Telecommunications Tower Policy

Reliable telecommunications infrastructure supports public safety, emergency response, businesses, and everyday connectivity in the Fraser Valley Regional District’s Electoral Areas.

The FVRD Board is considering a Telecommunications Tower Policy to provide clear, consistent guidance for how telecommunications tower proposals are reviewed and how public consultation is carried out at the local level.

Telecommunications towers are regulated by the federal government through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). While ISED is the final approving authority, local governments play an important role by providing land-use input and ensuring communities are informed and engaged as part of the federal consultation process.

The proposed policy is intended to formalize and strengthen the FVRD’s role by setting out clear expectations for siting, design, and public consultation, while respecting federal jurisdiction.

What the draft policy does

The draft Telecommunications Tower Policy would:

• Clarify the respective roles of the federal government, the FVRD, and telecommunications proponents;

• Identify preferred and discouraged locations for new towers to help minimize land-use and visual impacts;

• Encourage co-location on existing towers and infrastructure where feasible;

• Provide design guidance to better integrate towers into surrounding communities;

• Establish clear and consistent public consultation expectations; and

• Support transparent and informed concurrence or non-concurrence decisions by the FVRD Board.

The policy does not regulate technical matters such as radiofrequency emissions, tower operations, or licensing, which remain under federal authority.

Why your input matters

Public input helps ensure the policy reflects local values, community context, and rural realities across the Electoral Areas. Feedback received through this engagement will help refine the draft before it is brought back to the FVRD Board for consideration.

What happens next

Comments received through this Have Your Say page will be reviewed by staff and summarized for the FVRD Board. Feedback will be used to inform revisions to the draft policy prior to its return to the Electoral Area Services Committee and Regional Board.

The draft policy can be reviewed in full here: Electoral Area Telecommunications Tower Policy Draft

How to participate

The FVRD invites public comments on the draft policy through the discussion forum below between January 19th – February 9th at 10 AM.