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Is my BC property in a tsunami zone?

The Province divides the BC coast into five tsunami notification zones so a warning can name the coast it's for. For a lot within 2 km of the ocean shore, a report gives the zone for that coast, the distance from the lot line to the shore and the ground's height at the lot's middle. Zones are for alerts: they don't say what a tsunami would flood.

The report opens at this answer, with the lot drawn on the map and every other check alongside. A PID (on the tax notice or title) always finds the lot; an address works when it's an exact match.

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What the answer means

Zone A
The north coast and Haida Gwaii.
Zone B
The central coast and northeast Vancouver Island, including Kitimat, Bella Coola and Port Hardy.
Zone C
The west coast of Vancouver Island from Cape Scott to Port Renfrew.
Zone D
The Juan de Fuca Strait from Jordan River to Greater Victoria, including the Saanich Peninsula.
Zone E
The Strait of Georgia, including the Gulf Islands, Greater Vancouver and Johnstone Strait.
What a zone is
Each zone is a stretch of coast drawn over the water. A tsunami warning, advisory or watch names the zones it's for, and goes out on television, radio and phones through BC's emergency alert system; local governments may add sirens or their own alerts.
What a zone isn't
A zone isn't a flood line. How high and how far inland water could reach depends on the shore, and some local governments have modelled it for their own coast: ask the local government whether it has a tsunami flood or evacuation map, and where its high ground is.
The alerts
Warning: a flood wave is possible and full evacuation is suggested. Advisory: strong currents are likely, so stay away from the shore. Watch: the danger isn't known yet. Information statement: minor waves at most.
When the ground shakes
If you feel a strong earthquake, drop, cover and hold on, then as soon as the shaking stops go to high ground or as far inland as you can, by your community's evacuation route where it has one, and stay there until officials give the all clear. A tsunami from a nearby earthquake can arrive in minutes.
Height and distance
A report measures from the lot line to the Freshwater Atlas coastline and reads the ground at the lot's middle on NRCan's 30 m elevation model, so a lower corner or a building's floor can sit lower. Lots more than 2 km from the shore get one line.

Notification zones are for alerts, not a map of what a tsunami would flood, and the height is a 30 m elevation model's reading, not a survey. Confirm with the local government's emergency program before you buy or build.

Source: Tsunami Notification Zones for BC, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Province of BC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia); Get prepared for a tsunami, PreparedBC, Province of BC (page updated April 2, 2025) (summarised in our words, read 2026-10-07); Freshwater Atlas coastline, Province of BC (Open Government Licence – British Columbia).

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