On April 16, 2019, Bill 18 - 2018 came into effect, which amended the Local Government Act (LGA) to require all local governments in B.C. to complete Housing Needs Reports by April 2022, and every five years thereafter.

Housing Needs Reports act as an important supporting document in informing land use planning by providing key information relating to the current and future housing needs within a community.

In 2020/2021, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), in collaboration with the City of Penticton, District of Summerland, and Village of Keremeos, had worked with EcoPlan International to undertake the first Housing Needs Assessment Report project. The resultant 2021 Housing Needs Assessment Report was presented to and formally received by the City of Penticton, District of Summerland, and Village of Keremeos Councils, as well as the RDOS Board of Directors in March and April 2021.

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delivery of “more small-scale, multi-unit housing for people, including townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes, and fix outdated zoning rules to help build more homes faster.” While a number of the amendments introduced as part of Bill 44 related to the establishment of new density requirements, additional amendments included new requirements for local governments to:

• consider their most recent housing needs reports when developing and amending their Official Community Plans; 
• ensure that their zoning bylaws permit the use and density of use necessary to accommodate the 20-year total number of housing units required to meet anticipated housing needs as per their most recent housing needs report; and,
• complete an interim report on housing needs, in a manner prescribed in the Local Government Act, by January 1, 2025.

In addition to the previous requirements for completing housing needs reports, interim housing needs reports must include three new items:

• the total number of housing units, as calculated in accordance with prescribed methodology, required in order to meet the antiicpated housing needs of the local government for the next 5 years and 20 years;
• a description of the actions taken by the Board/Council, since receiving the most recent housing needs report, to reduce houisng needs; and,
• a statement with respect to the need for housing in close proximity to transportation infrastructure that supports walking, bicyling, public transit or other alternative forms of transportation.

Municipal governments (but not regional district governments) are required to update their Official Community Plan and zoning bylaws by December 31, 2025 in order to adequately accommodate the number of units identified in their interim housing needs reports.

The 2024 Housing Needs Report Update is a collaborative project being undertaken between the RDOS, City of Penticton, Town of Osoyoos, and Village of Keremeos and focuses on the completion of the required interim report on housing needs. The resultant report will provide a basis for the participating municipal governments (i.e., the City of Penticton, Town of Osoyoos and Village of Keremeos) to update their Official Community Plan and zoning bylaws as required by the December 31, 2025 deadline.