Path for tiny homes may open in Thompson-Nicola regional district

Rural living in the Kamloops area could get a lot smaller as the regional district considers a policy to allow tiny homes.

It’s a change in direction at the Thompson-Nicola regional district, which has previously only allowed tiny homes on a temporary basis and taken enforcement action on those without three-year permits.

But the policy wouldn’t come without strings attached.

According to a staff report, the small houses can only be secondary homes and must be approved to a manufactured home standard, ruling out tiny homes on wheels.

If adopted, it would allow for more people to live on the same property, but it isn’t proposed to allow for tiny homes as the sole house on a property.

The report also noted the regional district allows secondary homes on large residential properties, but it would now include those that are four hectares or smaller.

The updates come after the provincial government’s sweeping updates to housing legislation through Bill 44, which allows for more density in across BC.

Rural directors will be asked for input at a May 14 meeting, then Interior Health will be consulted before it returns to the regional district board for consideration.