City of Rossland wants your views on a new draft zoning bylaw
By City of Rossland
The City of Rossland has released a draft Zoning Bylaw that would update housing and land-use rules to better reflect current community needs and align with provincial housing requirements.
The draft bylaw builds on several years of planning work, including the 2022 Official Community Plan and the 2025 Housing Needs Assessment and Action Plan, and is intended to guide how land is used and how development occurs across the city.
“This draft bylaw plays an important role in shaping how Rossland grows,” says Mayor Andy Morel. “It’s important that residents understand what’s being proposed and have the opportunity to provide input before decisions are finalized.”
Housing affordability and supply are central drivers of the proposed update. Planning work completed over the past several years shows that approximately 77 per cent of Rossland’s housing stock is made up of single‑family homes, which have become increasingly out of reach for many residents.
“We heard clearly that availability and affordability are big challenges,” says Stacey Lightbourne, Manager of Planning and Development. “Rossland needs housing for all kinds of people — not just those who can afford a single-family home.”
Where site conditions allow, the draft bylaw would permit up to four residential units on a single lot, supporting a wider range of “missing middle” housing types such as duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. The changes are intended to reduce reliance on site‑specific rezoning applications and provide clearer, upfront development rules for property owners and neighbours.
Additional proposed changes include updated regulations for secondary suites, including removing size restrictions and allowing suites in duplexes and triplexes; requirements for EV‑ready infrastructure in new multi‑family developments; landscaping standards that support FireSmart principles; and clearer safety requirements for shipping containers used as structures.
“These updates provide more certainty for property owners and bring Rossland’s zoning into closer alignment with provincial housing regulations,” says Lightbourne.
The draft zoning bylaw reflects feedback gathered through a public open house, an online survey, and meetings with builders and developers. Council will consider the draft bylaw for second reading on Tuesday, May 19, followed by a public hearing, scheduled for June 15th.
To review the draft Zoning Bylaw, visit https://www.rossland.ca/zoning. Residents are encouraged to provide feedback by emailing zoning@rossland.ca or calling 250‑362‑7396.
