Topic
Housing
Which governments hold powers over housing, and the laws that give them those powers.
Governments covering Bowen Island · About Bowen Island
Each power below comes from a law, agreement or official page, linked under it. This page lists the powers each government holds. It does not say how they are used.
Municipal
Regional
Provincial
Federal
Changes to who holds these powers
Laws and orders, newest first, that changed what the governments covering Bowen Island may decide about housing.
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Limit
BC requires local zoning to allow small-scale multi-unit housing
The Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, 2023 (Bill 44, S.B.C. 2023, c. 45) added section 481.3 to the Local Government Act, and a matching section 565.03 to the Vancouver Charter, requiring municipalities and regional districts to permit more homes in zones limited to single-family houses or duplexes: at least one secondary suite or detached unit, and, within urban containment boundaries or larger municipalities, at least the number of units set by provincial regulation, with a higher number near qualifying bus stops. Zoning bylaws adopted on or after 30 June 2024 must comply. The Act also stops local governments from holding public hearings on certain residential zoning bylaws that are consistent with the official community plan. Section 481.3 was later amended by S.B.C. 2025, c. 26 (in force 27 November 2025); as amended, it requires a local government's zoning bylaw to permit these uses by 30 June 2026.
- Applies to
- Every municipality in British Columbia
ReportSourced · checked : show the source for each fact
Sources for this change
- This change and its date
bclaws.gov.bc.ca
· checked
lims.leg.bc.ca · checked
bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked
No power over housing recorded
Other governments covering Bowen Island. We have no power over housing on record for them. If one holds such a power, tell us.
Other topics
Sources
- bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Description corrected to the governing act, with section references. For: Zoning, land use and development (Bowen Island Municipal Council)
- bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Bowen Island sample power "Zoning and land use" renamed "Zoning, land use and development" and described from the Community Charter / Local Government Act. For: Zoning, land use and development (Bowen Island Municipal Council)
- bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Buildings: Regulates the construction, alteration and demolition of buildings and issues building permits (Community Charter s.8(3)(l)). For: Buildings (Bowen Island Municipal Council)
- bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Regional growth strategy: May adopt a regional growth strategy to coordinate growth, transportation, housing and services across the region (Local Government Act Part 13, ss.428-429). For: Regional growth strategy (Metro Vancouver Regional District Board)
- bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Land use planning in electoral areas: Adopts official community plans and zoning bylaws and issues development permits for land in its electoral areas, except where a local trust committee does this (Local Government Act Part 14). For: Land use planning in electoral areas (Metro Vancouver Regional District Board)
- bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Building regulation: Where it provides the service, regulates construction and issues building permits in electoral areas (Local Government Act s.298). For: Building regulation (Metro Vancouver Regional District Board)
- laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked structure: Constitution Act, 1867, Part VI (ss. 92, 92A, 93, 94A, 95), Justice Laws Website; s. 45 of the Constitution Act, 1982 for amending the provincial constitution. For: Property and civil rights (Legislative Assembly of British Columbia)
- laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Text quoted from the Constitution Acts (Justice Laws Website, current to 2026-09-21). For: Currency and banking (Parliament of Canada)
- bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked BC Laws, Local Government Act Part 14 current text: s. 481.3(2) "a zoning bylaw adopted by a local government must, by June 30, 2026, permit ..."; point-in-time history: s. 481.3 (1) and (2) amended by 2025-26-1(a), effective November 27, 2025 (Royal Assent); read 2026-10-12 For: BC requires local zoning to allow small-scale multi-unit housing (December 7, 2023)
- lims.leg.bc.ca · checked Bill 44 - 2023, Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, 2023, certified as passed Third Reading 29 Nov 2023 (s. 12 adds LGA s. 481.3; Vancouver Charter s. 565.03) For: BC requires local zoning to allow small-scale multi-unit housing (December 7, 2023)
- bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked BC Laws, Local Government Act point-in-time: "481.3 was enacted by 2023-45-12, effective December 7, 2023 (BC Reg 262/2023)" For: BC requires local zoning to allow small-scale multi-unit housing (December 7, 2023)
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