City of Kamloops prepares to implement new housing legislation

The City of Kamloops is preparing to implement a series of provincial housing legislation that was introduced in late 2023.

A news release from the city says staff have been preparing the changes to the Official Community Plan and zoning bylaw to comply with legislation that encourages small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH)and increased density near transit hubs.

Both Premier David Eby and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said the legislation is meant to encourage more affordable housing.

“Under Bill 47, Housing Statutes (Transit-Oriented Areas) Amendment Act, local governments must designate transit-oriented areas, which are areas within 400 m of transit exchanges that must not prohibit the legislated minimum residential height and density within this area,” the city’s news release says.

To comply with the legislation, the city’s OCP (KAMPLAN) is being amended to designate the Lansdowne, North Shore and the TRU transit exchanges as transit-oriented areas.

Additionally, under Bill 44, local governments need to amend their zoning bylaws to allow a minimum of one secondary suite or detached accessory dwelling in all single-family/duplex residential zones.

When the province introduced the legislation in 2023, they said local governments will also need to allow a minimum of three to four dwelling units in selected areas zoned exclusively for single-family homes or duplexes if the lot is intended to be 280 square metres.

However, the city says the maximum number of units depends on factors like lot size, location, availability of municipal water and sewer services and other factors.

City staff will also be proposing that the minimum required number of off-street parking spaces for SSMUH be reduced.

“For consistency, staff also propose going beyond what is required for multi-unit residential development,” the news release says.

More information is available on the city’s website.

A report is expected to go before council on May 28 and adoption of the anticipated changes will be in late June.

In November 2023, the province said all local governments in BC will need to have their bylaws updated by the end of June 2024.