About the RDNO

Rural areas are home to approximately 12 percent of BC’s population. Regional districts are British Columbia’s way of ensuring that all residents have access to commonly needed services, no matter where they live.

Beginning in 1965, BC’s regional form of government is one of the most innovative in Canada. Regional districts provide rural residents with an effective form of local government, while also representing municipal residents on regional issues. The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) is one of 27 regional districts in the Province of British Columbia. Learn more about Regional Districts on the Government of British Columbia's website. 

Regional districts can provide a broad range of services, with the notable exception of roads and policing. The choice of services is determined by the Regional Board but only with the support of the electors. The scope of services therefore varies with each regional district, and according to local circumstances and local opinion.

Unlike municipalities, regional districts are required to match the benefits and costs of its services to the people who benefit from the services. Costs are recovered by billing those who benefit from the services - in other words, residents pay for what they get. Refer to Funding for more information.

Some services, such as street lighting, may be provided to only part of an electoral area in the form of a local service, or to a combination of electoral areas and municipalities as a sub-regional service, for example Greater Vernon Water.   Services that are provided region-wide to all member municipalities and electoral areas, such as solid waste management planning, are called regional services.

Generally, the idea for a new service emerges from Regional Board directors, citizens, municipal councils, local government staff, or senior levels of government.

A Board member may initiate a new service request by proposing a resolution to the Board.  If the Board approves the resolution in principle, the service establishment process begins. For example, a feasibility study may be conducted, or direction may be given to staff to prepare a report and bylaws for the proposed new service.

If appropriate, all 11 partners may be surveyed about whether or not they wish to participate in the proposed service.

If the proposed service is deemed to be feasible, a service establishment bylaw is developed. The bylaw must be given three readings by the Board and may also be required to receive the assent of the electors.

The bylaw must further receive approval from the province’s Inspector of Municipalities and the member municipalities and electoral areas that intend to participate in the proposed service.  After receiving the necessary approvals, the service establishment bylaw may be adopted to create the new service.

Each year, BC’s regional districts provide over $541 million in services. Regional districts account for about 14 cents of each dollar spent by local government in British Columbia. 

Regional districts raise funds primarily through property taxation. In rural areas, the Province collects property taxes. Within municipal boundaries, property taxes are paid to the municipality. The Province and municipalities then transfer funds to the regional districts to cover the costs of local, sub-regional and regional services that the regional districts are sanctioned by the voters to provide.

Regional districts also generate revenues from fees and charges, such as dog licenses and tipping fees, and provincial or federal government grants.

A separate body that shares the same geographic boundaries as the RDNO is the Regional Hospital District of the North Okanagan. Regional hospital districts provide the local share for financing hospital construction, ensuring that all area residents who utilize hospital services make an equitable contribution to the capital costs. Regional hospital districts do not fund or direct the operations of hospitals; they are only involved in hospital construction.