BC environmental assessment
Major projects in British Columbia need an environmental assessment certificate before they can be built. Bring evidence that is ready when the Environmental Assessment Office asks.
For proponents of major projects in British Columbia, and the qualified professionals and Indigenous nation teams who review them.
How we help you bring evidence to BC’s environmental assessment
ProDelta gives proponents an early baseline of the land, repeat monitoring after approval, and clear reporting that Nations, advisory committees, and the public can follow. genesis-ei delivers an initial analysis in minutes, and geo-story presents the results for review and comment. We support the evidence. The Environmental Assessment Office and your qualified professionals do the assessment.
Rules last checked . Most recent change: BC’s review of the Environmental Assessment Act continues into 2027 and 2028, and dispute resolution amendments to the Act came into force on April 16, 2026. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.
- How does genesis-ei help with an assessment?
- genesis-ei gives an initial landscape-scale baseline in minutes across 15 ecological indicators, and can repeat the analysis through monitoring after approval. A fully verified baseline adds ground truthing by qualified professionals. It supports the application. It does not replace it.
- Are the rules changing?
- Yes. BC is reviewing the Environmental Assessment Act, with the review continuing into 2027 and 2028. Dispute resolution amendments came into force on April 16, 2026, and an expedited assessment process for certain infrastructure projects is under discussion. Check the current rules with counsel.
What BC asks of major projects
When a major project is proposed in British Columbia, it must go through an environmental assessment run by the Environmental Assessment Office, a neutral regulatory agency inside the provincial government. The assessment looks at environmental, economic, social, cultural, and health effects over the life of the project.
The Office works with scientific professionals, Indigenous nations, proponents, the public, local governments, and federal and provincial agencies. The result is an assessment report that goes to Ministers, who decide whether the project proceeds.
- Seven phases, many voicesIndigenous nations, advisory committees, and the public all take part.
- Early data mattersThe Office says early feedback on data and analysis can reduce delays later.
- Conditions last for lifeIf a certificate is issued, its conditions bind the proponent for the life of the project.
- The rules are movingBC is reviewing the Act through 2027 and into 2028.
The seven phases, and where evidence helps
The Office describes seven phases. Here is what each one does and where project-scale evidence fits.
Early engagement
The start of the process with the Environmental Assessment Office. Participants learn about the project, and interested First Nations give notice that they want to take part as participating Indigenous nations.
Where evidence helps: Share a clear early picture of the land and the project so conversations start from the same evidence.
Readiness decision
A decision on whether the project is ready to go to a full assessment. Occasionally a project is exempted or terminated, and participating Indigenous nations can give notice of consent or lack of consent.
Where evidence helps: Have the baseline basics ready so key issues are named early.
Process planning
A process order sets who does what, when, and how, including the information required and how participants work together.
Where evidence helps: Agree the data and methods up front so work is not redone later.
Application development and review
The proponent develops the application with participating Indigenous nations and participants, then the Office, the nations, and advisory committees review it and direct revisions.
Where evidence helps: Get early feedback on data and analysis, which the Office says can reduce delays later.
Effects assessment and recommendation
The Office assesses effects and drafts an assessment report and a draft certificate with conditions. The public can comment on both drafts.
Where evidence helps: Show effects and cumulative footprint in a form reviewers and communities can follow.
Decision
Ministers consider the assessment report and recommendations, then issue or refuse a certificate and publish their reasons.
Where evidence helps: Keep a clear record of the evidence behind the recommendation.
Post-certificate and compliance
If a certificate is issued, its legally binding conditions apply for the life of the project. Mitigation effectiveness reports and compliance inspections follow.
Where evidence helps: Repeat monitoring to show conditions are being met and mitigation is working.
Source: Government of British Columbia, Environmental Assessment Office, environmental assessment process page (July 2025). Descriptions are paraphrased.
Is your project reviewable?
Reviewable projects need an environmental assessment certificate or an exemption order before they can be built. A project can become reviewable three ways.
It meets the regulation
The Reviewable Projects Regulation lists activities and facilities, with design and effects thresholds. Projects that meet them are automatically reviewable.
The Minister designates it
After considering required factors, the Minister can designate an eligible project, for example after an application from an Indigenous nation or the public, or after a project notification.
The proponent asks
A proponent of a project that is not automatically reviewable can request designation, and the chief executive assessment officer can grant it.
Thresholds change, so check the current regulation or ask the Office. This page does not summarize them.
The rules are being reviewed
The Environmental Assessment Act came into force in December 2019 and required a review. As of November 2026:
- The review is continuing through 2027 and into spring 2028, in consultation and cooperation with First Nations.
- Dispute resolution amendments to the Act came into force on April 16, 2026.
- The Office has asked for input on an expedited assessment process for certain infrastructure projects, and expects to publish what it heard in fall 2026.
A baseline that stays current is useful whichever way the rules land. Check what applies to your project with counsel.
Project-scale evidence, ready for each phase
ProDelta supports the evidence and reporting. Your qualified professionals, advisers, and the Office do the rest.
ProDelta supports
- genesis-ei: an initial baseline in minutes across 15 ecological indicators, repeated through monitoring
- rapid-ortho: high-resolution imagery of sites and corridors, processed 100 times faster than traditional imagery processing
- geo-story: a story that Nations, advisory committees, and the public can follow and comment on
- Repeat monitoring evidence for post-certificate reports
Your team and the Office cover
- The application, and its sign-off by qualified professionals
- Engagement with Indigenous nations, whose consent decisions are theirs to make
- Field studies and specialist sampling
- The assessment, the recommendation, and the Ministers’ decision
How this fits with other rules
An assessment draws on cumulative effects, watershed, and adaptive management evidence. Each page looks at one angle.
Questions we hear
Is this the same as impact assessment?
Not exactly. British Columbia calls its process environmental assessment, and it is run by the provincial Environmental Assessment Office. The federal process is called impact assessment and is run by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. Some major projects face both, and federal rules are changing in 2026. See our page on cumulative effects.
Which projects need a BC environmental assessment?
Reviewable projects. A project is reviewable if it meets the criteria in the Reviewable Projects Regulation, if the Minister designates it, or if the proponent asks for designation and the chief executive assessment officer grants it. Reviewable projects need an environmental assessment certificate or an exemption order before they can be built.
What does the process cover?
The Office assesses the potential environmental, economic, social, cultural, and health effects of a major project over its lifetime, working with Indigenous nations, proponents, the public, local governments, and other agencies.
How does genesis-ei help with an assessment?
genesis-ei gives an initial landscape-scale baseline in minutes across 15 ecological indicators, and can repeat the analysis through monitoring after approval. A fully verified baseline adds ground truthing by qualified professionals. It supports the application. It does not replace it.
Are the rules changing?
Yes. BC is reviewing the Environmental Assessment Act, with the review continuing into 2027 and 2028. Dispute resolution amendments came into force on April 16, 2026, and an expedited assessment process for certain infrastructure projects is under discussion. Check the current rules with counsel.
Be ready when the Office asks.
Tell us about your project and where it is in the process. We’ll show where evidence fits.