Public notices, hearings and having your say

Most City decisions are announced before they’re made. The trick is knowing where to look. Here’s how to stay informed and make your voice count.

Where notices are published

The City’s Public Notice Bylaw sets three official places:

1. The public notices page on princegeorge.ca
2. The City’s Facebook page
3. The bulletin board on the first floor of City Hall, 1100 Patricia Boulevard

The City’s News and Notices section also carries media releases, news (road closures, water outages, urgent updates) and Fact Check, where the City answers common questions and rumours.

What gets a notice

• Public hearings on OCP amendments and some rezonings
• Land use applications going to council without a hearing: consistent rezonings, variance permits, temporary use permits, liquor and cannabis referrals, road closures
• Bylaws that require public notice, such as permissive tax exemptions or land dispositions
• Council meeting changes and cancellations
• Elections

Recent examples (September 2026) include notices for applications at Chief Lake Road, Kelly Road North, 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue going to council on October 5, 2026, plus the Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw.

Subscribe

At princegeorge.ca/subscribe you can sign up for email updates, including “Notice – Public Hearings and Notices.” You can also become a Super Citizen to get survey and engagement invitations, and subscribe to election news. If the sign-up form gives you trouble, email communications@princegeorge.ca.

Emergency alerts are separate. Sign up for the Regional District’s Public Alerting System. See emergency services and alerts.

Public hearings and land use: how to respond

1. Read the notice. It gives the address, the application number, the bylaw and the meeting date.
2. Look at the documents. Bylaws, notices and staff reports are linked from the City’s participate in council meetings page and the council agenda (posted five days before).
3. Send written comments to cityclerk@princegeorge.ca or through the online comment form, before noon on the meeting day. Comments received at least six days early are printed in the agenda. Later comments go to council as a handout.
4. Speak at the hearing in person, by Zoom or by phone, if it’s a public hearing.
5. Watch the decision live on YouTube or read the council meeting summary.

Your name and address become part of the public record when you comment. See how council works for speaking rules and time limits, and housing and development for what triggers a hearing.

Get Involved Prince George

getinvolved.princegeorge.ca is the City’s engagement platform. It hosts:

• Budget surveys. Phase 1 of the 2027 budget survey runs September 1 to October 7, 2026, and phase 2 opens November 27. See city budget and taxes.
• Plans and projects, such as the Civic Core District Plan for downtown municipal properties
• Environmental projects, such as wildfire fuel treatment at Shane Lake
• Election information for 2026
• Quick polls, Q&A and project updates

Completed engagements stay online with “what we heard” results. Some features need a free account.

Freedom of information

Under BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), you have a legal right to request City records.

1. Check whether the information is already public: agendas, reports, open data, the annual report.
2. Submit a written request through the online access to information form, or email foirequests@princegeorge.ca.
3. Be specific: describe the records and give a date range. FIPPA covers existing records. Staff won’t compile research to answer questions.
4. Say how you want to receive the records (email, mail or pickup).

Fees may apply for some requests. If you’re unhappy with a response, you can ask the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC to review it. Privacy questions go to privacy.office@princegeorge.ca.

Historical property records (permits, plans, survey certificates) are a separate paid service through the City’s online property records request.

Open data and maps

• Open data portal: free datasets, maps and dashboards covering infrastructure, land use, transportation, parks, the property crime map and SOFI financial data.
• PGMap: the City’s main interactive map, with zoning, property details, boundaries and infrastructure.
• Featured maps: snow clearing priorities, fire hydrant availability, evacuation zones, cemetery plot search, election sign locations, traffic disruptions, dog parks and outdoor rinks.

We pull some of this data onto the PG Pulse dashboard.

Other ways to be heard

• Report a problem: 311, the cityofpg app or the online service request portal
• Write to council or appear as a delegation: see how council works
• Join a committee or board when recruitment opens
• Vote: October 17, 2026. See election 2026

Related: city council, regional district.