The housing shortage has prompted the Regional District of Nanaimo to suspend enforcement of rules against living in recreational vehicles in campgrounds and recreational and resort-vehicle parks in much of the region.
“The RDN board recognizes we’re in a housing crisis and is committed to taking action to support the creation of housing options in our region’s rural areas,” board chair Vanessa Craig said Friday.
“This action includes ongoing advocacy to the province requesting they review and update legislation needed to support long-term RV and tiny home living as affordable housing options in our region.”
The district board adopted motions this week to suspend enforcement on length of permitted stays in RVs in parks and campgrounds in areas including Cedar, Yellowpoint, Nanaimo Lakes, Nanoose Bay, Coombs, Whiskey Creek, Englishman River, Little Qualicum, Bowser, Qualicum Bay and Deep Bay.
Bylaw enforcement has been suspended for people living in RVs where it's permitted, provided there’s no safety risk and no damage to the environment, sewage is properly managed and there’s no contamination to drinking-water sources.
District rules around the length of time an RV is allowed to stay are unclear and open to interpretation, the board was told by some RV park owners in June.
The suspension of bylaw enforcement will be in place while the district reviews and updates its legislation to provide more clarity, it said.
Future plans include looking at district rules around zoning on parkland, campground regulations and standards, the district said in a Friday statement.
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