Local Third Party Advertising Rules

Third party advertising sponsors must follow the election advertising rules outlined in the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act.

Third party advertising is any election advertising published during a campaign period that is not sponsored by a candidate or elector organization.

New rules for third party sponsors

New rules for third party sponsors are in effect for the 2022 General Local Elections.

There are now limits placed on sponsorship contributions made by eligible individuals to third party sponsors. For 2021, an eligible individual may give a total of $1,239.18 to each third party sponsor. The sponsorship contribution limit is adjusted at the start of each calendar year.

For the 2022 General Local Elections, there will be a pre-campaign period beginning on July 18, 2022 and ending at the start of the campaign period. Third party advertising rules will apply during this period and any third party sponsoring election advertising during this time must be registered with Elections BC and disclose the advertising expenses within 90 days after general voting day for the election.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact:

Electoral Finance
Elections BC
1-800-661-8683
electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca

Other requirements

Third party advertising sponsors in local elections must:

register with Elections BC before conducting any advertising,
include their name and contact information on all advertising,
be independent and not sponsor advertising on behalf of, or together with, a candidate or elector organization,
not spend more than the expense limits, and
file a disclosure statement.

Campaign and assent voting communications transmitted before the pre-campaign period are not election advertising. These activities are allowed and do not require sponsorship information.

For more information see our Forms, Guides, and Third Party Expense Limits pages, or our factsheet on the history of local third party advertising in B.C.