Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH)

Bill 44, Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, 2023 (Bill 44) received royal assent on November 29, 2023. The stated purpose of the legislation is to facilitate an increase in housing supply in communities throughout B.C.

Among other requirements related to housing, Bill 44 specifies that local governments must amend residential zoning designations to permit four dwelling units per parcel for land within the Urban Containment Boundary (some exceptions apply) by June 30, 2024.

May 2024 Update
At the May 29th Regular Council Meeting, an updated Zoning Bylaw and a suite of Bylaw amendments, that address the requirements of Bill 44, were introduced for Council consideration. The Town has taken a proactive approach to address the requirements of Bill 44, so that the increased residential development potential required by Bill 44 can be achieved without compromising environmental protection or quality of life for existing residents in Qualicum Beach.

The short-term impacts are anticipated to will be relatively minor and include benefits:

• The density prescribed by the Province (four units per parcel) is compatible with many of the housing typologies preferred by Town residents.
• Qualicum Beach residents stated a preference for alternative forms of small-scale residential infill in the 2018 Quality of Life Survey, most of which are currently not permitted on most residential properties.

Highlights of Changes Made

• Zoning Bylaw No. 900 will replace Zoning Bylaw No. 580 and meet the requirements of Bill 44, including improvements for overall clarity and consistency. A summary of specific changes is listed below:
  • Updated the Residential 1 (R1) zone to be the default residential zone outside of the Village Neighbourhood as identified in the OCP.
  • Updated the Residential 2 (R2) to be the default residential zone inside the Village Neighbourhood.
  • Deleted unused residential zones.
  • Updated “Definitions” section.
  • Moved regulations into the “Regulations” section of the Bylaw.
  • Deleted antiquated definitions and updating other definitions to align with modern zoning practice.
• Zoning Bylaw No. 900 was modernized by moving some content into other bylaws for clarity and ease of future updates, such as regulations and procedures for the Board of Variance and Advisory Planning Commission.
• Interim Residential Design Guidelines have been incorporated into Zoning Bylaw No. 900 to address potential concerns about neighbourhood character and compatibility. These Guidelines will be reviewed in 2025 during the Official Community Plan (OCP) Review

Next Steps

• Housekeeping amendments to Zoning Bylaw No. 900 for further clarifications and errors.
• Housing Needs Report - late 2024
• Quality of Life Survey - late 2024
• OCP Review – 2025
• Potential work may be required based on new and/or changing Provincial and Federal requirements.

Public Engagement Opportunities
The Town will engage the public in the OCP review phase, including reviewing the interim Design Guidelines. This engagement is not affected by Bill 44, and there will be public hearings for all future OCP amendments. The Town is committed to involving residents in the policy development process during OCP reviews. The OCP amendment must be completed by December 31, 2025.

Further Reading

• May 29th Regular Council Meeting Agenda. Pages 28 – 238 include: Staff Report, Zoning Bylaw No. 900 & the Interim Design Guidelines
• Westplan Consulting Group Bill 44 Amendments Report

Questions
If you have additional comments, please submit your inquiry through the Public Inquiry System. On the inquiry form, input the information below in the required fields:
- Inquiry Type: Building, Development, and Permits
- Inquiry Subtype: Bill 44

Sign up for Town of Qualicum Beach updates here.

More information on the Province’s housing initiatives can be found online:

• Homes for People Action Plan
• Local Government housing initiatives