Overview
Housing Needs Reports are a way for communities to better understand their current and future housing needs. These reports can help identify existing and projected gaps in housing supply by collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative information about local demographics, economics, housing stock, and other factors. A housing needs report is critical to developing a housing strategy or action plan. Learn more about the legislation and background of housing needs reports through BC Government's Website.
All local governments are required to complete an Interim Housing Needs Report by January 1, 2025. The Interim Housing Needs Report must only include three new, additional items:
- The number of housing units required to meet current and anticipated need for the next 5 and 20 years, as calculated using the HNR Method provided in the Regulation;
- A statement about the need for housing in close proximity to transportation infrastructure that supports walking, bicycling, public transit or other alternative forms of transportation; and,
- A description of the actions taken by the local government, since receiving the most recent Housing Needs Report, to reduce housing needs.
As official community plans are reviewed and updated, the CRD will consider the recommendations of housing needs reports and the implications they have on how we plan communities, neighbourhoods, and developments in rural areas. As OCPs are updated and amended, they will also need to accommodate the number of units identified by a housing needs report to ensure that planned land uses and projected housing needs are aligned. The types of land use regulations we may consider are set out under Part 14 of the Local Government Act and include land use designation, policy statements and objectives, development regulations, and various form, character, and use requirements.
