The Government of British Columbia's Local Government Act section 736 regulates claims for damages against municipalities. You should review these regulations to make sure that you have a viable case before submitting a claim for property damages to the City.

Make a property damage claim

If your property has been damaged as a result of negligence from the City and you want to make a claim against the City of Port Moody, you must:

  • file the claim within two months from the date the damage occurred
  • provide written notice to the City of Port Moody, Legislative Services

You can submit a property damage claim through email or by mail to:

Legislative Services,
City of Port Moody
100 Newport Dr.
Port Moody, BC
V3H 5C3

You should include the following information with your claim for damages:

  • the property that was damaged
  • how your property was damaged
  • the location where your property was damaged
  • the date and time of the incident
  • photographs of the damage to your property
  • photographs of the surrounding area (if applicable)
  • how you believe the City was liable or responsible for the damage
  • the name and identification of all parties involved
  • your name, address, and all contact numbers
  • any other information you feel is important

Property damage investigation

Once we receive a claim for property damage, we will begin to investigate the claim to see if the city was responsible for the damage. The department involved in the claim and the City's Risk Management will review the details of the incident. We will also involve our liability insurers, the Municipal Insurance Association of British Columbia (MIABC), and their claims adjusters.

Once a decision is made, either the City or the MIABC will contact you.

Contact your insurance company

If your property or vehicle is damaged, you should contact your insurance company immediately. They will assess the damages and determine whether the damage or loss is covered by your insurance policy. If the damage is covered, your insurance company will work with you to make a claim and recover the costs.

Document damages

If your property is damaged as a result of a City construction project, City-owned tree, sewer backup or water damage, you should document the damage immediately:

  • take pictures of the damage
  • record the date of the incident
  • record the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Once you have assessed the incident and spoken with your insurance company, you can decide whether or not you want to file a property damage claim with the city.

Damage from potholes and road hazards

The City is not liable for damage caused to your vehicle by potholes or road hazards. If your vehicle sustains damage, you should:

  • contact the City at 604-469-4574 and provide the exact location of the incident for inspection
  • record the date, time, and location of the incident
  • take pictures of the damage
  • contact your vehicle collision insurer for repairs

The City will not pay for any damages or repairs.