Bill 44 in Fernie

🏡 What is Bill 44?

Bill 44 is a provincial law requiring all BC local governments to revise zoning bylaws by June 30, 2024. It mandates:

• Allowing at least one secondary suite or accessory unit on every single-family lot.

• In municipalities over 5,000 people (like Fernie), permitting 3–4 small-scale multi-unit homes (e.g., duplex, triplex, fourplex) in residential zones (Province of British Columbia, The Free Press).

How Fernie Has Implemented Bill 44

The City of Fernie updated its zoning bylaws to comply while preserving neighbourhood character :

• New “RSS – Residential Small‑Scale” zone replaces many existing single-family zones (R‑zones).

• Roughly 4 dwelling units permitted on lots > 280 m²; 3 units on lots between 250–280 m².

• Permitted housing types: single homes, secondary suites, detached suites, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes.

• Height capped at: 10 m for buildings, 8 m near back property lines; 5 m for accessory buildings.

• Parcel coverage up to 50%, with sliding scale based on unit count.

• Reduced parking requirements: 2–5 spaces depending on number of units (https://www.fernie.ca).

Timeline & Process

• April 16, 2024: Draft amendments presented to City Council.

• May 28, 2024: First three readings of the zoning amendment bylaws.

• June 11, 2024 (tentative): Final adoption expected—well before the June 30, 2024 provincial deadline (https://www.fernie.ca).

• No public hearing required, as Bill 44 waives that requirement during compliance-focused updates (https://www.fernie.ca).

Why This Matters

• Affordable housing push: Enables infill, densification, and “gentle density” in existing neighbourhoods using current infrastructure (The Free Press).

• Infrastructure readiness: The city is conducting an "Incremental Build-Out Analysis" to assess impacts on parking, utilities, and services (The Free Press).

• Character protection: Height, coverage, and parking constraints aim to retain the feel of Fernie’s established residential areas (https://www.fernie.ca).

In Summary

Bill 44 has spurred progressive changes in Fernie:

Fernie has met provincial requirements while preserving community character and preparing for future growth. If you'd like guidance on how this impacts homeowners or developers personally, I can help walk through specifics!