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The B.C. government has tripled the number of enforcement officers for the Agriculture Land Commission, following new regulations for agri-tourism across the province.

Derek Sturko, deputy minister of agriculture, said the province approved funding to add four new officers, bringing to six the number of those responsible for dealing with infractions in the Agricultural Land Reserve. But he noted these officers, who will work with other public sector enforcement officers, won’t necessarily go looking for problems, but will largely rely on the self-reliance of farmers, or deal with neighbours’ complaints.

“Like most laws of the land, there’s a reliance on landowners to understand the law and comply with it,” he told delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities on Tuesday.

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The B.C. government introduced regulatory changes to agri-tourism industry this past summer, in an attempt to preserve the use of farmland as a primary activity in the wake of increased events, such as weddings, on agricultural land. The new rules are intended to clarify the definition and scope of agri-tourism activities, after enforcement by the ALC last year sent waves of concern through the farming community and triggered a flurry of wedding cancellations.

The province announced last month that farmers will no longer require a permit from the ALC to host agri-tourism events, as long as they follow specific rules. This includes a limit on the number of guests at each event to 150 or less, a restriction on the number of events each calendar year to 10 or less, and no new permanent structures built on the land. If those conditions are not met — if, for example, a farm wishes to hold a wedding with 200 guests — the farmer will have to apply for a permit.

“It was clear there were a lot of weddings and these types of events occurring,” Sturko said. “As long as landowners comply with the regulations they have a legitimate right to do it.”

He said local governments don’t have any power to stop agri-tourism events such as weddings or concerts, but can regulate them through noise bylaws and liquor licences.

Bill Storie, a senior adviser to Langley Township council, said he believes the regulations will help farmers become more sustainable, and expects most municipalities will buy in as long as they don’t have to enforce the new regulations. Some municipalities raised concerns that they don’t have the resources, especially in more rural areas, to deal with complaints related to noise or late-night parties on farmland.

Sturko said there will likely be tweaking of the regulations as time goes on. “I would think, as is the case in most instances, you’ve got a few bad apples; people who break the law, per se,” he said. “We’re just trying to give them clarity.”

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