Provincial housing policy manuals and regulations

The Province has issued guidelines, policy manuals, and regulations to implement Bill 35 –Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, Bill 44 – Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act and Bill 47 – Housing Statutes (Transit-Oriented Areas) Amendment Act. Links to these materials are provided here for member reference.

UBCM president Trish Mandewo commented on the process followed by the province in developing these bills in a recent video.

Canada Community-Building Fund Annual Report

The 2022 Annual Report for the Canada Community-Building Fund is now available. The report provides an extensive analysis of the expenditures and outcomes related to projects funded by this long-standing program. In 2022, UBCM transferred over $489 million to recipients, the highest in the program's history.  

New LGPS Online Grant Application Process

Starting in January 2024, all of UBCM’s Local Government Program Services (LGPS) funding streams will move to a new grant application process. Applicants will be required to use the LGPS Online Application Tool and submit their application in two steps before the application deadline.

Development Approvals program welcoming applications

Applications will be accepted for the 2024 intake of the Local Government Development

Approvals program from January 1 until March 8. This program will support the implementation of established best practices and test innovative approaches to improve development approval processes while meeting local government planning and policy objectives.

Electric kick scooter project

Provincial regulations were recently passed to allow the piloting of electric kick scooters in participating communities for four more years. The four-year pilot starts when the current electric kick scooter pilot project ends on April 5, 2024, and will run until 2028. Local governments can join the new pilot project before it starts on April 5, 2024, to provide residents with the opportunity to use electric kick scooters within their community.

Federal housing design catalogue

The federal government has announced that it will hold consultations beginning in early January 2024 on a housing design catalogue initiative, to help accelerate the delivery of homes by standardizing housing designs, starting with low-rise construction. The government will also look at ways to support municipalities, provinces and territories interested in implementing their own housing design catalogues.

Last call for land awards nominations

Want to recognize a project or person demonstrating leadership in sustainable, equitable and socially just land use or real estate in BC? Nominate them for the 2024 Land Awards. The Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) sponsors these awards to recognize outstanding projects and remarkable leaders that protect the land and water; and create sustainable, inclusive and resilient communities. The deadline for nominations is Friday, December 15, at 5 pm. For further information contact the Real Estate Foundation of BC.