smk-mrdt

An interactive map application for looking up Municipal Regional District Tax (MRDT) rates for properties across British Columbia. Built with SMK (Server Map Kit) and powered by Leaflet.

Overview

The MRDT Lookup Tool provides BC residents and property managers with an easy-to-use web-based map interface to determine the applicable Municipal Regional District Tax rate for any property location in the province. The application displays MRDT jurisdictions with their corresponding tax rates, accommodation areas and implementation dates.

About MRDT

The Municipal Regional District Tax (MRDT) is a tax levied on short-term rental accommodations in designated areas of British Columbia. This tool helps property owners, managers and renters understand which tax rates apply to specific locations.

Features

• Interactive Map Interface: Zoom and pan across British Columbia to explore MRDT designations
• Multiple Tax Rates: Display of both 2% and 3% MRDT zones
• Property Information: Click on any jurisdiction to view:
  • Tax recipient municipality
  • Applicable tax rate
  • Accommodation area designation
  • MRDT start and repeal dates
• Responsive Design: Works on desktop and mobile devices
• Geospatial Data: Based on accurate GeoJSON boundaries of MRDT jurisdictions

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14 or higher)
• npm (comes with Node.js)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/bcgov/smk-mrdt.git
   cd smk-mrdt

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

   This will automatically apply any necessary patches via patch-package.

Running Locally

To view and test the application locally:

npm run view

This will:

• Start a local HTTP server on port 8080
• Automatically open the application in your default browser

Access the application at http://localhost:8080

Configuration

The application is configured through smk-config.json, which defines:

• Map Viewer: Leaflet-based viewer with initial zoom level and extent centered on BC
• Base Map: Streets basemap from ESRI
• Layers: Vector layers for 2% and 3% MRDT zones with custom styling
• Styling: Style rules for layers, for example, orange borders (#d95f02) to highlight MRDT jurisdictions
• Attributes: Display of tax rates, recipients, accommodation areas and dates

Data Sources

• MRDT Boundaries: GeoJSON files containing jurisdictional boundaries
• Base Maps: ESRI Maps (requires valid ESRI API key in configuration)

Technologies Used

• SMK (Simple Map Kit): BC Government's map framework
• Leaflet: Open-source mapping library
• GeoJSON: Geographic data format
• Caddy: Lightweight web server
• Node.js: JavaScript runtime

License

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See the LICENSE file for details.