Guest houses, rooms over the garage or manufactured homes will be allowed without an application to the Agricultural Land Commission under new B.C. regulations set to take effect in 2022.
ItB次元官网网址檚 the latest move to ease the NDP governmentB次元官网网址檚 farmland restrictions imposed in 2019 that sparked farmer protests. That legislative overhaul removed the rural zone from the Agricultural Land Reserve and cracked down on suburban B次元官网网址渕ega-mansions,B次元官网网址� secondary residences, on-farm businesses and use of fill on farmland.
A requirement for costly ALC permits for gravelling of roads to keep them passable was withdrawn, and provincial approval for second homes is officially going, after existing mobile homes were B次元官网网址済randfatheredB次元官网网址� last fall with an extension that was set to expire in July. That is extended again until Dec. 31.
The new rules allow for construction of a new principal residence on foundations in addition to a manufactured home that was formerly a principal residence. The regulations will allow B次元官网网址済arden suites, guest houses, carriage suites, accommodation above an existing building and manufactured homes,B次元官网网址� Agriculture Minister Lana Popham announced July 12.
RELATED:
RELATED:
As of 2022, new secondary accommodation still requires local government approval, with restrictions on the size of secondary houses based on the size of the farm and the existing residence. On a parcel of 40 hectares (98 acres) or smaller with a house 500 square metres (5,400 square feet) or more, no secondary residence will be allowed.
B次元官网网址淔arming families will continue to be able to apply to the ALC for multiple, larger homes if they are necessary for farming purposes,B次元官网网址� the ministry says.
B.C. Liberal agriculture critic Ian Paton said the latest changes correct PophamB次元官网网址檚 initial mistakes, as outlined in the protests about financial viability of farms received in a consultation round in September 2020 after restrictions were imposed.
B次元官网网址淭hen, after they got backlash, they dragged farmers through three yearsB次元官网网址� worth of reviews and feedback exercises that destroyed their dreams and cost them precious time and money,B次元官网网址� Paton said.
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on .
