The proprietor of Big Bang Cider in Nanaimo is contesting a property assessment that recently labeled approximately 800 meters of his farm as “light industrial.” Every year, B.C. Assessment, responsible for classifying and valuing properties in the province, issues property assessments to owners. For Colin Rombough, who has co-owned a farm with his spouse since 2019 and has been running a cidery since 2024, the recent notice from the Crown corporation delivered unwelcome news. The reclassification of a segment of their land by the agency could potentially lead to a significant increase of 300 to 500 percent in their property taxes.
Moreover, Rombough points out that the new classification does not align with the categorization by other government regulatory bodies concerning his property. Although B.C. Assessment may now designate a part of his land for light industrial use, he expresses uncertainty about the implications this may have with the Regional District of Nanaimo, which has zoned his property for agricultural purposes, disallowing industrial activities.
Adding to the complexity, despite being recognized as a food provider by the Vancouver Island Health Authority, Rombough is mandated to adhere to the regulations of the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) as a farm operator. Rombough highlights the challenges posed by the differing definitions of farms by various government entities, leading to business uncertainty and operational hurdles.
The building that B.C. Assessment contends transforms his cidery into a light industrial property is primarily utilized for apple processing activities like washing, sorting, crushing, juicing, and storage, with the fermentation process being characterized as natural rather than industrial. These operations are fundamental components of a qualifying farm operation under the ALC. Rombough stresses the necessity of selling his cider for the farm’s profitability and the legal obligation to maintain a minimum of two hectares of apple orchard to qualify as a “farm cidery.”
While Rombough questions why B.C. Assessment disregards the legal framework under which he operates, Maurice Primeau, a deputy assessor with B.C. Assessment, explains that alcohol production falls under excluded farm uses, leading to the removal of the land around the building from farm classification. Primeau emphasizes that B.C. Assessment strictly adheres to existing legislation for guidance in decision-making processes to ensure fairness and equity in property classification.
Rombough argues that the property assessment did not consider the intent of the Assessment Act and highlights disparities in the treatment of similar facilities, such as dairy farms with large-scale robotic milking barns. He plans to appeal the assessment, citing inconsistencies in how properties are classified and urging for a more nuanced approach tailored to the specifics of farm cidery operations like his own.
Appeals for B.C. Assessment notices are open until Feb. 2, and Rombough intends to pursue this route to address the property reclassification issue.
