The Province has issued guidelines, policy manuals, and regulations to implement Bill 35 – Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, Bill 44 – Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act and Bill 47 – Housing Statutes (Transit-Oriented Areas) Amendment Act. Links to these materials are provided here for member reference.
UBCM president Trish Mandewo commented on the process followed by the province in developing these bills in a recent video.
Housing Legislation Overview Materials
Included in the Province’s recent releases are a variety of materials that address the Province’s new housing policy framework generally:
- A Local government housing initiatives webpage.
- Details on the recently released regulations and policy manuals, including a list of key upcoming timelines.
- A regulation specifying Ministers responsible for specific elements of the Local Government Act and Vancouver Charter.
- Scenario modelling for small-scale multi-unit housing and transit-oriented areas scenarios.
Short-Term Rentals
Materials pertaining to Bill 35 - Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act include:
- A policy guidance document for local governments detailing the new short-term rental framework including key considerations relating to principal residence requirements, time period regulations, legal non-conforming use, business licensing updates and enforcement responsibilities.
- Order in Council 679 – bringing into force specific provisions of the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act, and making a regulation that addresses various details including interpretation, changes to exempt land, and general and specific exemptions.
Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing and Pro-Active Planning
Materials pertaining to Bill 44 – Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act include:
- A Policy Manual & Site Standards document to guide updates to zoning bylaws, other regulatory bylaws, and policies undertaken to comply with SSMUH legislation. In preparing, amending, or adopting a zoning bylaw to permit the use and density required by the SSMUH legislation, a local government must consider any applicable guidelines for SSMUH, including this Policy Manual.
- Order in Council 673 – bringing into force specific provisions of the Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act and making a Local Government Zoning Bylaw Regulation that among other things, prescribes: minimum densities, distances and parcel sizes. The regulation also provides additional details on what constitutes a bus stop, and details exemptions from small-scale multi-family housing requirements. Order in Council 675 similarly brings into force provisions of the act and makes a Vancouver Zoning Bylaw Regulation.
Transit Oriented Areas (TOAs)
Materials pertaining to Bill 47 – Housing Statutes (Transit-Oriented Development) Amendment Act include:
- A Transit-Oriented Areas Policy Manual to support implementation of Provincial TOA requirements. In developing, amending, and adopting an official community plan (OCP), zoning bylaw, or other bylaws to support implementation of the new TOA legislation, a local government must consider these Provincial Policy Guidelines.
- Order in Council 674 bringing into force specific provisions of the Housing Statutes (Transit-Oriented Development) Amendment Act and making a Local Government Transit-Oriented Areas Regulation that among other things prescribes distances for transit-oriented areas, prescribes transit stations, specifies classes of land within transit oriented areas and sets density and height requirements. The regulation also includes a schedule identifying transit stations that is substituted effective June 30, 2024 via Order in Council 678. Order in Council 676 similarly brings into effect provisions of the act and makes a Vancouver Transit-Oriented Areas Regulation that is also amended effective June 30, 2024 by Order in Council 678.
- Order in Council 677 makes a Designation of Transit-Oriented Areas Regulation, designating transit oriented areas under the Local Government Act and Vancouver Charter, and includes a schedule of transit stations with corresponding maps.