Resources, Policy Manuals for Housing Regulations Summary Slides (Attachment 7)

Short-Term Rental Exemptions

The STR legislation does not apply to:

• Hotels, motels.
• Vehicles, such as Recreational Vehicles (RVs).
• Tents or temporary shelters

The Principal Residence Requirement does not apply to:

• Strata titled hotel or motel if the owner may not use the property as a principal residence

• Time Share properties

• Home exchanges

• Lodges (accommodation provided by an operator of outdoor recreational activities - hunting, fishing, water sports)

• Student accommodation (owned or operated by the educational institution or by a non-profit organization)

• Strata corporation guest suites intended for people visiting strata residents

• Municipalities with a population of over 10,000 in 2021 Census and a rental vacancy rate of 3% or more for each of the two previous years can opt out of the STR principal residence requirement. A local government’s request must be submitted to the Province by February 29, 2024 to opt-out of the principal residence requirement before May 1, 2024.

• Exempt areas (resort municipalities/municipalities with less than 10,000 people/regional districts) can request to opt into the Primary Residence Requirement by submitting written requests accompanied by resolutions requesting to opt in by March 31, 2024. This will take effect on November 1, 2024, giving hosts time to come into compliance. Exempt areas can also opt in in future years if desired.

• A full list of municipalities covered by the Principal Residence requirement will be available here - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals

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SSMU guidance for small lot

Size of Lot

Less than 1,215 square metres

Number of permitted units

3 to 4 units depending on size.

Maximum Height and Storeys

11 metres/3 storeys

Maximum coverage of building on lot

50 percent

Off-street parking

1 space/1 unit 1 space/2 units if within 800 metres of a transit stop with frequent service. Frequent transit service is served by at least one bus route that is scheduled to stop at least every 15 minutes, on average, between the hours of: (a) 7 am and 7 pm, Monday to Friday, and (b) 10 am and 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

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SSMU guidance for large lot

Size of Lot

Greater than 1,215 square metres

Number of permitted units

4

Maximum Height and Storeys

11 metres/3 storeys

Maximum coverage of building on lot

40 percent

Off-street parking

1 space/1 unit 1 space/2 units if within 800 metres of a bus stop with one route providing frequent transit service

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SSMU guidance lots near transit

Size of Lot

Greater than 280 square metres

Proximity to transit

Within 400m of a bus stop with at least one route providing frequent transit service. Frequent transit service is served by at least one bus route that is scheduled to stop at least every 15 minutes, on average, between the hours of: (a) 7 am and 7 pm, Monday to Friday, and (b) 10 am and 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Number of permitted units

6

Maximum Height and Storeys

11 metres/3 storeys

Maximum coverage of building on lot

60 percent

Off-street parking

No minimum parking requirements and parking will be determined by home builders (Legislative requirement)

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Transit Oriented Development Areas

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Transit Oriented Development Areas

• Several local governments have areas currently designated for transit-oriented growth in their official community plans.
• Under this legislation, these areas will be immediately captured under the new minimum allowable density requirements outlined in the TOD legislation and regulations.
• For the remaining TOD Areas that still require local government designation, municipalities will have until June 30, 2024, to designate these areas.
• The regulations prescribe 104 TOD Areas in 31 municipalities throughout B.C. within the first year of the legislation coming into effect.
• The Skytrain stations, West Coast Express and bus exchanges that are prescribed in regulations is available now here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/local-governments-and-housing/housing-initiatives and listed on the following slides.

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