Temporary Farm Labour Housing Review

Background

In late 2020 and early 2021, the Regional District received a number of referrals from the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) regarding proposals seeking approval for accessory dwellings for farm worker accommodations that exceeded current zoning regulations. While the Board was generally supportive of these applications, Administration’s recommendations were informed by the existing zoning regulations and spoke against the proposals.

In reviewing the existing Electoral Area Official Community Plan (OCP) bylaws, it was noted that there is currently contain a mix of policy directions regarding the provision of accommodation specifically for farm labourers. 

In order to ensure the Regional District’s bylaws are reflective of the Board’s position on the provision of accommodation for farm labour, Administration has prepared a policy proposal regarding the use of Temporary Use Permits (TUPs) that is similar to the approach previously applied by the Board to vacation rentals.

This approach would allow the Board to assess the initial and continued need for farm worker accommodation and minimize the impact of the accommodation use on agricultural land by requiring that over-sized structures be easily removable, and ensure that accommodation units are constructed or placed in such a way where they are temporary and/or may be easily removed from the property should the farm worker accommodation use cease and that they are restricted to farm worker accommodation use only.

Specifically, it is being proposed that amendments be made to the Electoral Area “A”, “C”, “D”, “E”, “F”, “H”, and “I” OCP Bylaws to:

  • Establish standardized decision-making criteria to assess TUPs for farm worker accommodations;
  • Establish conditions which may be applied to TUPs for farm worker accommodations;
  • Introduce a new, consistent supporting policy statement across Electoral Area OCP bylaws to address Board support for additional dwellings on lands within the Agricultural (AG) designation where they are used to support agricultural activities and purposes (e.g., workers’ housing).

Amendment Bylaw Status

Draft DocumentsPublic ConsultationRegional District Board Consideration

Draft Amendment Bylaws:

Amendment Bylaw 2956

(version - 2022-03-18)

Amendment Bylaw 2956

(version - 2022-02-03)

Public Hearing:

Date: Thursday, May 5, 2022

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Location: https://rdos.webex.com 

1-833-311-4101 (from phones)

Meeting Number: 2492 942 2355             

Password: RD@S (7317 from phones)

Notice of Public Hearing

Feedback Form

Public Hearing Instructions

 

Public Information Meeting:

Date: Thursday, February 24, 2022

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.

Location: https://rdos.webex.com / 1-833-311-4101 (from phones)

Meeting Number: 2495 517 2944             

Password: RD@S (7317 from phones)

Webex Instructions

Notice of Meeting

 

Feedback Form

 

 

Area F APC 

Advisory Planning Commission (APC):

Date: Monday, February 28, 2022                                                               

Time:7:00p.m.                                                                                               

Location: https://rdos.webex.com

Webex meeting number: 2482 726 7529  

Password: RD@S

Join by phone (audio only)

1-833-311-4101 Canada Toll Free

Password: 7317

Webex Instructions

Agenda

Administrative Report

Minutes (2022-02-28)

 

Area D APC 

Advisory Planning Commission (APC):

Date: Tuesday, March 8, 2022                                                               

Time:7:00p.m.                                                                                               

Location: https://rdos.webex.com

Webex meeting number: 2482 653 8988  

Password: RD@S

Join by phone (audio only)

1-833-311-4101 Canada Toll Free

Password: 7317

Webex Instructions

Agenda

Administrative Report

Minutes (2022-03-08)

 

Area A APC 

Advisory Planning Commission (APC):

Date: Monday, March 14, 2022                                                               

Time: 7:00p.m.                                                                                               

Location: https://rdos.webex.com

Webex meeting number: 2497 660 2289  

Password: RD@S

Join by phone (audio only)

1-833-311-4101 Canada Toll Free

Password: 7317

Webex Instructions

Agenda

Administrative Report

Minutes (2022-03-14)

 

Area E APC 

Advisory Planning Commission (APC):

Date: Monday, March 14, 2022

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: https://rdos.webex.com/  

Event ID: 2482 508 9360

Password: RD@S

Webex Instructions

Agenda

Administrative Report

Minutes (2022-03-14)

 

Area C APC 

Advisory Planning Commission (APC):                                  

Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2022                                                               

Time: 7:00 p.m.                                                                                               

Location: https://rdos.webex.com

Webex meeting number: 2494 593 7011  

Password: RD@S

Join by phone (audio only)

1-833-311-4101 Canada Toll Free

Password: 7317

Webex Instructions

Agenda

Administrative Report

Minutes (2022-03-15)

 

Area H APC 

Advisory Planning Commission (APC):                                  

Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2022                                                               

Time: 7:00 p.m.                                                                                               

Location: https://rdos.webex.com

Webex meeting number: 2482 914 3741  

Password: RD@S

Join by phone (audio only)

1-833-311-4101 Canada Toll Free

Password: 7317

Webex Instructions

Agenda

Administrative Report

Minutes (2022-03-15)

 

 

Area I APC 

Advisory Planning Commission (APC):                                  

Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022                                                               

Time: 5:30 p.m.                                                                                               

Location: https://rdos.webex.com

Webex meeting number: 2489 073 2916  

Password: RD@S

Join by phone (audio only)

1-833-311-4101 Canada Toll Free

Password: 7317

Webex Instructions

Agenda

Administrative Report

Minutes (2022-03-16)

 

Public Hearing:

Date: TBD

Time: TBD

Location: https://rdos.webex.com

Meeting number: TBD

Password: RD@S

Toll Free: 1-833-311-4101

Notice of Public Hearing

Instructions on participating in and attending 
electronic public hearings can be viewed here: 
Public Hearings

Planning & Development Committee

Administrative Report

Minutes (2022-02-03)

 

Bylaw Introduction (1st & 2nd reading):

Administrative Report

Amendment Bylaw No. 2956

Representations

Minutes (2022-04-07)

 

Public Hearing:

Report

Representations

 

3rd Reading & Adoption:

Administrative Report

Amendment Bylaw No. 2956

Representations

Minutes (2022-05-05)

Contact Us!

For additional information, please contact:
Shannon Duong
Planner 1
sduong@rdos.bc.ca