Housing Needs Reports are a way for communities to better understand their current and future housing needs.
These reports can help identify existing and projected gaps in housing supply by collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative information about local demographics, economics, housing stock, and other factors.
Sidney’s first Housing Needs Report was completed in 2019, following an amendment to the Local Government Act to make the preparation and consideration of a Housing Needs Report mandatory for municipalities in BC. In 2023, the Provincial Government further updated legislation to require an “interim” update of Sidney’s Housing Needs Report by the end of 2024, using the Town’s 2019 report with updated information on Sidney’s anticipated 5 and 20-year housing needs. This interim report will be used to update both the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw starting in 2025 to ensure that these document provide sufficient land for 20 years of future housing needs.
A full update to the Town’s Housing Needs Report is required by the end of 2028, and every five years thereafter, with corresponding updates to the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaws to ensure sufficient housing capacity to respond to future needs.
