City of Langley vs. Township of Langley: what's the difference?
Two separate municipalities, two councils and two city halls, and here is how to tell them apart.
- City of Langley
- City Hall, 20399 Douglas Crescent. 604-514-2800. langleycity.ca
- Township of Langley
- Civic Facility, 20338 - 65 Avenue. 604-534-3211. tol.ca
- Incorporated
- Township 1873; City March 15, 1955
Say “Langley” and you might mean two different places. It’s one of the most common mix-ups in the Fraser Valley, so here is the short version.
The short version
The City of Langley is the small, compact one in the middle. Its own website describes it as a 10-square-kilometre urban centre of around 35,000 people. The Township of Langley is the big one that wraps around it, with 154,122 residents according to the Township’s 2025 annual report. They are separate municipalities, each with its own mayor, council, staff and bylaws.
How we got here
The Township incorporated in 1873. In 1955, the commercial community along Yale Road, then called Langley Prairie, separated from the Township. According to the City’s anniversary article, the area wanted things like streetlights, sidewalks and sewers that the Township would not provide. The new City was incorporated on March 15, 1955, and dropped “Prairie” from its name.
Who’s where
The City is the downtown core: the old Langley Prairie area. The Township’s annual report describes it as a “community of communities”, with six urban centres: Aldergrove, Brookswood-Fernridge, Fort Langley, Murrayville, Walnut Grove, and Willoughby-Willowbrook. It also has a rural area. Fort Langley, despite the name, is part of the Township, not the City.
Who does what
Each municipality runs its own services and decides its own rules, so the one you call depends on where you live. The Township’s annual report says it handles things like water, sewer, stormwater, garbage and recycling collection, roads, parks and recreation facilities, and runs its own fire department and Langley Regional Airport. Its library service comes through the Fraser Valley Regional Library. For the City, check the services listed on langleycity.ca, since we haven’t confirmed a full list.
Federal and provincial representation doesn’t follow the municipal line, either. See Langley’s MPs.
Councils
Both municipalities have just held elections, so council lineups are changing (the City’s 2026 election results are posted, and the Township’s council calendar lists an inaugural council meeting). The City publishes its council members and contacts at langleycity.ca, and the Township lists its council on its Mayor and Council page. To attend a meeting, see how to attend or speak at a Langley council meeting.
Where do I take my question?
If it’s about your street, your garbage, your permit or your property taxes, start with the municipality where your address is. If you aren’t sure which one that is, a tax notice or utility bill will show it.
Something out of date? Tell us.
Last checked October 20, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.