Housing

The housing crisis is urgent and demands substantive actions. Local governments across the province are taking concrete steps to address the crisis and are looking for meaningful, focused partnerships with the provincial and federal governments.

UBCM is committed to working with the Province to address the housing crisis and to work to support effective implementation of their housing plan Homes for People, while recognizing local government capacity and fiscal constraints and the need for flexibility to address local circumstances. UBCM will continue to seek opportunities for local government input, feedback and engagement as the Province implements their plan.

Recent UBCM Engagement and Analyses of Provincial Policy

(View all recent articles published in The Compass about housing.)

UBCM Submission on Vacancy Taxation December 2024
UBCM asks the Province to withdraw Bill 45 November 2023
Province introduces Transit Oriented Development legislation November 2023
New legislation on development finance November 2023
Province introduces legislation on homeless encampments November 2023
Provincial housing legislation introduces sweeping changes to local government planning framework, November 2023
Province introduces Short Term Rental Legislation, October 2023
Provincial support needed to address Short Term Rentals, May 2023
Analysis of provincial housing plan, April 2023
Provincial plan to address homelessness, April 2023
UBCM statement on the Housing Supply Act, November 2022
New legislation would allow Province to set municipal housing targets, November 2022
UBCM statement on housing supply and affordability, March 2022
UBCM letter to Minister Eby requesting clarification on statements regarding housing supply and Minister Eby’s response November 2021.
Housing: not just a big city problem, September 2021

In 2018 the Province’s Rental Housing Task Force recommended that the Province work with local governments to develop, implement, and enforce short-term rental rules to better protect long-term rental stock. In May 2019 the Province agreed to further consultation with stakeholders and local governments, and in fall 2019 the Province and UBCM established a Joint Advisory Group on Short-Term Rentals. In 2021 the group published its Priorities for Actions on Short-Term Rentals.
In 2023 the Province introduced legislation to support local government regulation of short-term rentals, increase allowable fines, and establish a provincial registry and enforcement unit. Key elements of the legislation respond directly to recommendations made by the Joint Advisory Group.

Housing Summit 2024: Local Vision. Local Action.

Provincial and Federal housing policy

Provincial Policy Updates The Province’s 2023 housing plan, Homes for People, is an ambitious plan with wide-ranging elements that will have significant implications for local governments across B.C. Initiatives include: actions to promote densification and expedite planning…

Housing Summit 2023: Housing BC Together

In April 2023, UBCM hosted a one-time event with the aim of bringing together innovators from local government, industry, the not-for-profit, and Indigenous housing sectors to identify solutions for improving housing affordability and attainability across our province.

UBCM Housing Strategy

In August 2016, UBCM established a Special Committee on Housing to identify ways to make housing more affordable for people who live, work and contribute to BC’s communities. The Committee considered potential federal and provincial actions and supports, in addition to…

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