The island

Denman letters dispute secondary homes on ALR land

Two submissions recorded in May put forward different views on secondary dwellings and housing on Denman’s Agricultural Land Reserve land.

The Denman Firestarter · reporting 2022-09-22 · compiled 2026-10-01

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A petition presented to the Denman Island Local Trust Committee asked for bylaws to align with provincial rules allowing secondary dwellings on all Agricultural Land Reserve lands, without additional restrictions on year-round dwellings, and to prevent their use as short-term rentals. ^[1]

The May 31 minutes say the petition was signed by hundreds of Denman residents and non-resident property owners. Its presenter asked the committee to make changes to support secure housing for Denman residents. ^[1]

At a July meeting on the Farm Regulations Review Project, committee members discussed community support for additional water and septic requirements for secondary dwellings on ALR properties. The minutes also record questions about whether rental housing or affordability restrictions could be required; staff said zoning could not require affordable rent without housing agreements. ^[2]

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