BC Now allowing rentals on agricultural land

The province is easing restrictions for secondary housing options on properties within BC’s Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), land zoned specifically for agricultural (farming) uses.

Before now, small secondary houses were only allowed on ALR land for use by owners or immediate family members. Now, secondary homes can be used as rental property, for labourers’ accommodation, agritourism, or extended family members, according to the Province of BC.

Additionally, these homes no longer need approval from the Agricultural Land Commission before being built, however, to build they still need approval from local government or First Nations before construction.

These secondary homes can take a “range of forms”, including garden suites, guest houses, and accommodations above an existing building, or construction of a new primary residence if the previous primary residence was a prefabricated home.

The new ALR rules come into effect on December 31st, 2021.?

Information retrieved from: https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/b-c-now-allowing-rental-properties-on-agricultural-land-1.5506175