---
title: "Public services in British Columbia: who handles what"
url: "https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/british-columbia"
description: "Public services in British Columbia: 52 services, the 12 biggest cities and towns and 12,203 public places from open data. The biggest: Vancouver and Surrey."
site: "Canada Service Map"
author: "Mahmoud Halat"
publisher: "Space & Story"
lastReviewed: "2026-10-13"
licence: "Built entirely from public data: open data and official government pages. Each record keeps the licence of its source, listed at https://canadaservicemap.ca/data."
---
# Public services in British Columbia

Province

Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked 13 October 2026. Not a government website. The official page always has the final word.

Who handles public services in British Columbia, with a page for each of 52 services. Below: the 12 biggest cities and towns, British Columbia's benefit payment dates and the main provincial government bodies.

## At a glance

- 52 public services have a page for British Columbia on this site.
- 537 cities, towns and communities in British Columbia have public places on the map, 12,203 places in all.
- The biggest by population is Vancouver: 662,248 people (2021 Census). Source: [Statistics Canada, Population and dwelling counts: Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities), table 98-10-0002-01, 2021 Census of Population](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000201) (Statistics Canada Open Licence).
- 44 provincial government bodies in British Columbia are on record.

## Services

### Identity and documents

- [Order a birth certificate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/birth-certificate/british-columbia): Vital Statistics Agency (Government of British Columbia)
- [Order a death certificate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/death-certificate/british-columbia): Vital Statistics Agency (Government of British Columbia)
- [Order a marriage certificate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/marriage-certificate/british-columbia): Vital Statistics Agency (Government of British Columbia)
- [Legally change your name](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/british-columbia): Vital Statistics Agency (Government of British Columbia)
- [Get a photo ID card (if you don't drive)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/british-columbia): ICBC (BC Identification card)
- [Change your address with the province](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/change-address/british-columbia): Address Change BC (Government of British Columbia)

### Driving and vehicles

- [Get, renew or replace a driver's licence](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/drivers-licence/british-columbia): ICBC
- [Book a road test or knowledge test](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/driving-test/british-columbia): ICBC
- [Register a vehicle and renew licence plates](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vehicle-registration/british-columbia): ICBC (through Autoplan brokers)
- [Get an accessible parking permit](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/accessible-parking/british-columbia): SPARC BC (non-profit that issues disability parking permits)
- [Check road conditions and closures (511)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/road-conditions/british-columbia): DriveBC (Government of British Columbia)

### Health

- [Apply for or renew your health card](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/health-card/british-columbia): Health Insurance BC (Medical Services Plan)
- [Find a family doctor or nurse practitioner](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/find-family-doctor/british-columbia): Health Connect Registry (HealthLink BC, Ministry of Health)
- [Talk to a nurse (811 health line)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/health-advice-line/british-columbia): HealthLink BC (Ministry of Health)
- [Get help paying for prescription drugs (pharmacare)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/prescription-drug-coverage/british-columbia): BC PharmaCare (Ministry of Health)
- [Vaccines and immunization records](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/immunization/british-columbia): HealthLink BC and regional public health units (Ministry of Health)
- [Register as an organ and tissue donor](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/organ-donor/british-columbia): BC Transplant (Provincial Health Services Authority)
- [Home care and community care](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/home-care/british-columbia): Regional health authorities (Fraser, Interior, Island, Northern, Vancouver Coastal Health)

### Family and children

- [Register a baby's birth](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/register-birth/british-columbia): Vital Statistics Agency (Government of British Columbia)
- [Get a marriage licence](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/marriage-licence/british-columbia): Vital Statistics Agency (Government of British Columbia), through local marriage licence issuers
- [Get help paying for child care](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/child-care-subsidy/british-columbia): Affordable Child Care Benefit (Government of British Columbia)
- [Find licensed child care or daycare](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/find-child-care/british-columbia): ChildCareBC (Government of British Columbia)
- [Collect child or spousal support](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/child-support-enforcement/british-columbia): BC Family Maintenance Agency (BCFMA)
- [Report child abuse or neglect](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/report-child-abuse/british-columbia): Ministry of Children and Family Development

### Benefits and money

- [Apply for income assistance (welfare)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/british-columbia): Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction
- [Disability income support from the province](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/disability-assistance/british-columbia): Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (Persons with Disabilities designation)

### Work and business

- [Register a business name or incorporate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/register-business/british-columbia): BC Registries and Online Services (Government of British Columbia)
- [Report a workplace injury (workers' compensation)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/workplace-injury/british-columbia): WorkSafeBC
- [Your rights at work: pay, hours, leave and firing](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/employment-standards/british-columbia): Employment Standards Branch (Government of British Columbia)
- [Get help finding a job or training](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/employment-services/british-columbia): WorkBC (Government of British Columbia)
- [Become an apprentice or get certified in a trade](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/apprenticeship/british-columbia): SkilledTradesBC

### Housing and property

- [Search or register a land title](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/land-titles/british-columbia): Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA)
- [Check or appeal your property assessment](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/property-assessment/british-columbia): BC Assessment
- [Renting: rules, rent increases, evictions and disputes](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/rental-disputes/british-columbia): Residential Tenancy Branch (Government of British Columbia)
- [Apply for social or affordable housing](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-housing/british-columbia): BC Housing

### Education

- [Apply for student loans and grants](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/student-aid/british-columbia): StudentAid BC (Government of British Columbia)
- [Get a high school transcript or diploma copy](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/high-school-transcript/british-columbia): StudentTranscripts Service (Government of British Columbia)

### Justice and safety

- [Sue for a small amount (small claims)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/small-claims/british-columbia): Civil Resolution Tribunal (up to $5,000); Provincial Court of BC (up to $35,000)
- [Get legal aid](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/legal-aid/british-columbia): Legal Aid BC
- [Make a human rights complaint](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/human-rights-complaint/british-columbia): BC Human Rights Tribunal
- [Complain about a business (consumer protection)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/consumer-complaint/british-columbia): Consumer Protection BC
- [Emergency alerts and how to prepare](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/emergency-alerts/british-columbia): EmergencyInfoBC and PreparedBC (Government of British Columbia)

### Environment and outdoors

- [Buy a fishing licence](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/fishing-licence/british-columbia): Government of British Columbia (WILD licensing system)
- [Buy a hunting licence](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/hunting-licence/british-columbia): Government of British Columbia (WILD licensing system)
- [Reserve a campsite in a provincial or territorial park](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/provincial-park-camping/british-columbia): BC Parks (Government of British Columbia)
- [Wildfire status and fire bans](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/wildfire/british-columbia): BC Wildfire Service

### Immigration, citizenship and travel

- [Immigrate through a province or territory](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/provincial-nominee/british-columbia): BC Provincial Nominee Program (WelcomeBC, Government of British Columbia)

### Voting and democracy

- [Vote in a municipal election](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-municipal/british-columbia) (Election day: 17 October 2026)
- [Vote in a provincial or territorial election](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-provincial/british-columbia): Elections BC
- [Find your member of the provincial or territorial legislature](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/find-mla/british-columbia): Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

### Seniors

- [Apply for a long-term care home](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/long-term-care/british-columbia): Regional health authorities (Fraser, Interior, Island, Northern, Vancouver Coastal Health)
- [Provincial income top-ups for low-income seniors](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/seniors-benefits/british-columbia): B.C. Seniors' Supplement (Government of British Columbia)

## Benefit payment dates

- [B.C. income assistance](https://canadaservicemap.ca/benefit-payment-dates#social-assistance-bc): next payment 21 October 2026. Source: [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/payment-dates](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/payment-dates), checked 13 October 2026.
- [B.C. disability assistance](https://canadaservicemap.ca/benefit-payment-dates#disability-assistance-bc): next payment 21 October 2026. Source: [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/payment-dates](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/payment-dates), checked 13 October 2026.

Every benefit: [Benefit payment dates](https://canadaservicemap.ca/benefit-payment-dates).

## Biggest cities and towns

- [Vancouver](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/vancouver): population 662,248, 1,305 public places
- [Surrey](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/surrey): population 568,322, 1,327 public places
- [Burnaby](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/burnaby): population 249,125, 272 public places
- [Central Okanagan](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/central-okanagan): population 222,162, 2 public places
- [Richmond](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/richmond): population 209,937, 204 public places
- [Abbotsford](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/abbotsford): population 153,524, 240 public places
- [Coquitlam](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/coquitlam): population 148,625, 130 public places
- [Kelowna](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/kelowna): population 144,576, 429 public places
- [Saanich](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/saanich): population 117,735, 321 public places
- [Delta](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/delta): population 108,455, 140 public places
- [Nanaimo](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/nanaimo): population 99,863, 507 public places
- [Kamloops](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/kamloops): population 97,902, 419 public places

## Main provincial government bodies

- [The Government of British Columbia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/the-government-of-british-columbia) ([website](http://www2.gov.bc.ca/))
- [BC Family Maintenance Agency Ltd.](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/bc-family-maintenance-agency-ltd) ([website](https://www.bcfma.ca/))
- [British Columbia Assessment Authority](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/british-columbia-assessment-authority) ([website](https://www.bcassessment.ca/))
- [British Columbia Housing Management Commission](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/british-columbia-housing-management-commission) ([website](https://www.bchousing.org/))
- [Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/business-practices-and-consumer-protection-authority) ([website](https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/))
- [Legal Services Society](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/legal-services-society) ([website](https://legalaid.bc.ca/))
- [SkilledTradesBC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/skilledtradesbc) ([website](https://skilledtradesbc.ca/))
- [Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/workers-compensation-board-of-british-columbia) ([website](http://www.worksafebc.com/))
- [Royal British Columbia Museum Corporation](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/royal-british-columbia-museum-corporation) ([website](http://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/))
- [B.C. Ferry Authority](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/b-c-ferry-authority) ([website](https://www.bcferryauthority.com/))
- [BC Financial Services Authority](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/bc-financial-services-authority) ([website](https://www.bcfsa.ca/))
- [BC Games Society](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/bc-games-society) ([website](https://bcgames.org/))

44 provincial government bodies are on record in all.

## Other provinces and territories

- [Alberta](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/alberta)
- [Saskatchewan](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/saskatchewan)
- [Manitoba](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/manitoba)
- [Ontario](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/ontario)
- [Quebec](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/quebec)
- [New Brunswick](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/new-brunswick)
- [Nova Scotia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/nova-scotia)
- [Prince Edward Island](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/prince-edward-island)
- [Newfoundland and Labrador](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/newfoundland-and-labrador)
- [Yukon](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/yukon)
- [Northwest Territories](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/northwest-territories)
- [Nunavut](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/nunavut)

## Cite this page

Canada Service Map, "Public services in British Columbia: who handles what", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/british-columbia