Tool 3 - Zoning and Policy Options Toolkit

Extracted text (beginning)

Islands Trust Housing Options Toolkit, 2025      1 
 
 
 
 
ZONING OPTIONS TO ADDRESS HOUSING NEEDS 
 
OPTION DESCRIPTION 
ZONING  REVIEW OF EXISTING 
Review and amend existing 
land zoned for affordable 
and/or multi-family 
development 
Review all existing lands zoned for affordable, seniors or similar housing and amend the zoning to be less 
zoned 
potential. Housing providers have said that flexibility in form is key (single large building, rowhouses, detached 
cottages, etc) to adapt to changing market and funding conditions during lag between zoning approval and 
construction start. Zoned density should be maintained, but form should be flexible.  
 
Review existing undeveloped 
or under-developed land 
zoned commercial/industrial 
Review existing undeveloped or underdeveloped commercial zones, to potentially permit residential or mixed 
uses. 
 
Review existing definitions to 
remove -
restrictions 
If 
varied through a development variance permit. Such restrictions could be removed from the definitions section 
of the land use bylaw and added to the main body of document so they could be varied. This can enable greater 
flexibility for land owners.  
ZONING  FORM/USE 
 
Secondary Suites  
 
 
Permit secondary suites in some, or all, residential zones or areas of the island. Secondary suites are self-
contained dwelling units that are separated from the principal unit but within the same building, whether 
below, above or adjoined to the principal residence on the side. Some local governments require that 
secondary suites be roughed-in in all new builds. 

 
 
 
Islands Trust Housing Options Toolkit, 2025      2 
 
 
ZONING OPTIONS TO ADDRESS HOUSING NEEDS 
 
OPTION DESCRIPTION 
 
Cottages/Detached Accessory 
Dwelling Units (ADUs)  
Permit secondary Accessory Dwelling Units in some, or all residential zones or areas of the island. An ADU is a 
a stand--time 
residential use.  
Alternative Dwelling Units 
(AltDUs)  
Permit alternative dwelling units that do not presently comply with BC Building Code, such as tiny homes on 
wheels, yurts, and recreational vehicles, as either principal or accessory dwelling units.  
 
LTCs should be aware that regional districts with building permitting authority are unlikely to be supportive of 
such a policy change, and consequently inspection and a permitting of such units may not be possible.  Tiny 
homes on wheels could be permitted where units are constructed to CSA standard for manufactured home, as 
an out-right permitted use, or by temporary use permit.   
 
Single-Family Dwelling 
Variations  
-family zoning or multi-family. These 
include duplexes, rooming houses, boarding houses and flex housing.
1
 LTCs may wish to consider supporting 
these forms in zoning.  
Manufactured / Tiny Home / 
RV Communities  
Zone suitable land for a serviced manufactured home, tiny homes on wheels, or residential RV community. 
Clustering these types of units can resolve issues with septic, potable water and provide

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