Taxes & Utilities

Property tax payments are due by 4:30 p.m on July 2

Property taxes

Property taxes are one of the Village's biggest revenue sources. They are used to fund essential services such as road maintenance, snow clearing, planning and building, Council and administration, and fire rescue.

The Village of Lytton collects other taxes on behalf of the following government agencies:

  • Province of B.C. School Tax
  • Thompson-Nicola Regional District
  • Thompson-Nicola Regional District Hospital
  • BC Assessment
  • Municipal Finance Authority
  • Policing

Tax notices

The Village mails property tax notices at the end of May each year. If you have not received your notice by mid-June, contact the Village Office. Make sure you update your mailing address if you move.

As a property owner, it's your responsibility to pay your property taxes, even if you have not received a tax notice.

If you are a new property owner, verify that outstanding taxes are paid on your property before you take possession.

Claim your home owner grant

The provincial home owner grant reduces the amount of property taxes that you pay each year on your principal residence.

Apply at www.gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant or call the Province of B.C. at 1‐888‐355‐2700.

Note these details:

  • You need to apply for the grant every year.
  • Your application will be processed after you receive your property tax notice.
  • Only one owner per property can apply for the grant.
  • The home owner grant application is due on July 2, the same date that the property taxes are due. You may apply for the home owner grant until December 31 of that year, but the home owner grant is a form of payment towards your property taxes, and it is considered a late payment if you apply after the property taxes due date.
  • If you pay your property taxes through your financial institution, your financial institution will not apply for the home owner grant on your behalf. You or someone with your permission needs to claim the grant. 

Due dates

Item Due date Where
Property tax payment July 2 Village Office
Home owner grant application July 2 Province of B.C.

Note: If July 2 falls on a weekend, the due date is the next business day.

Pay your property taxes

Pay online, in person at the Village Office, or in other ways as outlined in Make a Payment. 

Remember to submit your completed home owner grant application directly to the Province of B.C., not to the bank or Village Office.

Make a payment

Property tax deferment

The Province of B.C. Tax Deferment program is a loan program available to eligible B.C. homeowners. It allows you to defer your current year property taxes and pay them (with interest) later. 

If you are 55 or older, a surviving spouse, or a person with a disability, you may be eligible for the regular tax deferment program.

The Province of B.C. also offers a deferment program for families with children who meet specific criteria.

Find information about the Province of B.C. tax deferment program.

Late payment penalty

Make sure you pay your taxes and apply for your home owner grant (if applicable) by the property tax due date of July 2.

A 10% penalty is applied to any unpaid current tax balance after the due date. The late payment penalty will be added to your account on July 3.

Interest will accrue on outstanding tax balances beginning January 1 of the next calendar year.

Tax sale

According to provincial legislation, every municipality in B.C. must hold a tax sale on the last Monday of September at 10 a.m. at the municipal hall.

The tax sale is a public auction of properties that have three years of outstanding property taxes. To avoid tax sale, you must pay your taxes from three years ago.

Learn more about tax sales

Permissive tax exemptions

Council may consider permissive tax exemption applications from places of worship, private schools, hospitals, and other non-profit organizations.

Tax rates

Each year, the Village adopts a Tax Rate Bylaw, which identifies the tax rate for each class of property (for example, residential or commercial). Find details below:

Utilities

The cost of operating the water and sewer system is paid for with the fees and charges collected for utilities. Major upgrades to the system are typically funded through grant programs made available by the provincial and federal governments. 

Over time, the revenue collected, including grants, must equal the annual cost of operating the system and maintenance and upgrades to the system.

Utility billing

The Village issues utility bills quarterly, based on a calendar year. The amount on each bill will be the same for all four quarters of that particular year. 

You may pay one or more quarters at any time, but at a minimum, each quarter is due upon issuance.

Make a payment

Overdue utility payments

Each utility bill specifies the total amount due, the last date before penalty, and the amount due after the penalty date.

On December 31, any outstanding utility amounts are transferred to the property tax account for that property. At that point, the amount is subject to the same penalties and interest as the property tax (as above).

Contacts

Municipal property tax & utilities fees

For questions about your property taxes or utilities fees:

  • Phone the Village Office: 250-455-2355
  • Email the Finance Department: finance@lytton.ca

Non-municipal taxes

For information regarding non-municipal taxes contact:

See also

Tax Sale
Make a Payment
Village Services
Budget