On November 30, 2023, the provincial Legislature adopted Bill 44 (Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, 2023), which amended the Local Government Act (the “Act”) in order to facilitate the delivery of “more small-scale, multi-unit housing for people, including townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes, and fix outdated zoning rules to help build more homes faster.”

In response, the Regional District is proposing a number of amendments to the various Electoral Area Official Community Plan (OCP) and Zoning bylaws in order to ensure compliance the new requirements of the Local Government Act as it relates to SSMUH and prior to the statutory deadline of June 30, 2024.  Information on these amendments can be found at the following web-page: https://www.rdos.bc.ca/development-services/planning/strategic-projects/ssmuh/

The required zoning amendments for lands within the Okanagan Falls "Primary Growth Area" that are also connected to the Okanagan Falls community water and community sewer systems are, however, being progressed separately as the Regional District Board resolved, at its meeting of February 22, 2024, to apply to the province for an Extension to the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) Compliance Deadline of June 30, 2024.

The application for an Extension is currently being prepared and is required to be submitted to the province no later than June 1, 2024.  The province is also advising local governments to ensure that amendment bylaw(s) are prepared to ensure SSMUH Compliance in the event an application for an Extension request is denied.  In response, the Regional District has prepared Amendment Bylaw No. 2800.38 (linked below) to the Okanagan Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 2800, 2022.