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VANCOUVER – The Government of British Columbia’s small-scale multi-unit housing legislation has been adopted by nearly 90 per cent of the province’s communities, a release said.

The legislation, intended to change zoning rules and create more row homes, triplexes and townhouses has been adopted into local bylaws or will soon be adopted.

Out of 188 local governments in B.C., 162 have adopted the small-scale multi-unit legislation by passing local bylaws, with another nine communities actively working to adopt the legislation.

“People expect governments to work together to tackle the housing crisis and provide more homes for people. We are encouraged that the vast majority of local governments have worked hard to adopt much-needed provincial legislation to fix old zoning rules and deliver the types of homes that people need,” provincial Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon said in a statement.

Local governments were required to make changes to zoning bylaws by June 30 to allow either a minimum of one secondary suite or detached accessory dwelling unit, a minimum of three to four dwelling units or a minimum of six dwelling units in areas near bus stops with frequent transit service depending on location, the release said.

Fifteen communities have requested a formal extension on adopting the legislation beyond the deadline and those requests are reviewed by the provincial government.

Two communities, the District of Wells and the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, have been granted an extension due to recent or current impacts of wildfire and evacuation orders.

The District of West Vancouver rejected passing bylaw amendments and is currently not in compliance with small-scale multi-unit housing legislation, the release said. It has been sent a 30-day non-compliance notice. At the end of that 30 days, a ministerial order could be issued.