In the province of British Columbia there is legislation to protect children and adults receiving care in licensed community care facilities. This legislation is the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, Child Care Licensing Regulation and Residential Care Regulations. Licensed facilities include:

Residential facilities (adult and children/youth)
Child Day Care Facilities

A Medical Health Officer, appointed under the Health Act, has explicit duties under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act such as issuing licences, inspecting licensed facilities and investigating complaints that an unlicensed facility is being operated. The Medical Health Officer delegates these duties to be carried out by Licensing staff on a daily basis.

Licensing Officers and Licensing Nutritionists inspect, license and monitor over 1,300 licensed community care facilities in the Vancouver Island Health Authority.