;
waste management;   Encourage the recycling of organic materials which nurture soil fertility;
education; community food system education; Promote education programs in all our schools to educate our children in healthy food choices, purchasing, growing and preparation of secure food and what healthy fresh products are available in the District of North Saanich;
food sales, access and procurement; farmers' markets; Promote and encourage farmers’ markets on the Saanich Peninsula;

food sales, access and procurement;

economic development;

local procurement;


partnerships/advocacy/liaising;

 Collaborate with other municipalities in the Capital Regional District to promote health food-purchasing practices which support locally-grown food and food businesses.

 

District of Sechelt Bylaw 492, 2010 Official Community Plan

Topic(s): Development and Productive use of Agricultural Land, Economic Development, Food Processing, Storage & Distribution, Food Production, Urban - Agriculture Conflict & Edge Planning, Waste Management, Water Management

Sub-topic(s): agri-tourism, ALR, ALR exclusion, ALR subdivision, aquaculture, buffer at agricultural edge, commercial development, farm diversification, farm retail/farm gate sales, farmers' markets, food processing, livestock, residential development, roads in agricultural land, urban containment/growth boundary, water rate for agriculture

Region: Sunshine Coast | Document Type: Official Community Plan | Year: 2011

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Topic Sub-Topic Policy or Policy Excerpt Document Location Language Rating
development and productive use of agricultural land;

urban containment/growth boundary;


commercial development;


residential development;

 New residential and commercial development will be focused within the Urban Containment Boundary shown on Schedules B and C. These areas provide more than 20 years supply of residential land to accommodate a mix of housing types in various neighbourhood settings, and to allow the District to concentrate infrastructure spending and community amenities within or near the  Resort Developments 1.1; *
development and productive use of agricultural land;

ALR subdivision;


urban containment/growth boundary;


ALR;

 Areas outside the Urban Containment Boundary designated as Agricultural, Resource or Rural Residential will be retained as small acreages ranging from .6 ha (1.5 acre) to 2. ha (5.0 acre) lot sizes for Rural Residential lands (see OCP policy 5.8) and 4.0 hectares (10 acres )for Resource or Agricultural (ALR) lands.  These lands are not intended to develop within the next 15-20 years, and will not be considered for residential development until lands within the Urban Containment Boundary are substantially built out and development is intensified within the Downtown Centre and neighbourhood centres. 1.5; *
development and productive use of agricultural land;

ALR subdivision;


ALR;

 Within the Agriculture and Resource designations, a minimum parcel size of at least 4.0 hectares applies to lands within the ALR, Provincial Forest or other forestry tenure. For lands outside these tenures, a minimum parcel size of 2.0 hectares will apply. The District will review the zoning bylaw to implement these lot sizes. 
 		 8.3; *

food processing, storage and distribution;

food sales, access and procurement;

economic development;;

farmers' markets;


food processing;


farm retail/farm gate sales;


farm diversification;


agri-tourism;

 Growth, diversification and development of the local agricultural economy is supported, including farming and associated activities such as farm-gate marketing, farmer’s markets, value-added agricultural processing, and agri-tourism opportunities that are ancillary to farming and support the viability of the farm use.
 		 8.4;  

water management;

waste management;

water rate for agriculture;

 Infrastructure policies such as reduced water rates or use of biosolids that will benefit agricultural production are supported. 8.5;  

development and productive use of agricultural land;

   Intrusions of urban infrastructure into agricultural areas will be minimized. 8.6;  
development and productive use of agricultural land;

roads in agricultural land;


buffer at agricultural edge;


residential development;

Residential developments abutting agricultural land will be required to reduce potential conflicts between residential and agricultural uses by:

(a) Designing road access to direct traffic away from agricultural land;

(b) Using larger lot sizes along the interface with farming to provide for greater separation;

(c) Providing screening and landscaping buffers within the residential development to protect residents from agricultural activities;

(d) Increased building setbacks for residential buildings along the agricultural edge; and

(e) Provide a drainage study prepared by a Professional Engineer to ensure runoff from the proposed development does not affect agricultural land.

 8.7; *
food production;

aquaculture;

livestock;

 Land-based aquaculture is supported in appropriate locations as a means of enhancing local food production.
 		 8.8;  
development and productive use of agricultural land;

ALR exclusion;


ALR;

 The District of Sechelt does not support the exclusion of lands from the ALR except where approved by the Agricultural Land Commission. The District may require that equivalent land areas be added to the ALR to compensate for any lands removed.
 		 8.10;  

 

District of Lillooet Zoning Bylaw No 400, 2011 Schedule A

Topic(s): Development and Productive use of Agricultural Land, Food Production, Urban - Agriculture Conflict & Edge Planning

Sub-topic(s): buffer at agricultural edge, livestock, siting and coverage, zoning

Region: Squamish-Lillooet | Document Type: Zoning Bylaw | Year: 2011

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Topic Sub-Topic Policy or Policy Excerpt Document Location
urban-agriculture conflict and edge planning; buffer at agricultural edge;

 Buffers

1. Any commercial, industrial or residential land use abutting an agricultural zone including land in the ALR shall provide and maintain a buffer on the non-agricultural side of the lot boundary that complies with the requirements of the Agricultural Land Commission’s Landscape Buffer Specifications, ALC 1993.

2. Resource extraction activities as permitted by the relevant agency of the Provincial Government shall require a buffer to be maintained on all lot boundaries, except that where a lot abuts a right of way or easement for public or quasi-public purposes, which is contiguous with a highway, such right of way or easement may be deemed to be within the lot for purposes of establishing the buffer area.

.1 The depth of buffer required in the case of any resource extraction activities as permitted by the relevant agency of the Provincial Government shall be 30 meters [100 ft].

.2 The depth of a buffer required in the case of a landfill shall be 60 meters [200 ft].

3. Within a buffer area:

.1 No building or structure may be erected or placed, except a fence, a wall, or in the case of that part of the buffer area contiguous with the highway, identification signs.

.2 No garbage disposal area and no vehicle parking area shall be located.

.3 Except where danger or a road is involved, no plant material may be removed, nor may any substance of which land is composed be deposited or removed except as part of a recognizable beautification scheme.

.4 The only roads permitted in the buffer areas are those which cross it as close to right angles as practicable and connect directly with the road system contained within the remainder of the lot.

 4.20
food production; livestock;

Keeping of Animals

1. The keeping of animals, where permitted, shall be subject to the following regulations:

.1 On any parcel 2.0 ha or less in area, the total number of livestock, must not exceed one (1) animal unit for each 0.2 ha of parcel area;

.2 despite Section 4.31.1, on any parcel 0.4 ha or less in area, the total number of poultry and/or fur bearing animals shall not exceed twenty-five (25).

.3 All structures, pens, runs, enclosures and manure piles shall in addition be located to the satisfaction of the Medical Health Officer in respect of all nearby wells, lakes, streams, springs, groundwater or other bodies of water which in his opinion could suffer contamination therefrom and subject to the regulation of the Waste Management Act.

 4.31
development and productive use of agricultural land; siting and coverage; See Agricultural and Rural Resource Zones for siting. section 8

 

City of Victoria Council Member Motion: Applying the Precautionary Principle with Respect to Genetically Engineered Plants

Topic(s): Wildlife/Environmental/Pest Management

Sub-topic(s): GE/GMO

Region: Capital | Document Type: Other | Year: 2016

View policy:  HTML PDF

A motion passed by the City of Victoria opposing the cultivation of genetically engineered crops, plants and trees in the City in the absence of scientific testing on the long-term impacts of these crops on human and environmental health. From the City Victoria, Council Member Motion, Council Meeting of August 25, 2016, retrieved November 2016.

The Corporation of the District of Maple Ridge Zoning Bylaw No.3510

Topic(s): Development and Productive use of Agricultural Land, Food Production, Urban Agriculture

Sub-topic(s): beekeeping/apiculture, pollinators, zoning, greenhouses, covenants, livestock, siting and coverage, farm worker accommodation, residential development

Region: Metro Vancouver | Document Type: Zoning Bylaw | Year: consolidated 2013

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Topic Sub-Topic Policy or Policy Excerpt Document Location

food production;

urban agriculture;

 beekeeping/apiculture;
pollinators;
livestock;

Hobby Beekeeping Use

Where permitted a Hobby Beekeeping use is subject to the following provisions:

a) A maximum of two (2) hives per property shall be permitted;

b) Bee Hives for a Hobby Beekeeper use shall be located to the rear of the principal building on the lot;

c) Hives must: (i) be raised a minimum of 2.5 metres above grade; or (ii) be behind a solid fence or hedge a minimum of 2.0 metres in height located parallel to an adjacent property line and extending a minimum of 6.0 metres horizontally beyond the hive in either direction. (iii) be oriented with the hive entrance facing towards the centre of the property.

 402 (12);
development and productive use of agricultural land; farm worker accommodation;
covenants;
residential development;

(3) An Accessory Employee Residential Use

(a) shall be permitted on a lot with a minimum area of 2 hectares; except where a lot is designated on the Official Community Plan for "Agricultural" or "Rural Residential" use, the minimum lot area shall be 1.7 hectares;

(b) shall be limited to a lot classified as farmland under the Assessment Act;

(c) shall be limited to one accessory employee residential dwelling per lot;

(d) shall not be permitted unless there is registered in the Land Title Office a restrictive covenant in respect of any Accessory Employee Residential dwelling restricting such dwelling to an Accessory Employee Residential use;

(e) the restrictive covenant referred to in this sub-section shall be registered in the Land Title Office with the consent of the registered owner of the lands against which it is charged and in priority to any other encumbrance or charge, save and except any reservation in the original Crown Grant or any Easement, Right-of-way or other restrictive covenant.

 502 (3);
food production; livestock; (4) An Agricultural Use that involves the keeping of mink or swine shall not be permitted on a lot of less than 4 hectares. 502 (4)
development and productive use of agricultural land; siting and coverage; See document for siting of buildings and structures in agricultual zones. 503
food production; greenhouses; See document for regulations for Intensive Greenhouse District. 504
development and productive use of agricultural land;   See document for regulations for Agriculture Only Zones. 505

 

Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee Land Use Bylaw No. 355

Topic(s): Development and Productive use of Agricultural Land, Economic Development, Food Processing, Storage & Distribution, Food Sales, Access & Procurement

Sub-topic(s): agri-tourism, ALR, farm retail/farm gate sales, food processing, home occupation/home based businesses, roads in agricultural land, zoning

Region: Islands Trust | Document Type: Zoning Bylaw | Year: consolidated 2015

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Topic Sub-Topic Policy or Policy Excerpt Document Location
economic development;

agri-tourism;

ALR:

Bed and Breakfast home-based businesses are subject to the following additional conditions:

(1) Not more than 1 bed and breakfast home-based business is permitted on any lot. BL461 (05/13)

(2) Despite Subsection 3.13.1, all bedrooms used to accommodate guests must be located only within a principal dwelling unit or within a seasonal cottage, if one is permitted on the lot.

(3) Not more than 3 bedrooms may be used to accommodate guests on lots that are 1.2 ha or less in area; not more than 4 bedrooms may be used to accommodate guests on lots that are greater than 1.2 ha in area.

(4) Despite Subsection 3.13.2, the total floor area dedicated primarily to the accommodation of guests on any lot, including bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, closets and common areas, is not to exceed 50 per cent of the total floor area of the single-family dwelling and seasonal cottage on the lot, up to a maximum of 100 square metres. Information Note: Under a General Order of the Land Reserve Commission, bed and breakfast home-based businesses within the ALR are restricted to three bedrooms that must be fully contained within a singlefamily dwelling. The use of further bedrooms will require an application to the Commission and its written approval. Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee 33 July 2015 Land Use Bylaw No. 355 (Consolidated)

(5) Breakfast meals only may be provided to bed and breakfast guests who have been provided with overnight accommodation.

(6) Off-street parking for bed and breakfast home-based business uses must be supplied as outlined in Part 7 and screened from view from abutting lots, highways or parks by a landscape screen.

(7) Despite Section 6.1, signs for bed and breakfast home-based businesses may be indirectly illuminated by a non-flashing light source, external to the sign. Where illumination is provided, it must consist of a maximum 150 watt PAR lamp mounted between 1 and 1.5 meters from each sign face.

 3.13.7-3.13.8
development and productive use of agricultural land;

roads in agricultural land;

ALR;

 Highways are not to be provided in a manner that results in a physical division of land in the Parks and Reserves 6 or Parks and Reserves 7 zones; or in a manner such that a farm operation would be interrupted in the Agriculture 1 or Agriculture 2 zone, or a forestry operation would be interrupted in the Forestry 1 or Forestry 2 zone. 5.15.2

development and productive use of agricultural land;

processing, storage and distribution;

economic development;

food sales, access and procurement;

food processing;

farm retail/gate sales;

agri-tourism;

home occupation/home based business;

ALR;

 See document for related accessory use regulations in Agricultural Zones. 9.1.1
development and productive use of agricultural land;

siting and coverage;

ALR

 See document for siting and coverage in Agricultural Zones 9.1.2