City of Langford

The City of Langford is a bustling community nestled in the foothills of Mount Finlayson. Langford is one of several West Shore municipalities and borders the District of Metchosin, the City of Colwood, the Town of View Royal, the District of Highlands, and the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area of the Capital Regional District (CRD). We are the commercial centre of the West Shore and feature many of the amenities that neighbouring municipal residents seek. To become West Shore's business heart Langford has attracted large retail and wholesale stores, light industrial companies, and dozens of small businesses with our streamlined re-zoning process and ever-growing consumer market.

Langford's population is flourishing: with population growth at 19.2% between 2001 and 2006 - mostly from in-migration from other Island communities - Langford is the fastest growing municipality in the CRD. Business and population growth has allowed our progressive Mayor and Council to invest in community development. Beautifying our city streets and creating more recreation options for our residents, indoor and outdoor, are just a few of the City's public projects made possible by our increased tax base.

Located on the southern end of Vancouver Island, Langford enjoys warm, dry summers, and mild, wet winters with a frost-free season of approximately 202 days. More information about our weather can be found at the Environment Canada website. Langford's spectacular views of West Shore and Victoria, the Juan de Fuca Strait, and Olympic Mountains are visible all year long. The City of Langford may be only 41.46 square kilometres but contains three lakes (Florence, Glen, and Langford), the gorgeous Goldstream Provincial Park, and large portions of Mill Hill, Mount Wells, and Thetis Lake Regional Parks. Numerous urban parks and fairgrounds dot our cityscape and play host to festivals large and small.

The City of Langford leads the CRD with housing starts. Through consultation with developers, City of Langford Planners have introduced new and progressive solutions to housing and have put Langford on the map as an innovative community. Much of Langford's population growth is due to the heightened demand for land in the CRD and the decreasing availability of land in the City of Victoria, District of Saanich, Township of Esquimalt and the District of Oak Bay. Thus, homebuyers are looking to the City of Langford for affordable and diverse housing options. Visit our Housing Developments page for more information on Langford residences - and don't forget to read about our Neighbourhoods. The City of Langford is also a leader in Affordable Housing. The Affordable Housing Program requires developers of new subdivisions within the City of Langford to build one affordable home for every 10 single-family lots subdivided. These affordable homes are then priced at 60% of market value. For more information, eligibility criteria and applications, read about the Affordable Housing Program.

From Langford's central location, the entire south Island is within your reach. Langford is less than 40 kilometres from the BC Ferries Swartz Bay Terminal and the Victoria International Airport. We are also well served by public transit, railways, and highways. For more detailed transportation services and routes, visit our Transportation page. The City of Langford was officially incorporated on December 8, 1992. Langford, however, boasts a long history of European settlement dating back to 1851, when Captain Edward Langford established one of the four Hudson's Bay Company farms in the Victoria area. Much of Langford's history has been incorporated into our City's heraldry. Learn more about our Coat of Arms.