New rules coming into effect December 31, 2021 will bring beneficial changes for property owners in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). According to the provincial government:
“Options for an additional small secondary home have been added to regulations, allowing farmers and ALR landowners to have both a principal residence and small secondary residence on their property with a streamlined approval process. Only permissions from local government or First Nations government will be required, and there will be no application to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC).
The additional residence can be used for housing extended family, agritourism accommodation, housing for farm labour or a rental property for supplemental income. There is no longer a requirement that additional residences must be used by the landowner or immediate family members.
Examples of flexible housing options permitted under the regulation include, but are not limited to:
- garden suites, guest houses or carriage suites;
- accommodation above an existing building;
- manufactured homes; and
- permitting a principal residence to be constructed in addition to a manufactured home that was formerly a principal residence.
Farming families will continue to be able to apply to the ALC for multiple, larger homes if they are necessary for farming purposes.”
For more information, please visit https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021AFF0043-001352 as well as https://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/assets/alc/assets/legislation-and-regulation/the-act-and-regulation/oic_438_2021_additional_residences.pdf.
Source: FVREB Professional Standards