100 signatures reached
To: Mayoral and Council candidates in Victoria, BC
Support Tiny Houses ~ Victoria, BC
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We want mayoral and council candidates to:
1. Include tiny houses as part of their housing platforms in the upcoming municipal election (October 2018).
2. Once elected, work with BC Tiny House Collective (BCTHC) or local tiny house advocacy groups to implement a tiny home pilot project, to showcase and further explore how tiny homes can be incorporated into the community.
3. Once elected, work to legalize tiny houses by supporting amendments to the BC Building Code and local Building Bylaws, as well as the development of CSA standards specific to mobile tiny houses, as part of the municipal strategies for affordable and sustainable housing options.
4. Once elected, work to legalize tiny houses by introducing a motion to council advocating for the potential of adding a new zoning for mobile tiny homes in Victoria.
Why is this important?
As Victoria's housing crisis continues, communities and residents are exploring innovative housing solutions to meet their diverse needs. For many, tiny houses on wheels offer an affordable, sustainable, safe and dignified housing option.
However, mobile tiny houses are not legally allowed as residential units in most municipalities across BC, including Victoria. People who want to go tiny are being denied this housing option, or else living illegally and insecurely in mobile units.
On October 20 2018, residents will vote for new mayors and councils across BC. This is a perfect time to tell our elected officials that we need access to housing that is truly affordable, sustainable, and conducive to long-term health of our communities.
Around the world, tiny houses are gaining in popularity as an alternative model of affordable and sustainable housing for diverse populations. In growing urban centres, vacant, irregular or undeveloped lots could accommodate temporary tiny houses as a means of gentle densification.
Tiny houses could also be used as small-scale infill housing to fit within residential neighbourhood contexts, or as laneway alternatives on single-family residentially zoned lots, creating space for intergenerational living.
Zoning bylaws and building codes need to be updated to reduce barriers to alternative living. Housing options along the entire housing continuum should be discussed as part of any affordable housing strategy. Including tiny homes in election campaigns and later in zoning regulation changes is an important step towards creating room for innovative and creative solutions driven by the community.
If enough people sign this petition, we’ll be able to convince mayoral and council candidates in Victoria to include mobile tiny houses in their election platforms this October and, when elected, to work on legalizing tiny houses by creating municipal zoning for mobile tiny houses and supporting tiny house amendments to the BC building code.