Council enacts soil deposit and excavation bylaw to protect city infrastructure

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Council approved a bylaw to regulate soil deposit and excavation within the City of Fort St John at its January 8th meeting. 

The new bylaw allows the city to regulate when an owner is importing or exporting material, altering the drainage, or changing the surface material of a property

In a report to council, chief administrative officer Milo MacDonald says the policy provides the city a way of protecting its infrastructure. 

“The Excavation and Soil Deposit Bylaw allows the City to regulate soil excavation and deposit on parcels within the city that are not covered under other permits, agreements, or bylaws,” said MacDonald. 

According to the bylaw, the city will protect its infrastructure by regulating truck routes, implementing erosion and sediment control plans, and having a recourse should damage occur. 

The bylaw also says that changes to drainage do not negatively impact neighbouring properties or city infrastructure. 

The new bylaw regulation will not apply to low-density residential properties of less than 1000 square meters in size.

More information on the bylaw can be found below: