The District of Highlands is taking aim at the growing number of illegal secondary suites popping up throughout the municipality.
But before it moves forward with regulations, council has requested more information from staff regarding how secondary suites would be licensed, what enforcement would look like and what type of impact it would have on services such as sewage.
B次元官网网址淭his information will help narrow down our focus,B次元官网网址� Mayor Ken Williams said.
Secondary suites (not to be confused with short-term vacation rental such as AirBnB) are not permitted under zoning regulations.
However, a staff report estimates approximately 30 to 50 per cent of properties have some form of unauthorized secondary suite or additional unapproved dwellings.
According to the British Columbia Building Code, a secondary suite is an additional dwelling unit located in a residential building with only one other dwelling, located in a building that is a single-family home, and/or has a total floor space of not more than 968 square feet.
Given increasing land costs and housing shortages throughout the Capital Region, itB次元官网网址檚 an issue the report says will likely continue, which is why the District has decided to tackle it head on as part of its strategic plan.
B次元官网网址淭here are issues of safety,B次元官网网址� said Williams, noting an incident some years ago when a fire started in a secondary suite and a resident died. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a complex subject B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 a discussion thatB次元官网网址檚 come time for us to have.B次元官网网址�
There are some in favour of secondary suites. Many residents have them to help pay for their mortgage, to help support younger or older family members, or to provide a diversity of housing options.
But before council moves forward, Williams said public consultation will be needed.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to have a lot of engagement with the public over this and weB次元官网网址檙e just trying to gather as much pertinent information as we can,B次元官网网址� he said, noting the District has been looking at other municipalities around Greater Victoria as to what works and what doesnB次元官网网址檛 in terms of enforcement. B次元官网网址淭his is a discussion that needs to be had with the public.B次元官网网址�
The public engagement session is expected to take place sometime in the new year.
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