Judicial Districts/County Boundaries of BC

Last revised March 18, 2026

Judicial Districts of the BC Supreme Court are specific geographic areas used to establish clear boundaries where court cases are filed, heard, and managed.

Judicial Districts are defined in the Supreme Court Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 443, s. 8.

There are seven Judicial Districts:

• Cariboo
• Kootenay
• Nanaimo
• Prince Rupert
• Vancouver Westminster
• Victoria
• Yale

The seven Judicial Districts are based on the eight County Boundaries as defined in the County Boundary Act, R.S.B.C. 1996 c. 75. The County Boundaries of Vancouver and Westminster have been combined into one Judicial District called the Vancouver Westminster Judicial District (S.B.C. 1997 c. 28, s. 17).

In practical terms, Judicial Districts and County Boundaries cover the exact same geographic areas. The key difference lies in their functional roles. Counties in BC were historically established “for all purposes of the administration of justice.” Judicial Districts were established “for the purpose of indicating sections of the province in which the Judges of the Supreme Court shall usually discharge their duties.”

Content reviewed March 12, 2026