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482.7 Zoning Bylaws And Affordable And Special Needs Housing

In This Volume

  • 482.7 (1) Subject to subsection (7) and the regulations made under subsection (8), a zoning bylaw may do the following:
  • (a) subject to subsection (2), require developments within a zone that are, in whole or in part, residential developments to include the portion of affordable and special needs housing units that is specified in the zoning bylaw in accordance with subsection (3);
  • (b) establish requirements in relation to the affordable and special needs housing units, including requirements respecting either or both of the following:
    • (i) the ownership and management of the units;
    • (ii) the number of bedrooms in the units;
  • (c) provide higher density to developments that are subject to requirements under paragraphs (a) and (b) and subsection (2);
  • (d) as an alternative to complying with the requirements under paragraphs (a) and (b) and subsection (2), permit, in the circumstances set out in the zoning bylaw and at the option of the developer, the payment to the local government of an amount of money in accordance with section 482.91 [payment of money instead of providing affordable and special needs housing units].
  • (2) A zoning bylaw referred to in subsection (1) must, in accordance with any regulations made under subsection (8), establish requirements respecting the following:
  • (a) the form of tenure of the affordable and special needs housing units;
  • (b) the affordability of the units, including the sales price of the units or the rent to be charged for the units;
  • (c) the length of time during which the units are subject to requirements under subsection (1)(b) and this subsection.
  • (3) The portion of affordable and special needs housing units referred to in subsection (1)(a) must be specified in the zoning bylaw as either or both of the following:
  • (a) a proportion of all housing units in a development;
  • (b) a percentage of the gross floor area of the residential component of a development.
  • (4) In addition to the authority under section 479(4) [zoning bylaws], provisions of a zoning bylaw referred to in subsection (1) of this section may be different for one or more of the following:
  • (a) different forms of tenure;
  • (b) different areas;
  • (c) different parcels of land;
  • (d) different sizes or types of housing units;
  • (e) different construction materials for housing units;
  • (f) any other prescribed basis for difference.
  • (5) A local government must, before a building permit is issued in relation to property that is subject to requirements under subsections (1) and (2), enter into a housing agreement under section 483 with the owner of the property.
  • (6) In relation to land that is in a transit-oriented area, a zoning bylaw may, under subsection (1)(c), provide a development with higher density that is less than, equal to or greater than
  • (a) the density of use, and
  • (b) the density corresponding to the size and dimension of buildings and other structures
  • set out in the regulations made under section 585.51(d)(i) [regulations related to transit-oriented areas] in relation to that land.
  • (7) An affordable and special needs housing zoning bylaw does not apply to a development in which all of the housing units will be owned by any of the following:
  • (a) a corporation incorporated by, or in which shares have been acquired by, a municipality or regional district for a purpose that includes providing affordable housing;
  • (b) a society, other than a member-funded society as defined in section 190 of the Societies Act;
  • (c) a housing cooperative, within the meaning of the Cooperative Association Act, that is not-for-profit;
  • (d) a board within the meaning of the Health Authorities Act;
  • (e) an agent of the government or the government of Canada;
  • (f) a registered charity as defined in section 248(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada);
  • (g) a body within a prescribed class of bodies.
  • (8) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations respecting affordable and special needs housing zoning bylaws, including regulations as follows:
  • (a) prohibiting specified local governments from making affordable and special needs housing zoning bylaws;
  • (b) establishing a maximum portion of affordable and special needs housing units that may be specified in zoning bylaws under subsection (1)(a);
  • (c) prohibiting or restricting forms of tenure of affordable and special needs housing units;
  • (d) establishing requirements respecting the affordability of affordable and special needs housing units, including the sales price of the units or the rent to be charged for the units;
  • (e) establishing requirements respecting the length of time during which affordable and special needs housing units are subject to requirements under subsections (1)(b) and (2);
  • (f) making provisions that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable for the purpose of preventing, minimizing or otherwise addressing any transitional difficulties encountered in relation to affordable and special needs housing zoning bylaws.

2024-11-11.