BC Municipal Debt Load Rankings
Liability servicing capacity used shows what percentage of borrowing room a municipality has consumed.
Lowest — Best Performing
Distribution
63
Top of Band
47
Mid-Band
46
Bottom of Band
About this Metric
Low value means
Significant borrowing headroom remains — the municipality has capacity to finance future infrastructure without straining current finances.
High value means
The municipality has consumed a large share of its legal borrowing limit, constraining future capital borrowing and directing more revenue toward debt service.
For Councillors
BC municipalities operate under a statutory debt ceiling: annual debt service costs cannot exceed a set percentage of prior-year revenue. When capacity is nearly exhausted, councils lose the ability to borrow for major capital projects — new rec centres, water treatment upgrades, or road rehabilitation. High debt load also means more current-year revenue flowing to interest payments rather than direct services.
For Residents
A high debt load does not necessarily mean crisis, but it does mean less flexibility. If something breaks — a water main, a bridge — the municipality may have limited ability to borrow to fix it quickly, leading to delays or emergency tax levies. It also means a larger share of your taxes is going toward loan repayments rather than services you can see.
Full Rankings
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| Prov. # ▲ | Municipality | Type | Population | Value | Band Rank | vs Band Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashcroft | V | 1,744 | 0.0% | 1 of 106 | -100% |
| 2 | Burnaby | C | 299,682 | 0.0% | 1 of 10 | -100% |
| 3 | Cache Creek | V | 1,053 | 0.0% | 1 of 193 | -100% |
| 4 | Chilliwack | C | 105,520 | 0.0% | 1 of 22 | -100% |
| 5 | Delta | C | 124,670 | 0.0% | 2 of 22 | -100% |
| 6 | Duncan | C | 5,745 | 0.0% | 1 of 91 | -100% |
| 7 | Fraser Lake | V | 942 | 0.0% | 2 of 193 | -100% |
| 8 | Gold River | V | 1,339 | 0.0% | 3 of 193 | -100% |
| 9 | Hudson's Hope | D | 1,019 | 0.0% | 4 of 193 | -100% |
| 10 | Lillooet | D | 2,065 | 0.0% | 2 of 106 | -100% |
| 11 | Lytton | V | 228 | 0.0% | 5 of 193 | -100% |
| 12 | Metchosin | D | 5,207 | 0.0% | 2 of 91 | -100% |
| 13 | New Hazelton | D | 666 | 0.0% | 6 of 193 | -100% |
| 14 | Oak Bay | D | 18,626 | 0.0% | 1 of 48 | -100% |
| 15 | Port Clements | V | 352 | 0.0% | 7 of 193 | -100% |
| 16 | Pouce Coupe | V | 813 | 0.0% | 8 of 193 | -100% |
| 17 | Silverton | V | 196 | 0.0% | 9 of 193 | -100% |
| 18 | Tahsis | V | 418 | 0.0% | 10 of 193 | -100% |
| 19 | North Vancouver | C | 66,624 | 0.0% | 4 of 22 | -100% |
| 20 | North Vancouver | D | 97,845 | 0.0% | 5 of 22 | -100% |
| 21 | Mackenzie | D | 3,442 | 0.2% | 18 of 106 | -99% |
| 22 | Lake Cowichan | T | 3,757 | 0.4% | 19 of 106 | -97% |
| 23 | 100 Mile House | D | 2,030 | 0.5% | 20 of 106 | -96% |
| 24 | Kaslo | V | 1,141 | 1.2% | 99 of 193 | -86% |
| 25 | Spallumcheen | D | 5,843 | 1.4% | 11 of 91 | -91% |
| 26 | Coquitlam | C | 173,599 | 1.7% | 2 of 10 | -88% |
| 27 | Fort St. James | D | 1,542 | 2.1% | 22 of 106 | -84% |
| 28 | Zeballos | V | 136 | 2.1% | 100 of 193 | -74% |
| 29 | Kent | D | 7,093 | 2.6% | 14 of 91 | -82% |
| 30 | Harrison Hot Springs | V | 2,148 | 2.6% | 23 of 106 | -81% |
| 31 | Vernon | C | 49,527 | 3.1% | 3 of 48 | -79% |
| 32 | West Vancouver | D | 47,929 | 3.5% | 4 of 48 | -76% |
| 33 | Keremeos | V | 1,779 | 3.6% | 28 of 106 | -74% |
| 34 | Lumby | V | 2,257 | 3.9% | 29 of 106 | -72% |
| 35 | Tumbler Ridge | D | 2,663 | 3.9% | 30 of 106 | -72% |
| 36 | Parksville | C | 15,371 | 4.0% | 5 of 48 | -73% |
| 37 | Langley | C | 35,444 | 4.1% | 6 of 48 | -73% |
| 38 | Langley | D | 163,885 | 4.1% | 3 of 10 | -73% |
| 39 | Port Alice | V | 789 | 4.2% | 104 of 193 | -50% |
| 40 | Houston | D | 3,114 | 4.2% | 32 of 106 | -69% |
| 41 | Clearwater | D | 2,500 | 4.6% | 33 of 106 | -66% |
| 42 | Granisle | V | 357 | 4.8% | 107 of 193 | -43% |
| 43 | Campbell River | C | 38,300 | 4.9% | 8 of 48 | -67% |
| 44 | Mission | C | 47,280 | 5.5% | 9 of 48 | -63% |
| 45 | shíshálh Nation Government District | D | 792 | 5.6% | 110 of 193 | -33% |
| 46 | Midway | V | 671 | 5.7% | 111 of 193 | -32% |
| 47 | Terrace | C | 13,648 | 5.7% | 21 of 91 | -61% |
| 48 | Sayward | V | 329 | 5.8% | 112 of 193 | -31% |
| 49 | Central Saanich | D | 18,184 | 6.5% | 10 of 48 | -57% |
| 50 | Grand Forks | C | 4,308 | 6.6% | 36 of 106 | -51% |
| 51 | Surrey | C | 703,531 | 7.0% | 4 of 10 | -53% |
| 52 | Hope | D | 7,183 | 7.2% | 24 of 91 | -52% |
| 53 | Nelson | C | 12,126 | 7.3% | 25 of 91 | -51% |
| 54 | Valemount | V | 1,082 | 7.4% | 117 of 193 | -11% |
| 55 | Telkwa | V | 1,544 | 7.4% | 38 of 106 | -46% |
| 56 | Richmond | C | 239,584 | 7.6% | 5 of 10 | -49% |
| 57 | Smithers | T | 5,627 | 7.6% | 26 of 91 | -49% |
| 58 | Highlands | D | 2,753 | 7.6% | 40 of 106 | -44% |
| 59 | Abbotsford | C | 175,358 | 7.7% | 6 of 10 | -48% |
| 60 | White Rock | C | 25,057 | 7.9% | 12 of 48 | -48% |
| 61 | Port Moody | C | 38,285 | 8.2% | 13 of 48 | -45% |
| 62 | Victoria | C | 103,888 | 8.3% | 6 of 22 | -38% |
| 63 | Comox | T | 15,884 | 8.4% | 14 of 48 | -44% |
| 64 | Lantzville | D | 4,276 | 8.8% | 50 of 106 | -36% |
| 65 | Nanaimo | C | 111,845 | 8.9% | 7 of 22 | -33% |
| 66 | New Denver | V | 527 | 9.0% | 124 of 193 | +8% |
| 67 | Sidney | T | 13,445 | 9.1% | 28 of 91 | -39% |
| 68 | Salmo | V | 1,310 | 9.4% | 127 of 193 | +13% |
| 69 | Nakusp | V | 1,740 | 9.8% | 53 of 106 | -29% |
| 70 | View Royal | T | 12,795 | 10.1% | 30 of 91 | -32% |
| 71 | North Saanich | D | 12,986 | 10.2% | 31 of 91 | -32% |
| 72 | Maple Ridge | C | 105,925 | 10.2% | 8 of 22 | -23% |
| 73 | Montrose | V | 1,072 | 10.3% | 130 of 193 | +23% |
| 74 | Chetwynd | D | 2,484 | 10.5% | 55 of 106 | -24% |
| 75 | Williams Lake | C | 11,462 | 10.6% | 35 of 91 | -29% |
| 76 | Kelowna | C | 167,654 | 10.8% | 7 of 10 | -27% |
| 77 | Enderby | C | 3,292 | 10.8% | 56 of 106 | -21% |
| 78 | Kimberley | C | 9,037 | 11.0% | 36 of 91 | -27% |
| 79 | Courtenay | C | 32,869 | 11.0% | 15 of 48 | -27% |
| 80 | Colwood | C | 22,794 | 11.2% | 16 of 48 | -25% |
| 81 | Clinton | V | 707 | 11.9% | 136 of 193 | +42% |
| 82 | Penticton | C | 39,068 | 11.9% | 19 of 48 | -21% |
| 83 | Port Alberni | C | 19,671 | 12.0% | 20 of 48 | -20% |
| 84 | Saanich | D | 126,011 | 12.2% | 10 of 22 | -8% |
| 85 | Pitt Meadows | C | 20,892 | 12.4% | 22 of 48 | -17% |
| 86 | Creston | T | 5,976 | 12.5% | 40 of 91 | -16% |
| 87 | Anmore | V | 2,508 | 12.6% | 58 of 106 | -8% |
| 88 | Port Coquitlam | C | 67,724 | 12.7% | 11 of 22 | -4% |
| 89 | Sparwood | D | 4,486 | 13.3% | 60 of 106 | -3% |
| 90 | Masset | V | 914 | 13.4% | 141 of 193 | +60% |
| 91 | Daajing Giids | V | 999 | 13.6% | 142 of 193 | +63% |
| 92 | Chase | V | 2,591 | 13.9% | 62 of 106 | +1% |
| 93 | Sooke | D | 17,248 | 14.0% | 25 of 48 | -7% |
| 94 | Armstrong | C | 5,643 | 14.1% | 44 of 91 | -6% |
| 95 | McBride | V | 646 | 14.5% | 146 of 193 | +74% |
| 96 | Castlegar | C | 9,465 | 14.5% | 46 of 91 | -3% |
| 97 | Stewart | D | 515 | 14.7% | 147 of 193 | +76% |
| 98 | Whistler | D | 15,090 | 14.9% | 26 of 48 | -1% |
| 99 | Fernie | C | 7,086 | 15.2% | 49 of 91 | +2% |
| 100 | Port Hardy | D | 4,201 | 15.7% | 65 of 106 | +15% |
| 101 | Port McNeill | T | 2,402 | 15.7% | 66 of 106 | +15% |
| 102 | Kamloops | C | 108,793 | 15.7% | 13 of 22 | +19% |
| 103 | Fort St. John | C | 24,383 | 15.7% | 27 of 48 | +5% |
| 104 | Coldstream | D | 11,380 | 15.7% | 51 of 91 | +5% |
| 105 | Taylor | D | 1,415 | 15.8% | 151 of 193 | +89% |
| 106 | Vanderhoof | D | 4,545 | 16.1% | 67 of 106 | +17% |
| 107 | Osoyoos | T | 5,724 | 16.2% | 53 of 91 | +8% |
| 108 | Fruitvale | V | 2,068 | 16.3% | 69 of 106 | +19% |
| 109 | Logan Lake | D | 2,337 | 16.4% | 71 of 106 | +20% |
| 110 | Sechelt | D | 11,558 | 16.5% | 54 of 91 | +10% |
| 111 | Summerland | D | 12,343 | 17.3% | 56 of 91 | +16% |
| 112 | Port Edward | D | 442 | 17.6% | 154 of 193 | +110% |
| 113 | Sicamous | D | 2,854 | 17.7% | 73 of 106 | +30% |
| 114 | Langford | C | 59,664 | 17.7% | 15 of 22 | +34% |
| 115 | Tofino | D | 2,772 | 18.2% | 74 of 106 | +33% |
| 116 | Pemberton | V | 3,620 | 18.4% | 75 of 106 | +35% |
| 117 | Radium Hot Springs | V | 1,489 | 18.6% | 159 of 193 | +123% |
| 118 | Esquimalt | D | 19,512 | 19.0% | 28 of 48 | +27% |
| 119 | Alert Bay | V | 465 | 19.1% | 160 of 193 | +128% |
| 120 | Lake Country | D | 17,637 | 19.1% | 29 of 48 | +27% |
| 121 | Ucluelet | D | 2,452 | 19.2% | 76 of 106 | +40% |
| 122 | Northern Rockies | D | 4,400 | 19.3% | 77 of 106 | +41% |
| 123 | New Westminster | C | 92,124 | 19.3% | 16 of 22 | +46% |
| 124 | Lions Bay | V | 1,375 | 21.2% | 167 of 193 | +153% |
| 125 | Quesnel | C | 10,253 | 21.8% | 67 of 91 | +46% |
| 126 | Rossland | C | 4,355 | 22.2% | 82 of 106 | +63% |
| 127 | West Kelowna | C | 40,274 | 22.4% | 37 of 48 | +49% |
| 128 | Canal Flats | V | 889 | 22.6% | 173 of 193 | +170% |
| 129 | Vancouver | C | 740,454 | 22.9% | 8 of 10 | +54% |
| 130 | Qualicum Beach | T | 9,640 | 22.9% | 70 of 91 | +53% |
| 131 | Warfield | V | 1,729 | 23.0% | 84 of 106 | +68% |
| 132 | Elkford | D | 3,030 | 23.1% | 85 of 106 | +69% |
| 133 | Princeton | T | 3,050 | 23.4% | 86 of 106 | +71% |
| 134 | North Cowichan | D | 34,525 | 23.8% | 39 of 48 | +59% |
| 135 | Prince George | C | 85,944 | 23.9% | 20 of 22 | +80% |
| 136 | Cranbrook | C | 22,703 | 23.9% | 40 of 48 | +59% |
| 137 | Ladysmith | T | 9,926 | 24.6% | 73 of 91 | +65% |
| 138 | Powell River | C | 14,947 | 24.7% | 75 of 91 | +65% |
| 139 | Salmon Arm | C | 20,891 | 24.8% | 41 of 48 | +65% |
| 140 | Prince Rupert | C | 12,903 | 24.9% | 76 of 91 | +66% |
| 141 | Merritt | C | 7,190 | 25.0% | 77 of 91 | +68% |
| 142 | Dawson Creek | C | 13,635 | 25.3% | 78 of 91 | +70% |
| 143 | Bowen Island | D | 4,501 | 26.1% | 90 of 106 | +91% |
| 144 | Cumberland | V | 4,974 | 26.4% | 93 of 106 | +93% |
| 145 | Squamish | D | 28,578 | 26.5% | 47 of 48 | +76% |
| 146 | Revelstoke | C | 9,464 | 26.9% | 80 of 91 | +80% |
| 147 | Oliver | T | 5,262 | 27.8% | 81 of 91 | +86% |
| 148 | Trail | C | 8,539 | 28.3% | 82 of 91 | +90% |
| 149 | Invermere | D | 4,305 | 29.0% | 95 of 106 | +112% |
| 150 | Gibsons | T | 5,090 | 29.4% | 84 of 91 | +97% |
| 151 | Burns Lake | V | 2,007 | 31.1% | 100 of 106 | +127% |
| 152 | Peachland | D | 6,302 | 33.2% | 89 of 91 | +122% |
| 153 | Belcarra | V | 702 | 40.0% | 190 of 193 | +379% |
| 154 | Sun Peaks | V | 1,546 | 48.1% | 104 of 106 | +252% |
| 155 | Slocan | V | 488 | 55.0% | 192 of 193 | +558% |
| 156 | Golden | T | 4,433 | 87.4% | 106 of 106 | +539% |
Municipalities with Incomplete Data
The following 5 municipalities are excluded from this ranking due to missing or insufficient data points.