Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) Implementation – Phase 2 | Osoyoos

Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) Implementation – Phase 2

OVERVIEW

The Town of Osoyoos is undertaking amendments to Official Community Plan (OCP) Bylaw No. 1375, 2021 in order to address new regulations under the Local Government Act which relate to Housing Needs Reports.

BACKGROUND

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delivery of “more small-scale, multi-unit housing for people, including townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes, and fix outdated zoning rules to help build more homes faster.”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:

complete an interim report on housing needs, in a manner prescribed by the Local Government Act, by January 1, 2025 (s. 790);
amend their zoning bylaws to permit the use and density of use necessary to accommodate at least the 20-year total number of housing units required to meet anticipated housing needs per the most recent housing needs report, by December 31, 2025 (s. 481.7);
amend their Official Community Plan (OCP) bylaws to provide for at least the 20-year total number of housing units required to meet anticipated housing needs per the most recent housing needs report, by December 31, 2025 (s. 473.1(3)); and,
amend their OCP bylaws to include housing policies respecting each class of housing needs required to be addressed in the most recent housing needs report, by December 31, 2025 (s. 473.1(4)).

The Town’s Housing Needs Report Update (2024) was received by Council on February 11, 2025, and indicated that the 5-year total number of housing units needed is 303 and the 20-year total number of housing units needed is 1,018.

To support the Town’s efforts to meet legislative requirements, a Zoning Capacity Analysis was completed by Urban Systems which found that there is existing zoning capacity for 6,375 units. As the existing zoning capacity exceeds the 20-year total number of housing units required per the Housing Needs Report (2024), no amendments are required to the Town’s OCP and zoning bylaws to accommodate the 20-year total.

However, amendments are required to the Town’s OCP Bylaw to address the requirement under Section 473.1(4) of the Act. Draft OCP Amendment Bylaw No. 1375.09 seeks to undertake the amendments necessary to meet this requirement.