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B.C. to ease restrictions on secondary farm homes 91Ƶ in 2022

Agricultural Land Commission approval won91Ƶt be needed
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A farm tractor and baler sit in a hay field on a misty morning, ready for a day91Ƶs harvest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Guest houses, rooms over the garage or manufactured homes will be allowed without an application to the Agricultural Land Commission under new B.C. regulations set to take effect in 2022.

It91Ƶs the latest move to ease the NDP government91Ƶs farmland restrictions imposed in 2019 that sparked farmer protests. That legislative overhaul removed the rural zone from the Agricultural Land Reserve and cracked down on suburban 91Ƶmega-mansions,91Ƶ secondary residences, on-farm businesses and use of fill on farmland.

A requirement for costly ALC permits for gravelling of roads to keep them passable was withdrawn, and provincial approval for second homes is officially going, after existing mobile homes were 91Ƶgrandfathered91Ƶ last fall with an extension that was set to expire in July. That is extended again until Dec. 31.

The new rules allow for construction of a new principal residence on foundations in addition to a manufactured home that was formerly a principal residence. The regulations will allow 91Ƶgarden suites, guest houses, carriage suites, accommodation above an existing building and manufactured homes,91Ƶ Agriculture Minister Lana Popham announced July 12.

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As of 2022, new secondary accommodation still requires local government approval, with restrictions on the size of secondary houses based on the size of the farm and the existing residence. On a parcel of 40 hectares (98 acres) or smaller with a house 500 square metres (5,400 square feet) or more, no secondary residence will be allowed.

91ƵFarming families will continue to be able to apply to the ALC for multiple, larger homes if they are necessary for farming purposes,91Ƶ the ministry says.

B.C. Liberal agriculture critic Ian Paton said the latest changes correct Popham91Ƶs initial mistakes, as outlined in the protests about financial viability of farms received in a consultation round in September 2020 after restrictions were imposed.

91ƵThen, after they got backlash, they dragged farmers through three years91Ƶ worth of reviews and feedback exercises that destroyed their dreams and cost them precious time and money,91Ƶ Paton said.



tfletcher@blackpress.ca

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