Whereas on April 3, 2023, Premier Eby announced that the Province of BC is taking action to address the housing shortage by proposing to implement the Homes for People Action Plan that includes provisions to allow up to four homes on a parcel where currently only one home is permitted; And whereas when the Homes for People Action Plan is implemented through legislation, such legislation, while very appropriate in many urban settings, could, in numerous situations, be in conflict with the ability to service an influx of residents, direct density away from floodplains and other hazards, or protect areas of ecological importance: Therefore be it resolved that the Province of BC be requested to ensure that legislation to implement the Homes for People Action Plan not apply to local governments until such time that the draft legislation has been developed with input from local governments.
Ministry of Housing Communities throughout the province, both urban and rural, are facing significant housing needs. The Homes for People Action Plan outlines the suite of initiatives that the Province of BC is acting on to address this urgent problem. Legislation introduced in Fall 2023 requires local governments to amend their bylaws to allow small-scale, multi-unit housing in single family zones. The policy development for this legislation was done in consultation with a wide range of interested parties including local government representatives from both urban and rural communities. Under the small-scale, multi-unit housing legislation, the number of housing units that will be required to be allowed on a single-family zoned lot varies depending on its size, applicable land use bylaws, servicing levels and proximity to transit. The higher densities of four to six housing units are not expected to generally apply to rural areas, in particular, areas that are outside of an urban containment boundary or not serviced by public water and wastewater systems. In these areas, the zoning bylaw must allow either one secondary suite or one accessory dwelling unit per lot. The existing authorities of local governments to protect development from hazardous conditions and protect the natural environment are not expected to be affected by the legislation providing they are not used to unreasonably restrict the required densities.