The Mayne Island Housing Review Project intends to support the creation of smaller, more affordable housing units to meet the housing needs of the community. The Mayne Island Local Trust Committee (LTC) has been working on expanding flexible housing and increasing options for smaller unit housing and non-market housing to be built in ways that balance housing need with the preservation and protection of the environment on Mayne Island.
What is Flexible Housing Zoning?
Flexible Housing Zoning allows for additional dwelling units on a lot, provided that the combined floor area of all dwellings does not exceed specified limits. A cistern for freshwater catchment and storage is required for each secondary suite, cottage, or additional dwelling. The minimum cistern capacity is 13,640 litres per unit. The number of permitted dwellings and cottages on flexible housing zoned lots are limited by lots size and combined total floor area. This zoning is currently limited to a pilot area on Mayne Island. The proposed expansion is shown on the map.
What is Permitted?
- Lots less than 0.6 hectares (1.5 acres): one secondary suite and one additional dwelling with a maximum combined floor area: 232 m² (2,500 ft²)
- Lots 0.6 to 1.2 hectares (1.5 to 3 acres): two dwellings, one secondary suite, and one cottage with a maximum combined floor area: 325 m² (3,500 ft²)
- Lots 1.2 to 5 hectares (3 to 12.35 acres): three dwellings and one cottage with a maximum combined floor area: 436 m² (4,750 ft²)
What Other Options are Being Considered to Increase Housing Options?
Draft bylaw amendments under consideration include support for:
- Requiring worker housing for significant commercial rezonings
- Increasing permitted units in commercial areas
- Expanding secondary suite permissions
- Expanding opportunity for rezoning for non market housing
- Permitting tiny homes through Temporary Use Permits
- Permitting non-profit housing in most land use designations
- Reducing minimum parcel size to facilitate land donation for affordable housing
- Permitting rezoning for small unit clustered housing in suitable areas
- Requiring freshwater cisterns for all new builds
- Updating potable water requirements for subdivision
- Establishing floor area maximums
Questions?
Contact your Local Trust Committee: MayneIslandLocalTrustCommittee@islandstrust.bc.ca or your Island Planner: nchadwick@islandstrust.bc.ca.
Attend the Community Information Meeting on July 28, 2025 at 1:30 P.M. at the Mayne Island Agricultural Hall. More information here.