Squamish looks to close zoning gap on ‘co-living’ housing

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A staff report going before tomorrow’s March 24 District of Squamish council meeting proposes a formal definition for ‘co-living’ housing, that has so far existed in a regulatory grey zone under Squamish’s zoning bylaw.

In the report, staff define co-living as a form of long-term accommodation where multiple individuals each rent a private sleeping unit within a shared dwelling. Residents share common kitchens, dining areas, and living spaces, and stays must be at least 90 days. Private sleeping units can include a bathroom but, couldn’t have a kitchen sink or cooking facilities under the proposed definition.

Unlike a typical home where bedrooms make up roughly a quarter of the floor area, co-living developments dedicate the majority of their space to sleeping units, the report notes this is typically around 70 to 80 percent of the floor area.

The staff report notes that while it is not explicitly marked as “affordable housing,”  the co-living model generally results in lower costs than conventional rentals.

Under the proposal, co-living would be permitted in three residential zones (R-1, R-4, and R-5) and would be subject to conditions including a cap of six sleeping units per dwelling, minimum shared amenity space, bicycle parking, and a requirement to hold a valid District business licence.

The District currently has two co-living projects operating as duplexes, which staff say have generated few complaints and appear to fit well within their neighbourhoods.

Community members will have an opportunity to weigh in through a public survey on the District’s Let’s Talk Squamish platform following tomorrow’s meeting.