Housing Needs Report Update

The 2024 Regional Housing Needs Report (HNR) Update was presented to Council at its meeting of February 11, 2025:

• Housing Needs Report Update (2024)
• PowerPoint Presentation to Council 

OVERVIEW
The Town of Osoyoos is currently collaborating with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, City of Penticton and Village of Keremeos to update its 2020 Housing Needs Report (HNR) in order to comply with provincial legislative requirements.

BACKGROUND
On April 16, 2019, Bill 18 - 2018 came into effect, which amended the Local Government Act (LGA) to require all local governments in B.C. to complete Housing Needs Reports by April 2022, and every five years thereafter.

Housing Needs Reports act as an important supporting document in informing land use planning by providing key information relating to the current and future housing needs within a community.

In 2020, the Town completed its initial Housing Needs Report, which can be accessed here: https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/102106/ 

On November 30, 2023, the provincial Legislature adopted Bill 44 (Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, 2023) which amended the Local Government Act (the “Act”) in order to facilitate the delivery of “more small-scale, multi-unit housing for people, including townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes, and fix outdated zoning rules to help build more homes faster.” 

While a number of the amendments introduced as part of Bill 44 related to the establishment of new density requirements, additional amendments included new requirements for local governments to:

• consider their most recent housing needs reports when developing and amending their Official Community Plans; 
• ensure that their zoning bylaws permit the use and density of use necessary to accommodate the 20-year total number of housing units required to meet anticipated housing needs as per their most recent housing needs report; and,
• complete an interim report on housing needs, in a manner prescribed in the Local Government Act, by January 1, 2025.

In addition to the previous requirements for completing housing needs reports, interim housing needs reports must include three new items:

• the total number of housing units, as calculated in accordance with prescribed methodology, required in order to meet the anticipated housing needs of the local government for the next 5 years and 20 years;
• a description of the actions taken by Council, since receiving the most recent housing needs report, to reduce housing needs; and,
• a statement with respect to the need for housing in close proximity to transportation infrastructure that supports walking, bicycling, public transit or other alternative forms of transportation.

The Town is required to update its Official Community Plan and Zoning bylaws by December 31, 2025 in order to adequately accommodate the number of units identified in their interim housing needs reports.

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
While engagement opportunities for the 2024 Regional Housing Needs Report Update closed on September 26, 2024.

Click here to view the information release.

CONTACT US!
Contact Planning and Development Services: plan@osoyoos.ca