Air Quality Regulations
N.B. The information about the legislation below is for private study or research purposes only. For information on how to obtain the official printed versions of B.C.'s statutes, see
BC Laws; Frequently Asked Questions (Queen's Printer).
The Environmental Management Act and the Waste
Discharge Regulation are the fundamental pieces of legislation for air quality in British Columbia. See Summary of Air Quality Legislation for more information.
Environmental Data Quality Assurance Regulation
This regulation requires laboratories to register and participate in proficiency-testing studies in order to receive a laboratory certificate of proficiency
Asphalt Plant Regulation
The Asphalt Plant Regulation sets safe environmental limits for asphalts plants, and moves away from the previous practice of making a separate permit for each asphalt
Oil and Gas Waste Regulation
July 2005, amended July 2006
This regulation applies to small discharges from the oil and gas industry's drilling and production activities. The regulation authorizes some very small discharges unconditionally and
sets out discharge and registration requirements for others. Permits or approvals are still required for large facilities. For more information, see Industrial
Waste: Oil and Gas Regulation.
of Fuel Regulation
The Sulphur Content of Fuel Regulation sets the allowable content of sulphur in all fuel in British Columbia.
Ozone Depleting Substances and Other Halocarbons Regulation
February 1993, amended November 1999 and July 2004
This regulation prohibits the release of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) stored in products and equipment. It is also intended to encourage consumers and industry to
use environmentally safe alternatives. The regulation covers CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, PFCs, halons, methyl
chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. For more details, see What Governments are Doing about Ozone Depletion. The Ozone Depleting Substances
and Other Halocarbons Regulation meshes with national efforts to control the import, manufacture, use, sale and export of ODS.
Smoke and Burning
Waste Control Regulation (will be reviewed and revised)
This regulation establishes practices for using, storing and managing agricultural waste in an an environmentally sound manner. The Province is going to amend the regulation to establish consistent
emission limits for wood-fired agricultural boilers (e.g., greenhouses). The standards will be fully phased in by September 2010. See B.C.
Gets Tough on Agricultural Boiler Emissions. The new agricultural boiler standards are substantially harmonized with Metro Vancouver’s recently adopted Agricultural
Boilers Emission Regulation Bylaw (PDF: 8 pages)
Burning Smoke Control Regulation (being reviewed and revised)
April 1993, amended 1998, 2000
The Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation is meant to encourage the reduction and reuse of vegetative debris from these operations, whenever possible. The Ministry of
Environment is reviewing and revising this regulation. See Proposed Changes to the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation. In
addition, see A Guide to the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation.
Solid Fuel Burning Domestic Appliance Regulation
This regulation specifies particulate emission limits, and labeling and testing requirements, for new solid-fuel (wood) stoves, fireplace inserts and factory-built fireplaces
manufactured after November 1, 1994. The Ministry of Environment is reviewing and revising this regulation. See Proposed Changes to the Solid Fuel Burning Domestic Appliance Regulation.
Residue Burner and Incinerator Regulation
December 1995, includes amendments up to 2004
Under this regulation, beehive (wood-residue) burners in populated areas (Tier 1) were to be shut down by the end of 2007. B.C.'s Air
Action Plan includes a commitment to taking action on the remaining beehive burners starting in 2010 (action #19). Eliminating these inefficient burners, which frequently cast palls of smoke over
many valleys, will lead to cleaner air in many regions.
Vehicle and Fuel Emissions
Cleaner Gasoline Regulation
The Cleaner Gasoline Regulation establishes standards for gasoline that reduce emissions of harmful pollutants, particularly volatile organics. The Regulation was last revised in 2010 and 2011 to allow for the distribution and wholesale purchase of automotive ethanol-blended fuel (E85) in B.C. and to phase out the Reid Vapour Pressure (RVP) waiver, which allows ethanol-blended gasoline in the Lower Fraser Valley (LFV) to exceed the prescribed limits for vapour pressure during warmer summer months. In advance of these changes, an intentions paper for the regulation Policy Intentions Paper for Consultation (PDF/92kb) was posted in August, 2009 to solicit public comment (see: Summary of Public Comment PDF/182 KB).
Vapour Control Regulation
This regulation requires the installation and use of gasoline-vapour control systems at service stations, bulk-gasoline storage plants, gasoline terminals and on truck
cargo tankers. These systems are designed to prevent the escape of gasoline vapours into the atmosphere during the transfer of gasoline between fuel storage tanks and cargo tankers.
Vehicle Emissions Control Warranty Regulation
This prohibits the sale or the making available for sale, of a motor vehicle in British Columbia unless the manufacturer promises to fix the vehicle free of charge if
there are defects in materials or workmanship that cause the vehicle to fail emission standards, or the vehicle fails AirCare.