Housing Legislation Changes

Learn more about new provincial regulations intended to deliver more affordable homes faster and provide key services, infrastructure, and amenities.

In the fall of 2023, the Provincial Government adopted new regulations that affect all municipalities in BC. These new laws are some of the most significant changes to the Local Government Act in decades.

The City is currently working to review the new regulations and will update this page when new information is available. To learn more, visit the provincial website for local government housing initiatives.

Overview

The following provides an overview of the regulations, helpful resources, and the City's next steps.

Bill 35: Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act

The purpose of this bill is to regulate short-term rentals to turn more units into long-term homes for people. The new rules give local governments stronger enforcement tools, restrict short-term rentals to principal residences and either a secondary suite or an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in many B.C. communities, and establish a new provincial role in regulating short-term rentals.

At this time, the City is not requiring a business licence to operate a short-term rental in a principal residence. However, in the future, a business licence system may be put in place by the City.

Note: Operators of short-term rentals must comply with the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act or meet exemption requirements in order to operate.

Resources

Next Steps

  • Incorporate the requirements of Bill 35 into the Design phase of Zoning Bylaw 6000 by June 30, 2024.
  • Develop a business licensing program and update the Business Licence Bylaw by TBD.

Bill 44: Residential Development

The purpose of this bill is to make it easier and quicker to build a variety of small-scale housing in areas that traditionally allow only single detached or two-unit housing.

The new regulation requires local governments to update zoning bylaws to allow Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) on any lots currently zoned for a single detached home or two-unit housing. Under the new regulation, you won’t need to rezone a lot to build up to:

  • Three units on lots < 280m2
  • Four units on lots > 280m2
  • Six units on lots serviced by rapid transit (there’s currently no frequent transit in the City)

if it is serviced by both municipal water and sewer, within the City’s growth boundary, as well as compliant with the zone and provincial policies.

Note: Not every lot is suitable for the scale of housing permitted by SSMUH zoning. The specific conditions of a lot such as slope, soil stability, or environmental constraints may limit the ability to construct the number of units allowed under SSMUH zoning. 

Examples of SSMUH:

  • Secondary suites in single family dwellings or duplexes;
  • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) like garden suites or carriage houses;
  • Duplexes (side-by-side, back-to-back, or up/down); or
  • Townhouses.

Resources

Next steps

  • Design a new Zoning Bylaw for the City to comply with the regulation by June 30, 2024.
  • Complete interim Housing Needs Report by December 31, 2024.
  • Refine the new Zoning Bylaw to provide clarity and streamline the development process by June 30, 2025.
  • Review the City's Official Community Plan (OCP) and Transportation Plan (TP) and update them to comply with provincial requirements by December 31, 2025.
  • Align the new Zoning Bylaw with the Housing Needs Report, OCP and TP by December 31, 2025.

Bill 46: Development Finance

As new housing is built, the City will need to add to or improve existing infrastructure and amenities. The regulation provides new and expanded tools for the City to use to fund growth. Bill 46:

  • Provides governments with a new tool to collect Amenity Cost Charges (ACCs). These ACCs can be used to pay for facilities or features that provide social, culture, heritage, recreational or environmental benefits to the community. Examples include: community, youth, or seniors' centres, recreational or athletic facilities, libraries, daycare facilities, or public squares.
  • Expands the types of services that Development Cost Charges (DCCs) can be collected for when new developments are constructed. In addition to collecting DCCs for water, sewer, drainage, roads, and parks, the City can now collect DCCs for solid waste and recycling facilities, fire protection services, and police facilities. 

Resources

Bill 47: Transit-Oriented Development

The new regulation requires more dense development near transit exchanges. This transit-oriented development approach allows people to live, work, and play close to home and transit. Bill 47 requires local governments to designate Transit-Oriented Development Areas (TODs) near transit exchanges. TODs are to be identified within 400m of a bus exchange. The City currently has two bus exchanges that are required to be designated as TODs:

  1. Downtown exchange; and
  2. Village Green Centre exchange.

In TODs, local governments are required to:

  • Ensure that the densities and building heights established by the Province are allowed; and
  • Remove residential parking minimums in these designated areas.

Note: Though the City must designate TODs, pre-zoning of lots within a TOD is not required by Bill 47.

Resources

Next steps

  • Designate each TOD in accordance with the Local Government Act by June 30, 2024.
  • Update Zoning Bylaw with off-street parking requirements in a TOD by June 30, 2024.