Berms FAQ

Yes. The City supports the agricultural community exploring site-specific berms to protect existing home and farm structures, provided the berm does not create adverse impacts on neighbouring properties, drainage infrastructure, watercourses, or public safety. All proposals are subject to technical review and approval requirements.

Examples include:

• Farm residences
• Barns
• Livestock facilities
• Equipment storage buildings
• Agricultural shops
• Other existing farm structures

Each application will be reviewed on its own merits. This process is not intended for building berms around entire properties, raising entire properties or large-scale filling of agricultural land.

Uncontrolled filling can displace floodwaters, transfer flood risk to neighbouring properties, reduce flood storage capacity, and alter drainage patterns. The City and Province must ensure that flood protection measures benefit individual properties without creating new risks elsewhere.

Contact the City of Abbotsford and provide a high-level description of your proposal, including:

• Property location
• Structures to be protected
• Approximate berm location
• Purpose of the berm

City staff will conduct a preliminary review and identify any major issues or additional approval requirements.

Yes, once the proposed berm location has been reviewed and deemed acceptable by the city, a Soil Deposit Permit application will generally be required for placement of fill associated with a berm. The application typically includes:

• Property information
• Current title documentation (applicant shall be current owner on title)
• Site plan
• Engineered drawings
• Grading information
• Drainage considerations
• Volume calculations
• Purpose of the work
• Material source information (contaminate free)
• Hauling and access information (if applicable)
• Payment of applicable soil deposit fees

Yes. Applications involving berms or grade changes shall include drawings prepared and sealed by a qualified professional showing:

• Existing grades
• Proposed grades
• Berm cross-sections
• Drainage management
• Impacts to adjacent lands

The level of engineering will depend on the complexity of the proposal.

Yes. Property owners will be required to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to the ALC when proposing soil placement within the Agricultural Land Reserve. The City and ALC will coordinate their reviews wherever possible.

Maybe. Additional Provincial approvals may be required if the project:

• Impacts a ditch, stream, creek, or watercourse
• Crosses multiple properties
• Affects flood control infrastructure
• Involves environmental considerations

The City will identify potential Provincial approval requirements during its initial review.

Projects near ditches, streams, or watercourses may require:

• Additional technical review
• Environmental assessments
• A Qualified Professional
• Provincial authorization or permits

Early consultation is encouraged.

Generally, berms spanning multiple properties are not considered private berms and may require Provincial approval as a larger flood protection work. Additional technical review and coordination would be necessary.

The City will consider:

• Potential transfer of flood risk
• Impacts on neighbouring lands
• Drainage and stormwater management
• Impacts on ditches and watercourses
• Agricultural land use considerations
• Engineering and public safety concerns

The goal is to ensure flood protection benefits can be achieved without creating unintended consequences elsewhere.

No. Submission of an application does not guarantee approval. Applications are reviewed based on site-specific conditions, technical information, regulatory requirements, and potential impacts to surrounding properties and infrastructure.

The City recognizes that property-level flood resilience measures may help reduce risk to agricultural operations and is working with Provincial agencies to develop a clear and practical approval pathway. The decision to pursue a berm remains with individual property owners and should be based on site-specific engineering and regulatory considerations.

Property owners interested in exploring a flood protection berm should contact the City before undertaking any work so staff can discuss the proposal, identify approval requirements, and help guide applicants through the review process.