Starting in 2028, property owners in the City of Cranbrook’s northern boundary area, including Shadow Mountain and surrounding properties that are not currently paying City of Cranbrook municipal tax rates, will move from paying provincial rural tax rates to City of Cranbrook municipal tax rates.

This change marks the end of a 20-year transition period that began when the city expanded its northern boundary in 2007 to include the Shadow Mountain subdivision and surrounding properties.

This expansion helped the city plan for growth north of Cranbrook and provide consistent land-use and servicing standards for the area. The process was developed through consultation with property owners, the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), and the Province of British Columbia.

When the province approved the boundary expansion in 2007, it allowed affected properties to continue paying rural tax rates for up to 20 years or until one of the following happened:

• The property is connected to city water or sewer services;
• The property was rezoned; or
• A subdivision or bare land strata plan was registered.

If none of these occurred, the city tax rate would automatically apply after 20 years which is to begin in 2028.

The change in tax rates is the result of the original 2007 agreement now reaching its end. The 20-year window was designed to give property owners time to plan for the shift while ensuring all properties within city limits eventually pay the same municipal rates.

Most of the properties in this area already pay City of Cranbrook municipal tax rates. In May 2025, the city sent letters to the remaining 20 property owners that are still paying rural tax rates to give three years’ notice of the upcoming change. These properties will continue paying rural rates for 2025, 2026, and 2027.

The City of Cranbrook tax rate will take effect on January 1, 2028.

“We understand that 20 years is a long time and changes that far in the future are not on our minds every day. To help the remaining residents who still pay the rural tax rate with the transition, we sent the letters out well in advance of the 2028 change. We’re making sure everyone knows about the change and when it will take place,” said Charlotte Osborne, Director of Finance with the City of Cranbrook.

“We will send letters out again in 2026 and 2027 to make sure any new owners are kept up to date.”

Properties inside city boundaries benefit from a wide range of municipal services — such as road maintenance, snow clearing, police and fire protection, recreation facilities, garbage collection, and community planning. Moving to city tax rates ensures that all residents contribute fairly to the cost of these shared services.

There will be no change to how tax notices are sent or how payments are made. Property tax notices will continue to be mailed each May, with payment due on the first business day in July.

City of Cranbrook

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