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

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.

Mission and the unincorporated areas east to the Chehalis River were incorporated into the Fraser Valley Regional District.

The Central Fraser Valley RD would be nearly completely dominated by the newly amalgamated City of Abbotsford, bringing the regional district's role into question; similarly, the remnant of Dewdney-Alouette would be dominated by Mission.