News Brief: B.C. proposes new legislation to address housing crisis
The Government of British Columbia proposed a new legislation on Nov. 1 to change zoning rules and bylaws to help build homes faster. (Pexels/Michael Tuszynski)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University students may start to see an increase in housing availability in British Columbia with a new provincial government legislation, proposed on Nov. 1.
In light of the housing crisis, the provincial government is planning to change zoning rules to help build homes faster, including more small-scale, multi-unit housing like townhomes, triplexes, and laneway homes.
As it currently stands, zoning rules in multiple communities across the province have led most new builds to be mostly condos or single-family homes, which are often out of reach for British Columbians, leaving a shortage of housing options for the various types inbetween, like townhomes and laneways.
Building regulations and zoning barriers have also decreased the productivity of construction and delivery of new builds, making the process to build demanded housing a complicated process, according to the provincial government.
“The housing crisis has made it harder for growing families looking for more space, seniors looking to downsize, and first-time homebuyers who can’t find a home that meets their needs and budget,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing, in a news release.
Changes that would come with the proposed legislation include permitting one secondary suite or laneway home in all communities across the province. Municipalities with more than 5,000 people would also see bylaw changes, including three to four units on lots currently zoned for single-family or duplex use, and six units on larger lots also currently used for single-family or duplexes that are close to frequent service transit stops. While municipalities would be able to build more units than proposed in the legislation, they would not be allowed to build less.
These bylaw and zoning changes will accelerate housing development approvals by moving them to the forefront of planning and zoning processes, according to the provincial government. Municipalities will also be required to update community plans and zoning bylaws regularly to make sure they meet the housing needs of residents.
“This legislation strengthens the vibrancy of our communities, while building the type of housing that will help us address the housing crisis,” Kahlon said.
The proposed legislation would also turn processes away from rezoning public hearings for housing projects and towards getting community members involved earlier on in the process when official plans are updated.
The provincial government predicts that if the legislation were approved, B.C. could see more than 130,000 new small-scale, multi-unit homes over the next decade. To help implementation, local governments will be provided with resources to speed up approval processes, including $51 million to support municipalities in meeting new density zoning requirements and $10 million for the Local Government Development Approvals Program, which aims to support best practices and test innovative approaches to improve building development approval processes.
To learn more about this proposed legislation, visit the Government of British Columbia’s website.
