The Islands Trust Council has declared that a housing equity and workforce shortage crisis exists on many of the islands within the Islands Trust Area. Strengthening housing affordability is an Islands Trust Council priority.
The Islands Trust Council is currently reviewing its Policy Statement to determine if there is a need to update or add policies about housing. See Islands 2050 for information on how to get involved.
Housing Strategic Action Plan
At its meeting on December 5, 2023, Islands Trust Council endorsed a Housing Strategic Action Plan to guide Trust-wide housing policy development and advocacy that supports Trust Council’s goal to sustain island character and healthy communities. The Housing Strategic Action Plan provides a framework to guide decision-making and allocate resources to help resolve the housing equity and workforce shortage crisis in the Islands Trust Area.
The Islands Trust Housing Strategic Action Plan is available here.
Housing Options Toolkit
This Housing Toolkit supports housing-related and land use planning projects to better address the need for housing options by providing trustees, planning staff, and community groups with structured implementation resources. The toolkit is not a finished product, but rather a living document to which new resources can be added as gaps are identified and solutions developed.
Read the full introductory summary here, or download the complete Housing Option Toolkit here.
Tool 1 - Model Project Work Plan
Tool 2 - Housing Discussion Paper Guidelines
Tool 3 - Zoning and Policy Options Table
Tool 4 - Potential Suitable Land Analysis
Publication date to be confirmed.
Tool 5 - Potential Build-Out Analysis
Tool 6 - Housing Action Plan Template
Tool 7 - Annotated Bibliography of Housing Reports
Full reports (from the annotated bibliography) are available further down this page under Housing Reports and Resources.”
Tool 8 - Baseline Report, Affordable Housing in the Trust Area
Tool 9 - Housing Affordability Profiles
Tool 10 - Roles and Responsibilities
Housing Reports and Resources
Housing affordability in the Gulf Islands was identified as a community concern as early as 1994. The document inventory below is a collection of reports and other resources about housing – both affordable and market – authored by, commissioned by, or applying to, the Islands Trust since then. They are summarized in an annotated bibliography available here.
Trust Wide
- Tiny Homes On Wheels Enablement Project AVICC Presentation – 2025
- Tiny Homes On Wheels Enablement Project Final Report – 2025
- Affordable Housing in the Islands Trust Area – Baseline Report – 2019
- Community Housing Needs – 2019
- Community Housing in the Trust Area – Final Report – 2016
- Affordable and Special Needs Housing – Application Guide – 2011
- Islands Trust Community Housing “Tool Kit” – 2010
- Seniors Housing Strategy – Technical Analysis -2010
- Seniors Housing Strategy – A Seniors Housing Strategy for Island and Rural Communities in British Columbia – 2010
- Options for Affordable Housing: New Solutions to the Housing Crisis in the Islands Trust Area – 2003
Housing Needs Assessments
- Islands Trust Housing Needs Assessment 2025
- Capital Regional District Housing Needs Assessment – Salt Spring Island – 2020
- Housing Needs Report – Bowen Island – 2020
- Southern Gulf Islands Housing Needs Assessment – Phase 2 – Community Consultations (draft) – 2018
- Housing Needs Assessment: Northern Region of Islands Trust – 2018
- Southern Gulf Islands Housing Needs Assessment – 2018
- Islands Trust Housing Needs Assessment – Phase 2 – 2009
- Gabriola Island Affordable Housing Needs Assessment – 2009
- Islands Trust Housing Needs Assessment – Phase 1 -2008
- Housing Needs on Hornby and Denman Island – Final Report – 2008
Navigating Development for Housing
Navigating Development for Housing in the Islands Trust Area
Each Local Trust Area’s (LTA) bylaws may permit a number of housing options beyond a detached house, including secondary suites, cottages, accessory dwelling units, and flexible housing options. The options vary depending on the island, different zones, and lot size. Developing land with housing within the Islands Trust Area involves navigating the regulatory process and requires careful planning, collaboration with professionals, agencies, and if applicable, First Nations, and an understanding of both the general and site specific regulatory framework to ensure successful project outcomes.
When owners are considering developing on their lot, owners should consider what typical and alternative housing options are available in their the Local Trust Area and what each agency regulates. Property owners are encouraged by Islands Trust to consult with professionals and relevant agencies early in the planning process to ensure compliance with regulations and requirements and to foster respectful and inclusive development practices.
More about the regional districts in the Trust Area here.
Southern Gulf Islands
North Pender Island
Mayne Island
Galiano Island
Bowen Island Municipality
Hornby Island
Denman Island
- Denman Island Housing Advisory Planning Commission Final Recommendations Report -2023
- Denman Island Housing Review – 2023
- Basic Housing Information – Denman Island – 2023
- Affordable Housing for Seniors on Denman Island – 2014
- Rural Affordable Housing Project – 2013
- Affordable and Convenient Housing Needs on Denman Island – 2013
- Accessory Dwelling Unit Committee – Final Report – 2002-2003
Gabriola Island
Salt Spring Island
- Homes for Islanders: An Integrated Housing Solutions Framework for Salt Spring Island – 2023
- Salt Spring island Housing Action Program Task Force – Summary of Recommendations – 2022
- Salt Spring Island Climate Action Plan – 2021
- Population, Housing, and Settlement Patterns – Official Community Plan Focus Group (Preliminary Policy Proposals) – 2021
- Housing Working Group Report – 2020
- Salt Spring Island Community Affordable Housing Strategy – Action Plan – 2011
- Community Housing Background Report and Recommendations – 2005
- Crisis in Paradise: Accelerating the Provision of Affordable Housing on Salt Spring Island B.C. – 2002
- Islands Trust Task Force on Housing and Accommodation – Draft Report – 1994
BC Government Housing Guides
Local Housing Affordability Initiatives
Local trust committees and Bowen Island Municipality may have active projects related to affordable housing underway. Learn more on their webpages.
Navigating Development for Housing
Each Local Trust Area’s (LTA) bylaws may permit a number of housing options beyond a detached house, including secondary suites, cottages, accessory dwelling units, and flexible housing options. The options vary depending on the island, different zones, and lot size. Developing land with housing within the Islands Trust Area involves navigating the regulatory process and requires careful planning, collaboration with professionals, agencies, and if applicable, First Nations, and an understanding of both the general and site specific regulatory framework to ensure successful project outcomes.
When owners are considering developing on their lot, owners should consider what typical and alternative housing options are available in their the Local Trust Area and what each agency regulates. Property owners are encouraged by Islands Trust to consult with professionals and relevant agencies early in the planning process to ensure compliance with regulations and requirements and to foster respectful and inclusive development practices.
Read more about navigating development in the Trust Area here.
Developing Affordable and Special Needs Housing
Affordable or Special Needs Housing
If you’re interested in developing affordable or special needs housing, it’s important to understand approval processes and the roles of different levels of government and community organizations.
Before you start the process, read our Affordable and Special Needs Application Guide (57KB).
Housing Agreements
A housing agreement is a legal agreement between property owners—usually the organization(s) or society developing the housing—and the local trust committee. A housing agreement will almost always be a condition of an application for affordable housing. The agreement is adopted by bylaw and establishes terms such as:
- Tenant or owner eligibility, usually based on income or other standards
- Rental rates
- Allowable rent increases, if applicable
- The amount a unit can be sold for, if applicable
Each year, the Islands Trust reviews its housing agreements to ensure the terms are being upheld. You can view Islands Trust housing agreements by clicking below on the community where the housing agreement exists:
- Denman Island Housing Agreements
- Galiano Island Housing Agreements
- Salt Spring Island Housing Agreements
- Bowen Island Municipality has several housing agreements: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/housing-agreement-bylaws
Make a Housing Agreement Application
The Islands Trust Guide to Housing Agreements (649KB) provides information about the process of establishing a housing agreement.