Whereas during the 20202021 fiscal year BC Housing subsidized nearly 19,000 shelter spaces and housing units and provided rent supplements and, further, it was reported by the Bank of Canada that in Quarter 3 of 2021 Canadians needed to spend over 37 of their household income to service a mortgage; And whereas owning a home in British Columbia is becoming increasingly unaffordable and tiny homes offer an affordable, quick to build and green alternative to standard housing: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of BC to review the BC Building Code to address barriers such as, but not limited to, egress, headroom and window and door size, and to recognize, allow and provide building requirements for tiny homes; And be it further resolved that the Province should incorporate these changes into Part 9 of the BC Building Code that would define tiny houses as allowable permanent dwellings, and thus permit them to be constructed where local government official community plans and zoning bylaws deem them appropriate.
Ministry of Housing The BC Building Code establishes minimum life-safety measures such as structural integrity, smoke alarms, means of egress, and ventilation, and health measures like plumbing. Reducing or removing these measures compromises the health and safety of building occupants. The Building Code has no limit on how small a house can be built, provided it meets the minimum standard for the protection of people and protection of the environment. Several manufacturers in BC have successfully designed and installed tiny homes that meet the safety standards of the Building Code. While some tiny homes are built to be permanently sited on a foundation and connected to services, others are built as a trailer with wheels and designed to be movable. Tiny homes on wheels have unique considerations such as connections to potable water, utilities, and sewage disposal.