Town of Golden News: April 2025

Golden's free yard waste roundup to take place May 12

The Town of Golden will run its spring yard waste roundup on Monday, May 12. Residents can place yard waste in containers, compostable bags or bundles at their regular curbside collection area before 8 a.m. on May 12 for free pickup.

Bagged yard waste must be in a compostable bag for pickup.

Here are some tips that residents need to know about this year’s yard waste roundup:

  • No registration is required.
  • Place yard waste in containers, compostable bags or bundles at your regular curbside area before 8 a.m.
  • Bagged yard waste must be in compostable bags or it will not be picked up.
  • This service is for yard waste only. This includes grass clippings, leaves, tree cones, tree branches, shrubs and bushes. These items must not exceed eight inches in diameter or eight feet in length. Items exceeding these maximum dimensions will not be picked-up.
  • Please bundle prunings to make it easier and faster for us to collect.
  • No other types of waste will be accepted, including construction wood waste.
  • If residents wish to use their black garbage container, please ensure it does not contain garbage before adding yard waste.

Any yard waste not placed in containers, bags, or bundled at the curb will not be picked up.

As you work on your yard this spring, check out these seven tips to FireSmart your property.
 

 

Council Briefs

Find out what's new at Town Hall with Council Briefs.

Find out when the next Council meeting its:

Upcoming Council Meetings

Council Meeting Recordings

Presentation from Golden Disc Golf Association (DGA)
The Golden DGA made a presentation to Council to provide an introduction to the organization, highlight accomplishments and outline areas for potential improvement and expansion. Check out their presentation here.

2025 Budget What We Heard Report
Every year, as part of the budget process, residents are asked to provide their input about priorities and satisfaction with Town of Golden programs and services, and to help inform Council decisions on the 2025 municipal budget and long-term financial planning.

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts during this year’s budget engagement! Here is what we heard:

  • Top Priorities: Water, sewer, roads, fire protection, and community planning topped the list of services residents want us to focus on in 2025.
  • Satisfaction: Snow removal and garbage/recycling services received the highest satisfaction scores.
  • Investment Preferences: Most residents want to “invest more” in core infrastructure, especially water and sewer.
  • How You Stay Informed: Your top ways to hear from us? Social media, our website, and the email newsletter (sign up at golden.ca/newsletter)

View the full What We Heard Report.

Water and Sewer Master Reports
Council adopted in principle the Water and Sewer Master Reports, providing staff with the direction and authority to make decisions based on them, making sure that staff can develop strategic and consistent long-term planning. Read the staff report to learn more about what these reports mean and how they are used. View the Integrated Water Strategy Report and Golden Sanitary Master Plan.

Keith King Memorial Park (KKMP) Camping Discontinuation 
Staff recently became aware that allowing camping at KKMP is in contravention of its own bylaws, bringing forward a report to Council for notification and direction. Council directed staff to make an exception for events with camping scheduled until July 1, 2025 and to explore options related to permitting and bylaw amendments. Read the staff report here. 

Keith King Memorial Park (KKMP) Raquet Courts
Construction will begin on four new pickleball courts and two tennis courts at KKMP. Based on feedback from user groups, staff brought forward a report outlining the rationale for including pickleball lines, a practice wall and basketball hoop on the planned tennis courts at KKMP.

Council directed staff to proceed with construction and include a practice wall basketball hoop installation and softer coloured pickleball lines on one of the two tennis courts, and to keep one tennis court for exclusive use for tennis. Read the staff report here.
 

Project Updates and News

Sewer Flushing & Inspections

We will be completing the second year of a three-year program to inspect the Town’s sewer system using video. This involves flushing the pipes and using a robotic camera to check the condition of 36 km of sanitary mains. This will help identify any areas that need future repairs. Superior City Services Ltd. will be doing this work, and traffic control will be in place as needed.

This work started on April 28 and continue throughout May.

This work will involve flushing the sewer system. In most cases, the flushing has no effect on the pipes in your home, but as a precaution, we remind residents to do two things during this time:

  1. Keep your toilet lids closed after use to guard against any potential back splashing.
  2. Make sure you flush your toilet after each use.

Watering Restrictions

Watering restrictions are put in place through a local bylaw to make sure residents water their lawns at appropriate times to lessen the impact on the local water supply during peak times.

What days can you water:

  • Odd numbered addresses water on odd days
  • Even numbered addresses water on even days

Only water during these times:

  • In the morning between 4 and 10 a.m.
  • In the evening between 7 and 10 p.m.

Learn more at golden.ca/waterconservation

Update on Short Term Rental Applications

Are you an operator of a bed and breakfast or short-term rental (STR) located in the Town of Golden?

Have you applied for a short-term rental business licence in the last year?

If not, make sure you apply soon! The Province now has an online registry that requires operators to have a business licence within the Town of Golden.

The Town of Golden (and 18 other communities) was approved for a 3-month extension to the Provincial STR Registry. You will need to apply for a business licence to the Town, receive your application confirmation email, and apply to the Provincial registry before June 1, 2025. Operators will need to upload a copy of their business licence to their provincial registration dashboard by August 1, 2025.

What will happen if you don't register with the Province?

The Town may request that your listing be removed from online platforms.

For more information and to apply for your business licence online visit golden.ca/strs

Due to a high volume of applications and inquiries, it may take a couple of weeks for Town staff to get back to you regarding your application. We appreciate your patience.

Learn more about the Provincial registry.

 

Motorized Vehicles on Trails

Motorized vehicles are strictly prohibited on trail networks within the Town of Golden, as per the Traffic, Parking & Streets Bylaw, and fines may apply.

✅ Permitted on trails: E-bikes with a continuous maximum output of 500 watts.

🚫 Prohibited on trails: Dirt bikes, e-bikes over 500 watts, motorcycles, ATVs, and all other motorized vehicles.

🔹 Exception: Trials bikes are allowed on designated shared motorized trails (Woodlot Ride & Chute the Duck).

Motorized vehicles are only permitted at the Reflection Lake Skills Park, managed by the Golden Off-Road Motorcycle Association (GORMA).

Please transport dirt bikes, ATVs, and other off-road vehicles legally using a truck or trailer. Driving unregistered vehicles or without a valid license on public roads is illegal, including on Reflection Lake Rd and Bowle-Evans Forest Service Rd. Enforcement by the RCMP may apply.

View the Town of Golden boundary map.

 

Emergency Preparedness Week is May 4-10

Being prepared isn’t just about having the right supplies. It’s about working together, individuals, organizations, and governments, so we can all respond and recover better. Read the full news release here.

Preparedness doesn’t need to be complicated. Here are five simple actions you can take to get ready:

  1. Take action today. Emergencies can happen at any time. Even small step can make sure we are better prepared to respond as a community.
  2. Get to know others in your community. When disaster strikes, the most immediate help will come from those around you, your neighbours. Connecting and building relationships with them today will mean a better response and faster recovery.
  3. Know the hazards in your community: Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to our community and our region can help you better prepare. Golden’s top hazards include flooding, wildfire, transportation of hazardous materials (road/rail) and hazardous materials events.
  4. Gather your supplies: When an emergency happens, you may need to stay at home with an emergency kit or leave immediately with your grab-and-go bags. Add items based on your specific needs, and don’t forget to include items for your pets. Learn how to build an emergency kit and a grab-and-go bag at www.PreparedBC.ca/emergencykit
  5. Make your home emergency plan: An emergency plan says how you and the people you live with will respond during an emergency. Having a home emergency plan will help you stay calm, connected, focused, and safe during an emergency.

During an emergency, it is important to stay informed and get your information from official sources. For the Golden and Area Emergency Program, that means the Town of Golden website, newsletter, and social media channels, Alertable and local news outlets.

Sign for Alertable today at www.csrd.bc.ca/alertable to receive emergency alerts by mobile app, email, or voice call.