Water Stewardship

Quick Licencing

Quick licensing is a “fast track” process for adjudicating water licence applications - both new licences and amendments to existing licences. It can be used for applications for small quantities on sources where the withdrawal would have no impact on other water users. Further, there must be no significant environmental, First Nations, or fisheries concerns.

Eligibility Criteria for Quick Licensing

To be eligible for quick licensing, an application must not be on an “excluded stream”, A stream is a natural source of surface water.

The following water use purposes and volume rates are eligible for quick licensing:

  • for a domestic use, with an allocation volume not exceeding 2.3 cubic metres (500 gallons) a day, or

  • for a minor agricultural use with an allocation volume not exceeding 11.4 cubic metres (2,500 gallons) a day, or

  • up to 1,233 cubic metres(1 acre-foot) per year for an irrigation purpose.

However, on certain designated streams different water use purposes and volume rate withdrawals may also be eligible for quick licesing. Refer to the Streams Eligible and Excluded from Quick Licensing for further information.

In addition, if the proposed works will cross, flood or otherwise affect another person’s land, written consent from all affected landowners must be obtained using the Landowner's Consent Form (for new licences) (for license amendments).

If an application does not meet these criteria, it will be adjudicated by the standard process.

Excluded and Sensitive Streams

If quick licensing is not appropriate for a particular stream, the stream is designated as an “excluded stream” and all applications on the stream proceed by the standard adjudication process rather than by quick licensing.

The reasons for designation vary, but many relate to concerns about the overall supply of water and the interests of other users.

“Sensitive” streams designated under the Fish Protection Act are automatically excluded from quick licensing as well.

Officials Authorized to Issue Quick Licences

Water Licences are issued by the Comptroller of Water Rights, the Deputy Comptroller of Water Rights, the Regional Water Manager or the Assistant Regional Water Manager. If the application is eligible for quick licensing, an “authorized official” may issue the new water licence or an amendment to an existing water licence. Authorized officials can only be designated by the Regional Water Manager or Comptroller of Water Rights.

Streams Eligible or Excluded from Quick Licensing

Streams (natural surface water sources) which are eligible or excluded from quick licensing are listed in the reports shown below. To determine whether a stream is either eligible or excluded from quick licensing refer to the appropriate region.

  1. Vancouver Island (pdf 17kb) Excel (49kb)
  2. Lower Mainland (pdf 39kb) Excel (59kb)
  3. Thompson Nicola (pdf 17kb) Excel (49kb)
  4. Kootenay (20kb) Excel (108kb)
  5. Cariboo Chilcotin (pdf 131b) Excel (66kb)
  6. Skeena (pdf 95kb) Excel (23kb)
  7. Omineca Peace (pdf 95kb) Excel (23kb)
  8. Okanagan (pdf 132kb) Excel (59kb)