UPDATE - MAY 2022

At its May 2, 2022 Regular Meeting, Council amended the Secondary Suites and Accessory Dwelling Units Draft Policy/Program Outline to the version below.  This version was the subject of a Special April 19, 2022 Committee of the Whole Meeting; here is the Staff Report.

BACKGROUND

While secondary suites are not permitted under existing zoning regulations, it is estimated that approximately 30% to 50% of properties in Highlands have some form of unauthorized secondary suite and/or additional unapproved dwellings. Given increasing land costs and housing shortages in the region this trend is likely to continue.

Here is a timeline of the District's recent investigation into regulating secondary housing:

• December 4, 2017 Council Meeting: Council considered an initial version of a draft policy and program outline for secondary suites and accessory dwelling units. Link to report: https://www.highlands.ca/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/3838?fileID=4545 ).  Link to minutes:  https://www.highlands.ca/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_12042017-396
• A second report was submitted to Council for consideration in April 2018 (https://www.highlands.ca/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/4140?fileID=4694). Council resolved to proceed with an Open House to solicit input on the proposed draft policy/program and regulatory framework. Link to minutes: https://www.highlands.ca/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_04162018-418   
• The Open House occurred on June 6, 2018.
• Results of the Open House were provided at the September 17, 2018 Committee of the Whole Meeting. Here is a link to the staff report and Open House results: http://www.highlands.ca/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/4429?fileID=4826. Other items were also discussed at that meeting. Here is a link to the minutes: http://highlands.ca/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09172018-436
• Following that meeting, Council continued discussions at the October 9, 2018 Committee of the Whole Meeting. Minutes of that meeting can be found at this link: http://highlands.ca/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10092018-439 .  The results of those discussions are summarized in this one page draft approach:  /DocumentCenter/View/8003/WEB-VER_Secondary-Suites-Appendix-A-Revisions_As-of-Nov-2018. 
• Island Health staff attended the March 11, 2019 Committee of the Whole meeting to share information on water and sewerage regulations. The presentation can be viewed here:  https://www.highlands.ca/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/4855?fileID=5023
• At the April 1, 2019 Council Meeting, BC Assessment staff provided a presentation that can be viewed here:  https://www.highlands.ca/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/4921?fileID=5053
• At its March 7, 2022 Meeting, Council amended the Secondary Suites and Accessory Dwelling Units Draft Policy/Program Outline as shown in this link. The staff report can be found at this link: https://www.highlands.ca/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/6975?fileID=6662 . There was a presentation at the Council Meeting that can be found at this link:  /DocumentCenter/View/8002/7March2022-Council-Presentation_SS-and-ADUs.