[1] Regional districts should not be confused with counties of British Columbia, which function as court house boundaries solely for the administration of justice.

Regional districts came into being as an order of government in 1965 with the enactment of amendments to the Municipal Act.

[2] Until the creation of regional districts, the only local form of government in British Columbia was incorporated municipalities, and services in areas outside municipal boundaries had to be sought from the province or through improvement districts.

In those predominantly rural areas, regional districts provide services such as land use planning, building inspection, solid-waste management, and some responsibility for community fire protection.

Regional districts are governed by boards of directly and indirectly elected directors.