Fourplexes to be allowed in just about every single-family lot in Kamloops, Okanagan
The province’s plan to force cities to allow fourplexes on most single-family lots has been expected for months, but cities were waiting to hear the details.
That legislation was introduced Nov. 1 and it's what everyone expected — any city low 280 square metres or larger is automatically viable for a fourplex. At that size, that's nearly all single family lots.
READ MORE: B.C. introduces housing law to require small-scale and multi-unit zoning
Lots smaller than that have to allow for up to three units. Larger lots must allow four units (and six for some near transit routes). That applies to all single-family and duplex lots.
So, just how big is 280 square metres? Not very.
That’s just over 3,000 square feet, or 0.069 acres.
Most standard city lots are twice that size.
Even the small lots in places like the North End of Kelowna's downtown or in the Kettle Valley subdivision come in at 0.11 to 0.13 acres.
The new legislation, which is expected to be passed in the next few weeks, requires all municipalities with 5,000 or more residents to have their new bylaws in place by June 30.
The change also means there will be no rezoning public hearings in these cases.
New rules will also eliminate public hearings for any land use changes that conform to Official Community Plans. Right now, that’s optional.
Planning documents, however, will have to be updated more often, which is when the public can have its say.
There are some exceptions to the fourplex rules, which include areas outside local "urban containment area" where development is not encouraged.
Most of Kelowna, for example, is within those boundaries, except places like Southeast Kelowna, some parts of Black Mountain and North Glenmore.
Other exemptions are being written for areas in the Agricultural Land Reserve, heritage areas, properties without water and/or sewer services and very large lots, the BC Ministry of Housing said in an email to iNFOnews.ca.
Another new housing option is a pilot project for forgivable loans of up to $40,000 to build secondary suites or carriage (laneway) units starting in April 2024.
That comes in the form of a rebate for up to 50% of renovation cost if the homeowner lives on the property, it’s rented at below market rates and the homeowners’ gross annual income is less than $209,420.
The grants are offered through BC Housing which has posted a list of maximum rental rates in order to qualify as below market.
For one-bedroom suites, that’s $950 in Penticton, $960 in Vernon, $1,105 per month in Kamloops and $1,289 in Kelowna.
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