Environmental law
Environmental law is the body of law protecting air, water, land and wildlife, regulating pollution, waste, contaminated sites, environmental assessment of major projects and resource use. In Canada it is shared between federal, provincial and local governments. For businesses, it is especially relevant to property transactions, industrial operations and development.
How BC law treats it
In BC, the Environmental Management Act, SBC 2003, c 53 governs waste, pollution and contaminated sites, while environmental assessment of major projects is under the Environmental Assessment Act, SBC 2018, c 51. Federal statutes such as the Fisheries Act also apply.
What it means for your business
A business buying or leasing industrial or commercial land should consider environmental due diligence, such as a site assessment.
Risks and common mistakes
Under BC's contaminated sites regime, current and past owners and operators can be responsible for remediation costs even if they did not cause the contamination.
Fulcrum's real estate lawyers can help with these issues.
General information about British Columbia and Canadian law, current to October 2026. It is not legal advice.
