Proposed Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1665, 2026

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The new Fire Safety Act was brought into force on August 1, 2024, and introduced new obligations for local governments. The purpose of this report is to present the proposed “Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1665, 2026” and “Fire Prevention and Regulation Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2286, 2026” to committee.

The proposed “Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1665, 2026” repeals and replaces the “Langford Fire Protection District BY-LAW, No. 87, 1989”, which regulates the operations of the City’s fire department, with a modernized bylaw which aligns with the new Fire Safety Act and best practices.

The proposed “Fire Prevention and Regulation Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2286, 2026”:

• amends the City’s fire permit regulation bylaw to remove duplicate regulations and clarify the requirements for obtaining the three types of fire permits issued by the City;
• updates the corresponding Municipal Ticket Information (MTI) and Bylaw Offence Notice (BON) fines for amended fire permit regulation bylaw; and
• introduces MTI and BON fines for offenses under the proposed “Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1665, 2026”.

The proposed bylaws promote good governance by ensuring the City’s fire prevention and regulation framework is up to date and in-line with applicable legislation.

Attached are the proposed “Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1665, 2026” (Attachment 1) and companion “Fire Prevention and Regulation Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2286” (Attachment 2) for Committee’s consideration and recommendation to Council.

BACKGROUND

The new Fire Safety Act, SBC 2016, c. 19 received royal assent in 2016 but was not brought into force until August 1, 2024. It replaced the old Fire Services Act, RSBC 1996, c. 144.

The Fire Safety Act contains significant changes to the province’s fire protection and prevention framework, with implications for local governments, including:

• requiring local governments to appoint fire inspectors, and implement regular fire inspection schedules;
• adds enforcement tools for fire inspectors to issue orders where there are fire safety concerns arising from an inspection;
• defines tactical evacuations and preventative evacuations, with different requirements for declaring each; and
• clarifies the relationship between the provincial fire commissioner and local governments.

The City currently has three bylaws which regulate the City’s fire department, fires, fire permits, and fire alarms:

• “Langford Fire Protection District BY-LAW, No. 87, 1989” (Attachment 3): Adopted in June 1989, and never amended, this bylaw establishes the Langford Fire Department, sets out the duties and responsibilities of the Fire Chief and other positions, regulates persons at incidents where the fire department is present, and creates offences for impeding, obstructing, or interfering with members, equipment, and fire hydrants.
• “District of Langford Smoke Alarm Bylaw, 1993 (No. 30)” (Attachment 4): Adopted in October 1993, and never amended, this bylaw requires smoke alarms in every dwelling unit, regulates the types of smoke alarms that may be installed, requires yearly testing, and creates an offence for failing to comply with the bylaw.
• “City of Langford Burning and Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 1532, 2014” (Attachment 5): Adopted in August 2014, and amended once in October 2014, this bylaw regulates fires in the City, including campfires and open burns, and provides for the issuance of different types of permits to allow for controlled fires in the City.

To ensure compliance with the Fire Safety Act, staff have undertaken a comprehensive review of the City’s fire department regulations, as well as best practices in other municipalities, and are proposing the attached bylaws.

COMMENTARY

The “Langford Fire Protection District BY-LAW, No. 87, 1989” is fully incorporated into the proposed bylaw, which includes provisions for:

• the continuation of the Langford Fire Department and adoption of the Fire Code within the City;
• duties, powers, and functions of the Fire Chief and Chief Officers;
• jurisdiction of the Fire Department, and Fire Department apparatuses and equipment;
• powers for controlling and managing incidents;
• powers to enter onto property where required to prevent and suppress fires, as well as entry powers in accordance with the Community Charter;
• offences for obstructing, impeding, hindering, or interfering with fire department members in the course of their duties;
• authority to order the demolition, damage, or destruction of buildings or structures necessary to extinguish or prevent the spread of fire or prevent collapse; and
• regulations for storing or accumulating combustible and hazardous materials, and land clearing debris.

The proposed bylaw aligns the City with the Fire Safety Act, including by:

• implementing regular fire inspection schedules and appointing fire inspectors for the City;
• adding enforcement tools for fire inspectors to issue orders where there are fire safety concerns arising from an inspection;
• aligning tactical evacuation powers with the Fire Safety Act; and
• clarifies the role of the provincial Fire Commissioner’s relationship to the City’s jurisdiction.

The “District of Langford Smoke Alarm Bylaw, 1993 (No. 30)” is now redundant due to changes in the BC Building Code and the Fire Code and may be repealed with no replacement.

The proposed bylaw also incorporates several sections which are currently found in the “City of Langford Burning and Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 1532, 2014”, including regulations regarding fire hazards, limited entry areas, storage of flammable and combustible substances, and access to fire hydrants.

The proposed “Fire Prevention and Regulation Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2286, 2026”:

• amends the “City of Langford Burning and Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 1532, 2014” to remove provisions which are found in the proposed “Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1665, 2026”, remove unnecessary definitions, and clarify the requirements and regulations for obtaining fire permits;
• updates the MTI and BON fines for the amended “City of Langford Burning and Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 1532, 2014” regulations; and
• introduces MTI and BON fines for the new “Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1665, 2026”.

The “City of Langford Burning and Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 1532, 2014” will be renamed “Burning and Fire Permit Regulation Bylaw No. 1532, 2014” to reduce potential confusion with the new “Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1665, 2026”. This bylaw will continue to serve the function of providing for the issuance of three types of fire permits (open burn, campfire, and special permit), and associated regulations.

Overall, the proposed bylaws promote good governance by modernizing and aligning the City’s fire regulations with the Fire Safety Act, and enhancing enforceability through MTI and BON fines.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no known financial implications at this time.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

Pursuant to the Fire Safety Act, Council must designate fire inspectors to conduct fire safety inspections and implement a risk-based compliance monitoring system for public buildings.

The Community Charter empowers Council to regulate, prohibit and impose requirements in relation to any manner within the scope of the Fire Safety Act, and empowers the fire chief to:

• enter on property and inspect premises for conditions that may cause a fire, increase the danger of a fire or increase the danger to persons or property from a fire,
• take measures to prevent and suppress fires, including the demolition of buildings and other structures to prevent the spreading of fire, and
• require an owner or occupier to undertake any actions for the purpose of removing or reducing any thing or condition considered to be a fire hazard or to increase the danger of fire.

STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT

5 – Good Governance.

OPTIONS

Option 1

THAT the Community Advisory Committee recommend:

THAT Council consider giving first, second and third reading to “Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1665, 2026”;
AND
THAT Council consider giving first, second and third reading to “Fire Prevention and Regulation Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2286, 2026”.

OR Option 2

THAT the Community Advisory Committee recommend that Council take no action with respect to the proposed “Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1665, 2026”, and “Fire Prevention and Regulation Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2286, 2026”, until such time as the following items are amended:

a. ____________;
b. ____________;
c. _________.

SUBMITTED BY

Richard Wagner, Policy Analyst and Legislative Drafter

Concurrence

Chris Aubrey, Fire Chief

Concurrence

Melisa Miles, Manager of Legislative Services

Concurrence

Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development

Concurrence

Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities

Concurrence

Leah Stohmann, RPP, MCIP, Director of Community Planning and Development

Concurrence

Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works

Concurrence

Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance

Concurrence

Marie Watmough, Director of Legislative & Protective Services

Concurrence

Braden Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer

Attachments

• Attachment 1 – Proposed “Fire Prevention and Regulation Bylaw No. 1665, 2026”
• Attachment 2 – Proposed “Fire Prevention and Regulation Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2286, 2026”
• Attachment 3 – Current “Langford Fire Protection District BY-LAW, No. 87, 1989”
• Attachment 4 – Current “District of Langford Smoke Alarm Bylaw, 1993 (No. 30)”
• Attachment 5 – Current “City of Langford Burning and Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 1532, 2014”
• Attachment 6 – Redline “City of Langford Burning and Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 1532, 2014”