The Board for the Regional District of Central Okanagan has given first reading to amendments to a Zoning Bylaw, to ensure short term seasonal accommodations are not being used as full-time permanent residences.
“Up on the reservoir lakes, for example, people have turned sheds into bunkhouses. Down in the Valley we’ve seen lots that are meant for RVs…the RVs are fully skirted in, with decks and all kids of accessories put on there that make these things now full time, and you go out to these properties in the middle of winter and there’s people living there. They’re meant for seasonal use and there’s people living there,” explains Todd Cashin, the District's Director of Community Services.
Over 600 properties fall under the seasonal-use restriction of 1 month maximum stay. There are concerns that some of the areas have limited services in place for long term use. “A lot of these areas, the infrastructure just can’t handle what people are using the land for. In the case of water, if these places are on wells, that can impact the water quantity in a given area, and in terms of septic fields that aren’t designed to proper sizes, that can affect our creeks and of course the lake. A lot of this effluent ends up flowing in ditches and making its way to Okanagan Lake, eventually,” says Cashin.
The zoning adjustments are aimed at areas in more rural areas but would also affect many tourist accommodation businesses that fall under the same zone. Hotel, motel, RV park, BnB and campsites can all expect to see a reminder arriving in the mail soon, detailing what the regulations are.
At this point the District is going the way of the friendly reminder, as opposed to fines. Before any amendments are finalized, a public hearing is expected to be scheduled. Likely near the end of September.