Housing

Over the last decade, the housing market in the District of Sooke (the District) and the Capital Regional District has seen remarkable changes; homeownership prices have increased dramatically and the availability of rental housing in Sooke is very low. The District is experiencing the pressures of growth; specifically, in residential development. To help ensure that the District is meeting the needs of the community a comprehensive and holistic Housing Needs Report (HNR) was required. A HNR is a means for the District to better understand the current and future housing needs. The report provides an overview of the District’s current housing availability, suitability, and affordability across the entire housing continuum from basic shelter to the availability of high-end real estate.

In early 2019, the Province made these reports a requirement and inserted the legislation into The Local Government Act. The District completed its first HNR in 2019. In 2023, the Province legislated changes to the Local Government Act through Bill 44: Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, 2023, which outlined new requirements for HNRs, including prescribing a standard method for calculating housing need, and a pro-active planning approach. In summary, the legislation requires municipalities in British Columbia to:

• Complete an ‘Interim’ Housing Needs Report by January 1, 2025, using a standardized ‘HNR Method’;
• Complete a Regular Housing Needs Report by December 31, 2028, and every 5-years thereafter using a standardized methodology; and
• Update Official Community Plans and Zoning Bylaws to accommodate 20-year housing need by December 31, 2025, based on the Interim HNR and following the completion of each Regular HNR.

The changes standardize data collection methods across the province and ensure HNRs are considered in updates to Official Community Plans and Zoning Bylaws to pro-actively address housing need. The associated dates for completion of the first Regular HNR aligns with the next Canadian Census cycle (in 2026) and requirements to complete HNRs every five years will continue to align with this cycle ensuring the most up to date data is utilized. Visit the Provincial Housing Needs Report website to learn more.

On November 12, 2024, District of Sooke Council accepted the Interim Housing Needs Report as an appendix to the 2019 HNR. The interim report is considered supplementary to the 2019 report and includes the following content as required by the legislation:

• The number of units needed currently and over the next 5- and 20- years, calculated using the HNR Method, provided in the provincial Regulations;
• A statement about the need for housing in close proximity to transportation infrastructure that supports walking, bicycling, public transit, or other forms of transportation; and
• A description of actions taken by the local government since receiving the most recent housing needs report to reduce housing need.

Sooke’s 5- and 20- year housing need, determined by the Interim HNR, is illustrated below.

The Interim HNR (attached as an appendix to the 2019 report) does not include updated detailed analysis of housing need based on type or tenure, or take into consideration affordability considerations and is intended to simply illustrate supply of overall units needed. Reporting through the Districts Regular HNR by 2028 will offer further insight and analysis into housing need in Sooke. In the meantime, the detailed information in the 2019 HNR and 2024 Interim HNR appendix will supplement one another to offer insight into the Districts housing needs.

Next Steps

Development Proposals – The Housing Needs Report will be used to identify specific gaps in the housing supply that need to be filled and the District will work with developers and non-profit housing providers to deliver this supply to the market.

Official Community Plan & Zoning Bylaw – As good housing policies and sustainable land-use practices are a critical part of every community, the Interim HNR will be used to update the upcoming OCP as required by legislation to accommodate the identified 20- year housing need and ensure policies related to housing align with the HNR.

Ongoing Monitoring of Housing Supply – The Province requires that a ‘Regular’ Housing Needs Report must be completed by December 31, 2028, and every 5 years thereafter. This will allow the District to periodically check in with housing supply and demand in the community, undertake a review of policies and best practices and adjust the District’s response accordingly. The Housing Needs Report sets targets for certain types of housing needed in the community. As development occurs the District can track the delivery of these units.

Contact Information

If you have any questions or would like more information please contact:

Planning Department 
planning@sooke.ca 
250-642-1634