Additional Information

Our tax certificates are conveniently available online through:

• APIC: If you prefer to pay for the tax certificate by credit card, please visit www.apicanada.com to open an account and order your tax certificate.
• Mail in your written request along with your cheque or pay in person at City Hall Tax Office. 
• The current fee is set out in the Burnaby Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw.

If you're unable to pay your property taxes this year, you may be able to defer your property taxes if you qualify for one of the following property tax deferment programs:

• regular program
• families with children program

Visit gov.bc.ca/propertytaxdeferment for the program overview, eligibility criteria and to obtain an application. 

If eligible, claim the provincial home owner grant by the property tax due date to avoid penalty.

Find contact information for school taxes (provincial), TransLink, Metro Vancouver (GVRD), BC Assessment and the Municipal Finance Authority.

School taxes (provincial)
Phone: 1-250-356-0907
Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/home

TransLink
Phone: 604-453-4507
Website: www.translink.ca

Metro Vancouver (GVRD)
Phone: 604-432-6200
Website: www.metrovancouver.org

BC Assessment
Phone: 1-866-valueBC (1-866-825-8322)
Website: www.bcassessment.ca

Municipal Finance Authority
Phone: 1-250-383-1181
Website: mfa.bc.ca

By virtue of Section 224 of the Community Charter, council has the authority to exempt certain land and/or improvements from municipal property taxes.

Council considers permissive tax exemption for non-profit organizations that provide a complementary extension of municipal services and programs, available to the public at large, with Burnaby residents being the primary beneficiaries of the services provided. 

The Permissive Tax Exemption Policy is intended to provide consistent and equal treatment and consideration for all applicants.

If your organization was approved for a Permissive Tax Exemption last year, an email with the confirmation of eligibility was sent to the organization contact person on the application. 

If you are a new organization wishing to apply for a 2025 Permissive Tax Exemption, complete the application form below and submit to [email protected] with supporting documentation by July 2, 2024. Late or incomplete applications may not be considered. 

Have questions? Contact [email protected].

The Local Area Service Program (LASP) allows neighbourhoods to improve their residential street or lane. Infrastructure improvement costs are shared between the City and the benefiting property owners. The annual levy (charge) for Local Area Services completed on your street by May 31 will appear on your tax notice. This includes construction of sidewalks, streetlights, speed humps and road paving.

You may pay your portion of these improvements in one of three ways:

1. Pay the annual local area service levy charge each year over the repayment term of the improvement (5, 10 or 15 years)
2. Pay the local area service levy charge in full the first year the annual charge appears on your tax notice to realize the greatest interest saving
3. Pay the local area service levy charge outstanding in any subsequent year and realize an interest saving that is reduced with each succeeding year.

Table shows per $1,000 of assessed value:

Table shows per $1,000 of assessed value:

Table shows per $1,000 of assessed value:

Table shows per $1,000 of assessed value.

Table shows per $1,000 of assessed value.

Table shows per $1,000 of assessed value.

Table shows per $1,000 of assessed value.

The Community Charter is the first local government legislation in Canada to establish a full set of principles for municipal-provincial relations. View the complete Community Charter.

Public notice and access to records:

• Sec 94 – Requirements for public notice

Property value taxes:

• Sec 197 – Annual property tax bylaw
• Sec 199 – Property tax rates regulations

Parcel taxes:

• Sec 200 – Parcel tax bylaw

Local services taxes:

• Sec 210 – Authority for local area services
• Sec 215 – Business improvement areas

Statutory exemptions:

• Sec 220 – General statutory exemptions

Permissive exemptions:

• Sec 224 – General authority for permissive exemptions
• Sec 227 – Notice of permissive tax exemptions

Tax liability of occupiers:

• Sec 228 – Taxation of Crown land used by others
• Sec 229 – Taxation of municipal land used by others

General revenue collection authority:

• Sec 231 – Recovery of taxes and fees
• Sec 232 – Collection agreements with other taxing authorities

Property tax due dates and tax notices:

• Sec 233 – Options for tax due dates
• Sec 234 – General tax collection scheme
• Sec 235 – Alternative municipal tax collection scheme
• Sec 237 – General tax notices
• Sec 238 – Persons may request copies of tax notices

Adjustments to taxes:

• Sec 239 – Interest on overpayment of taxes
• Sec 241 – Taxation based on supplementary roll
• Sec 242 – Apportionment of property value taxes if land subdivided

Payment of taxes:

• Sec 244 – Application of tax payments
• Sec 245 – Taxes in arrear
• Sec 246 – Delinquent taxes
• Sec 248 – Statement of outstanding taxes
• Sec 249 – Certificate of outstanding taxes

Recovery of taxes:

• Sec 250 – Taxes are a special charge on the land
• Sec 251 – Liability of assessed owner
• Sec 254 – Tax sales
• Sec 257 – Recovery of taxes on Crown land held under lease or licence

Recovery of special fees:

• Sec 258 – Special fees may be collected as property taxes

City of Burnaby bylaws are public regulatory laws that apply in the city of Burnaby. A municipal bylaw is no different than any other law. It can be enforced with penalties, challenged in court and must comply with all other laws of BC and Canada. View the complete City of Burnaby Bylaws.

• False Alarm Bylaw
• Burnaby Alternative Municipal Tax Collection Scheme Bylaw
• Rates Bylaw
• Sewer Charge Bylaw
• Sewer Connection Bylaw
• Sewer Parcel Tax Bylaw
• Solid Waste and Recycling Bylaw
• Tax and Utilities Prepayment Bylaw
• Waterworks Regulation Bylaw 1953
• Burnaby Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw

The purposes of this Act are:

(a) To provide a legal framework and foundation for the establishment and continuation of local governments to represent the interests and respond to the needs of their communities,

(b) To provide local governments with the powers, duties and functions necessary for fulfilling their purposes, and

(c) To provide local governments with the flexibility to respond to the different needs and changing circumstances of their communities.

View the complete Local Government Act.

Annual municipal tax sale:

• Sec 645 – Annual tax sale
• Sec 647 – Notice of tax sale

The following regulations relate to municipal taxation under the Community Charter. View the complete municipal tax regulation.

• Sec 1 – Interest on overpayment of municipal taxes
• Sec 2 – Interest on refund of municipal tax sale money
• Sec 3 – Penalty for unpaid taxes
• Sec 4 – Property taxes for other bodies