Key insights:

Nuutsumuut Lelum is located on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo, BC.

The Island Urban Indigenous Wellness Society (formerly Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre) is a not-for-profit organization with a focus on early childhood development, prevention, collaboration, and Culture. They acknowledge the critical importance of supporting Indigenous communities with healthy development in the early years.

Led by the Island Urban Indigenous Wellness Society, Nuutsumuut Lelum is a 25-unit affordable housing project emerged from a two-year collaboration with government agencies and community organizations.

As this Small Housing Stories of Practice report outlines, beyond providing safe and culturally appropriate housing for Urban Indigenous Youth, Elders, and families, Nuutsumuut Lelum embodies a commitment to environmental, social, and cultural sustainability. Built to the rigorous Passive House standard, it harmonizes energy efficiency with Indigenous values, creating dignified homes where community members thrive.

Explore the transformative journey from concept to reality as Nuutsumuut Lelum continues to foster unity and celebration since its inauguration in June 2018.

Key insights:

LíÌwat Nation’s vision for a strong and united community is embodied in their Housing Plan (2018-2033). Focused on preserving rights, language, culture, and traditions, the plan aims to provide safe, secure, and affordable housing. Identifying a need for 170 new units by 2033, the Nation has consistently built 10 to 12 houses annually, prioritizing multiplexes like duplexes and rowhouses.

As this Small Housing Stories of Practice report documents, beyond construction, LíÌwat Nation actively supports citizens in accessing financing for home renovations and purchases, fostering a thriving community where residents can fish, hunt, gather, create, grow, work, and live together harmoniously.

Explore the narrative of this impactful housing initiative, from its inception to tangible outcomes and future aspirations.

In the fall of 2023, the Province of British Columbia introduced changes to the Local Government Act and Vancouver Charter (VC) to allow more small-scale, multi-unit housing in land use zones that are otherwise restricted to single-family dwellings or duplexes.

This policy manual aims to support local governments in amending their local zoning bylaws and associated legislation to allow for small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH) in traditionally single-family zoned areas as per recent requirements mandated by the Province of BC.

Key insights:

The manual provides:

• An overview of the new SSMUH legislative requirements and implementation timelines for municipalities to come into compliance
• Best practices for updating zoning bylaws, guidance on related policies that may need to be updated (including housing tenure options, estimating potential increases in density, and planning for increased demand on municipal infrastructure and services)
• Sample site standards that local governments can use to update their zoning bylaws to allow for financially viable ADU and 3-6 unit housing developments.

This report from the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, part of UC Berkeley, highlights barriers faced by developers working in states that have enabled multiple units to be built on traditionally single-family zoned lots.

Key insights:

The report details that Middle Housing delivers many benefits to communities:

• Increases racial equity in housing and neighbourhood access
• Providesentry-level homeownership opportunities
• Creates lower greenhouse gas emissions per household).

The following developer challenges are highlighted:

• Design requirements need to be flexible/supportive of missing middle housing;
• Larger projects of 8-12 units need to be permitted to make projects financially viable; that complicated utility and subdivision rules deter small-scale development;
• Approval timelines need to be more efficient; and that there is currently a lack of traditional financing tools to create a funding package for projects.

Key recommendations:

• Introducing development code changes beyond zoning reforms, including updating design requirements and assessing current impact fees and utility requirements
• Allocate dedicated resources to streamline permitting and approval processes
• Considering more ambitious land use changes, such as increasing the maximum units that can be developed per lot, to help foster increased missing middle housing development.

The BC Government’s dedicated web page aimed at providing information to prospective homeowners interested in building and managing a secondary suite or ADU property.

Key insights:

• This page has information for homeowners interested in building and managing a secondary suite or ADU, including a guide and information about the new BC Housing secondary suite incentive program (accepting applications April 2024).

• It provides FAQs & responses on secondary suite and an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) are
• Articulates some of their benefits to homeowners (e.g., to provide multi-generational living opportunities and provide additional household income).

Further to this, the page links to Home Suite Home, a guide created by the province which details:

• Local zoning and building code requirements
• Guides homeowners through how to obtain a building permit, notes the rights and responsibilities of becoming a landlord, and provides information on where to find and hire professionals to develop a secondary suite.

Additionally, information is provided on the new Secondary Suite Incentive Program, which will give conditional financing to eligible homeowners to construct affordable attached or detached rental units.

This Terner Center Brief reflects on municipal planner’s experience with the new suite of laws that have been enacted since 2016 to spur housing development in California.

Key insights:

The brief provides an overview of new planning, zoning and permitting legislation in the State of California since 2017, including:

• The introduction of higher municipal housing targets
• Requirements to rezone exclusionary neighbourhoods
• Infill supportive legislation including density bonuses and policies enabling ADU development.

This insightful brief from the Terner Center for Housing Innovation was crafted by Bill Fulton, Terner Fellow; David Garcia, Policy Director; Ben Metcalf, Managing Director; Carolina Reid, Faculty Research Advisor; and Truman Braslaw, Graduate Student Researcher.

This report from BC Housing explores the tiny home typology and explores ways to regulate and legalize this built form within the context of BC.

The report provides sample cost estimates for building tiny homes, highlights opportunities (including build time and environmental impacts) and challenges (including building code and standard compliance) and discusses potential home warranty solutions.

The bulk of the resource features BC and North American case studies that delve into project details such as construction timelines, project financing, and lessons learned.

This report was compiled and crafted by the research and writing team of Anastasia Koutalianos, Writer and Co-founder BC Tiny House Collective; Christina Radvak, Project Manager at Light House; Joanne Sawatzky, Director of Green Building Services at Light House; and Sarah Jones, Project Coordinator at Light House.

Discover the benefits and challenges of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in small to medium-sized communities in insights from BC Housing.

Key Insights:

Explore the advantages of both attached and detached ADUs, addressing housing shortages and enhancing community vibrancy. Uncover the challenges, including costs and applicability on small lots, that equip small communities with the knowledge to unlock ADU potential for sustainable and affordable housing solutions.

Overcoming Hurdles:

Navigate zoning restrictions and tackle issues like parking and infrastructure. The report provides strategies for effective regulatory and building barrier management.

Best Practices:

The guide concludes with actionable best practices, complemented by implementation options and local case studies, offering practical guidance for communities in areas including:

• Expand Conditions: Permit ADUs by expanding conditions.
• Relax Parking Standards: Achieve positive outcomes by relaxing parking standards.
• Streamline Permitting: Optimize resources with streamlined permitting processes.
• Waive or Discount Fees: Encourage development by waiving or discounting fees.

For more information on BC Housing, head to their homepage.

Research and writing team:

• Ray Tomalty – Smart Cities Research Services
• Dan Wilson – WCS Engagement+ Planning
• Cheeying Ho – WCS Engagement+ Planning
• Devarsh Bhonde – Research Support

Key topics explored:

Accessory Dwelling Units; ADU benefit & risks; Conditions supporting ADUs; Common Barriers; ADU Strategies and Practices

Date published: 2021

This report from Casita Coalition delves into key strategies and insights from both developer and municipal planner perspectives in advancing equity strategies as ADUs gain popularity and ease of construction across California.

Exploring Promising Practices for Equality in Housing Development

In the effort to promote equality and increase accessibility to housing options, municipal workers and housing developers are turning to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as a potential solution. This report from Casita Coalition delves into key strategies and insights from both developer and municipal planner perspectives to advance equity as ADUs gain popularity and ease of construction across California.

Overcoming Challenges & Equity Barriers to Ensure Equal Access to ADUs

Addressing equity barriers is crucial to fostering inclusivity in ADU development. This section examines the common hurdles, including a lack of reliable information, permitting challenges, upfront costs, and homeowner concerns about assuming the role of landlord.

Written for Casita Coalition by Lin Chin of Ground Works Consulting, with support from Jennifer Duffy of Hello Housing, Renee Schomp of Napa Sonoma ADU Center, and Miriam Zuk and Saneta deVuono-powell of Ground Works Consulting.