Image Credit: CFJC Today

By James Peters

Secondary Suites

Bylaw change could see secondary suites allowed throughout most of Kamloops

May 29, 2019 | 3:34 PM

Bylaw changes that would allow secondary suites in almost all urban areas of Kamloops will go to the public for input.

At Tuesday’s regular meeting, council debated a staff proposal to allow suites in RS-1, RS-4 and RS-5 zones, which cover most of the residential property in Kamloops.

Image Credit: City of Kamloops

Mayor Ken Christian says the intent of the change is to address a rental housing crunch in the city.

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“There’s a shortage of rental accommodation in Kamloops, and in particular as it relates to students for the university,” said Christian. “And with the mortgage stress test now, it’s very difficult, particularly for first-time home buyers, to be able to afford a mortgage. So the potential of having revenue from a secondary suite helps people afford their own accommodation.”

Allowing suites in a wider area throughout the city could impact density, but Christian says that depends on how many people decide to build suites into their homes.

“It would really impact neighbourhoods if there was a large uptake. It remains to be seen how much of an uptake there will be,” said Christian. “Other communities who have gone down this road really haven’t seen that much; it’s more of a slow and steady progression toward secondary suites based on market pressures.”

The City of Kamloops enforces its bylaws around suites largely on a complaint basis. Those complaints typically revolve around noise and parking issues within neighbourhoods, though compliance officers also look into health and safety issues as well as those relating to electrical, fire protection and exits.

Christian notes people with existing suites shouldn’t expect that enforcement regime to change.

“In a perfect world, we would like to have them all registered and have them all up to code,” admitted Christian. “But there’s certainly not going to be any kind of crackdown. I think that would really destabilize the rental market.”

“We will continue to, as we have, respond to complaints that we receive,” Christian continued. “But by and large, what we’re doing is encouraging people to take out the necessary permits and make their suites as safe and as livable as possible.”

The public hearing on these changes is expected in about one month’s time.