Maple Ridge, BC: Council has voted to remove the owner occupancy requirement for secondary suites and detached garden suites, paving the way for more housing options for residents while preserving safety and quality of life in neighbourhoods.
Two separate amending bylaws were approved: one eliminates the owner occupancy requirement for secondary and detached garden suites, while the other requires owners of single detached dwellings who rent two or more units on their property to obtain a business licence. As this is a new requirement, the City will be waiving the $500 application review fee for the first year.
As a condition of the licence, property owners must enter into a Good Neighbour Agreement (GNA)
with the City. Under the GNA, owners recognize they are responsible for addressing the conduct
of their tenants and ensuring their property adheres to the City’s maintenance standards. In
addition, the GNA assists the City with suspending or terminating a property owner’s business
licence for continued bylaw violations.
“This decision is another example of Council’s work to implement our Community Social Safety Initiative,” said Mayor Mike Morden. “It expands the local housing continuum in a responsible way by enabling the creation of more rental suites, along with the introduction of accountability measures for property owners to ensure neighbourhoods are kept safe.”
Media contact:
Mick Ramos
604-467-7315
communications@mapleridge.ca