The proprietor of Big Bang Cider in Nanaimo is objecting to a property assessment that reclassified approximately 800 meters of his farm as “light industrial.” B.C. Assessment, responsible for categorizing and valuing properties throughout the province, issues an annual assessment to owners. For Colin Rombough, who, along with his wife, has owned a farm since 2019 and has been running a cidery since 2024, this year’s notification from the Crown corporation delivered unwelcome news. The reclassification of a section of their land by the agency could potentially lead to a staggering increase of 300 to 500 percent in their property taxes.
Moreover, Rombough contends that the new classification does not align with how other government regulatory bodies have designated his property. Despite B.C. Assessment now labeling a part of his property for light industrial use, he is uncertain about the implications this may have with the Regional District of Nanaimo, the local municipality that has zoned his land strictly for agricultural purposes, prohibiting industrial activities.
In addition, although recognized as a food provider by the Vancouver Island Health Authority, Rombough must still adhere to the regulations of the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) as a farm. He expressed frustration over the conflicting requirements from various government entities, emphasizing the resulting business uncertainty from differing farm definitions.
Rombough emphasizes that the building identified by B.C. Assessment as the reason for categorizing his cidery as light industrial is primarily used for apple processing activities integral to a qualifying farm operation under the ALC. He highlights that his cider production involves natural fermentation, not industrial processes. To operate as a “farm cidery” legally, he must maintain a two-hectare apple orchard.
While Rombough questions why B.C. Assessment overlooks the legal obligations he must comply with, Maurice Primeau, a deputy assessor at B.C. Assessment, explains that alcohol production falls under excluded uses for farm regulations, which led to the removal of land around the building from farm classification. Primeau emphasizes that B.C. Assessment strictly follows legislation to guide their decisions and aims for fairness and consistency in property classification.
Although B.C. Assessment defends its stance by citing compliance with legislation, Rombough argues that the assessment did not consider the spirit of the Assessment Act and points out disparities in how different agricultural facilities are classified. He plans to appeal the assessment before the February 2 deadline.
In conclusion, the dispute between the cidery owner and B.C. Assessment underscores the complexities and challenges faced by farmers dealing with divergent government regulations and interpretations of property classifications.