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By Liam Verster

RVs on ALR

RVs could be used for housing on agricultural land: City of Vernon report

Nov 27, 2023 | 5:00 AM

A change may be coming to permit recreational vehicles as a third residential unit on agricultural land.

At its meeting Nov. 6, Vernon City Council directed staff to investigate the feasibility of permitting RVs as residential units on properties designated as Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR).

A report to council that will be presented at the Nov. 27 meeting recommended council direct administration to draft bylaw amendments allowing the ALR use regulations to govern all residential uses on ALR lands, including primary dwellings, secondary suites, accessory dwellings and accessory buildings.

In 2021, the province introduced legislation to enhance housing flexibility within the ALR, with the goal of supporting both farmers and non-farmers in sustaining their families and businesses that allowed property owners use of RVs as residential units on their property, subject to the size of the principle dwelling and the property.

The report recommends the city choose not to impose further regulations on residential uses beyond those outlined in the aforementioned provincial legislation, which would result in bylaws being amended to permit RVs act as dwellings on ALR.

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The staff report also recommended council direct staff to establish regulations to align the implementation of accessory dwelling units with the Okanagan Basin Water Board’s 1.0 hectare policy.

This policy mandates that grant recipients have bylaws restricting additional dwelling units on properties smaller than 1.0 hectare using on-site sewage disposal. Non-compliance would affect eligibility for infrastructure funding.

Though staff recommend permitting the RVs on ALR properties, there are also two other options.

Council choose to permit the use of RVs on agricultural lands with additional regulations to ensure there is not unregulated use or multiple RVs parked on one lot.

The third option would be to prohibit the use of RVs as a dwelling on ALR all together.

Council will receive the report and discuss the matter at the regular meeting Monday, Nov. 27.