Information for candidates

The nomination period for North Cowichan's 2026 General Local Election opened at 9:00 a.m. on September 1, 2026, and closed at 4:00 p.m. on September 11, 2026. Nomination packages are no longer available.

Am I eligible to run for office?
A person may become a candidate in a local election as long as they have not been disqualified from seeking or holding elected office. A candidate must: 

• Be 18 years of age or older on general voting day 
• Be a Canadian citizen
• Be a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration;
• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from being nominated for, being elected to or holding office, or be otherwise disqualified by law

You do not have to live in North Cowichan to run for office.

Who may nominate you
Council adopted Election and Assent Voting Amendment Bylaw No. 4060 on March 18, 2026, amending Election and Assent Voting Bylaw No. 3837 to require that each candidate be nominated by at least ten (10) qualified electors from the election area in which they are seeking office.

Nominators must be eligible to vote in the Municipality of North Cowichan as either a resident elector or a non-resident property elector.

Challenging a nomination
Nomination documents (Forms C2 and CS2 only) that are submitted by nominees are available for public inspection at North Cowichan Municipal Hall during regular office hours from the time they have been submitted until 30 days after the election results have been declared. 

Redacted copies of the nomination documents will also be available on the municipal website. Personal information will be redacted in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Unredacted (complete) copies of nomination documents are available for in-person inspection only at Municipal Hall.

Access to unredacted nomination documents is permitted only after an individual signs a declaration confirming that the information will not be used for purposes other than those permitted under section 89(9) of the Local Government Act. An eligible elector, another nominee for office or the local Chief Election Officer can challenge a prospective candidate’s nomination if they believe the nomination documents are incorrect or the person is not otherwise eligible to be nominated for office. Nomination challenges must be made through an application to the Provincial Court. The application must briefly set out the facts upon which the challenge is based and be supported by an affidavit signed by the challenger. 

Campaign signs
General rules
Campaign signs must not:

• Be posted earlier than 36 days before General Voting Day (September 11, 2026)
• Be placed on municipal property, including but not limited to:
  • Highway medians, traffic circles, and roundabouts
  • Parks and recreation facilities
  • Municipal Hall, fire halls, or similar facilities
  • Trees, planters, utility poles, or mailboxes
  • Obstruct traffic control devices or signage
  • Obstruct sightlines at intersections
  • Create safety hazards for pedestrians, cyclists, or vehicles
  • Be placed within 1 metre of a fire hydrant
  • Display any North Cowichan logo, trademark, or branding (in whole or part)
  • Be located within 100 metres of a voting place on voting days (special, advance and general)

Installation and safety
Installing signs by digging or staking into the ground may pose risks to underground infrastructure (e.g., gas lines, sewer or water lines). Before placing signs, contact BC One Call (1-800-474-6886) or visit Home - BC 1 Call.

Removal requirements
All campaign signs placed within North Cowichan’s boundaries must be removed within 7 days after General Voting Day (October 24, 2026).

Voting day restrictions
Under Section 163(4) of the Local Government Act, election signs are prohibited within 100 metres of voting places, including advance and special voting opportunities.

To learn more about voting locations and dates, visit the Information for Voters webpage.

Enforcement
Dangerous or unlawfully placed signs may be removed by North Cowichan’s Bylaw Compliance Officers and held at Municipal Hall for up to 7 days. Unclaimed signs may be disposed of.

North Cowichan assumes no responsibility for damage to improperly placed signs. Candidates may be liable for damage to municipal property caused by sign placement.

Election signs and campaign rules (Elections BC)
Elections BC is responsible for regulating the information required on election signage, as well as administering and enforcing election advertising, campaign financing, and disclosure rules under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act (LECFA). This includes educating candidates, conducting investigations, and enforcing third-party advertising requirements.

Candidates must comply with disclosure rules that ensure transparency around:

• Campaign contributions
• Election expenses

For information on sign placement along provincial highways, refer to:

• Election Signs on Highway Rights-of-Way

To learn more about campaign financing, advertising, and disclosure requirements, visit:

• Financial disclosure FAQs
• What must be disclosed
• Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in BC for Candidates and their Financial Agents
• Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in BC for Elector Organizations and their Financial Agents
• Guide to Elector Organization Registration 
• Local Elections FAQS 
• Elections BC website (general information and statistics, including voter turnout data)

Contact Elections BC
For questions about campaign financing or advertising rules, contact Local Elections Campaign Financing at Elections BC by phone at 1‑800‑661‑8683 or by email at electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca.

Regional candidate information session

The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) and its member municipalities hosted a regional candidate information session on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. 

North Cowichan will be hosting a Candidate Information Session for individuals who have submitted their nomination packages.

This two-hour session will provide a comprehensive orientation covering:

• the process of running for office and applicable legislation
• the structure of municipal government, Council roles, and regional relationships
• governance principles, including the distinction between governance and management
• key issues, priorities, and emerging challenges facing North Cowichan and local government
• expectations of elected officials, including time commitment, working relationships with staff, and standards of conduct

Date: September 16, 2026
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: Council Chambers, Municipal Hall, 7030 Trans-Canada Highway

Attendance is encouraged for all candidates.

Who to contact
If you have questions about the election process, contact one of the options below:

Bylaws 

• Election and Assent Voting Bylaw No. 3837 
• Sign Bylaw No. 3479 

The following information helps potential candidates with the nomination process and general questions:

• Thinking of running for local office?
• Running for local office
• The role of local elected officials
• Being an effective elected official
• Conduct of locally elected officials
• What every candidate needs to know 
• Candidate's Guide to Local Elections in B.C.

If you’ve decided to run for local office, the four videos listed below will provide you with general information about what you can expect before, during and following elections in B.C. 

An overview of elections

The participants in local elections

The candidate nomination process and requirements 

Voting and taking office 

For more information about local elections, visit the Province of British Columbia’s website.