Regional Housing strategy

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Consultation has concluded

Regional Housing Strategy update

The Strategy is currently in Stage 5 - Final Strategy Development

The objectives of the Regional Housing Strategy have been built out through a comprehensive engagement process with the public, stakeholders, local government, and First Nations. With that basis, it is intended that the recommendations and actions for each objective in the Strategy will provide the opportunity and tools for local governments and First Nations to maintain autonomy while collaboratively addressing housing challenges.

Get Involved

The Draft Strategy is now available.

The Draft Strategy has been completed and is now available for feedback!

This Strategy encompasses the input of over 800 residents who participated by providing their insight.

Draft Recommendations include:

  • Strengthen coordination between RDCO electoral areas, member municipalities and First Nations.
  • Coordinate a regional housing advocacy strategy aligned with Provincial and Federal housing policy to approach higher levels of senior government for additional Central Okanagan resources and support.
  • Strengthen mechanisms for information sharing and partnership with First Nations, local governments and non-profit housing providers.
  • Develop regional best practices to regulate and protect rental housing stock and facilitate the development of affordable housing.
  • Regionally assess policy and development processes to build staff capacity, identify opportunities for policy coordination and streamline approvals with senior government.

Please provide your feedback to planning@rdco.com by June 12, 2022.


Summary and findings in a story map

This presentation was provided to the Regional Board as an update on March, 17. In this GIS story map, you can scroll through the research and findings, as well as seeing housing types shown by community on the maps. Zoom in by clicking on any map.

Regional Housing Strategy findings

Community survey

To ensure that this strategy is representative of those living in our communities, community members were invited to participate in the Regional Housing Strategy by completing the community survey. Over 700 people answered the call.

The survey encouraged participants to share their experiences with housing in the region and provide input on housing needs and objectives that will guide development of the strategy. The community survey closed March 7 and results are expected shortly.

Note: To reduce question redundancy and better understand residents’ needs, this survey also included questions relating to the RDCO’s Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness Strategy (COPAWS) .

About the Regional Housing Strategy

The RDCO is developing a Regional Housing Strategy (RHS) to explore tools and actions that can address housing issues, needs and gaps throughout the Central Okanagan.

The objective is to develop a regional approach moving forward to address challenges around affordability, supply, and supportive housing across the region and to improve coordinated action. The RHS will focus on the regional district as a whole to identify a range of actions at the local level, specific to non-market and market housing. The area covered includes two electoral areas, District of Peachland, City of West Kelowna, City of Kelowna, District of Lake Country, Westbank First Nation, and Okanagan Indian Band.

The Central Okanagan is one of the fastest growing regions in the province. Housing gaps exist at all levels across the housing spectrum due to a lack of suitable and affordable housing to meet local needs. These factors include high construction costs, aging housing stock, historically low rental vacancy rate, short-stay accommodation, an increase in demand, and a growing gap between what households can afford and the average cost of renting or entering home ownership.

Collaborative effort is required throughout all levels of government, the housing industry, community groups, and organizations to confront challenges within the region.

Stay up to date on this project

  • If you would like to receive updates on this project, please sign up for email updates using the Stay Informed / Subscribe widget on the right side of this page.
  • You'll get notices sent to your inbox as we move through the project timeline

Regional Housing Strategy update

The Strategy is currently in Stage 5 - Final Strategy Development

The objectives of the Regional Housing Strategy have been built out through a comprehensive engagement process with the public, stakeholders, local government, and First Nations. With that basis, it is intended that the recommendations and actions for each objective in the Strategy will provide the opportunity and tools for local governments and First Nations to maintain autonomy while collaboratively addressing housing challenges.

Get Involved

The Draft Strategy is now available.

The Draft Strategy has been completed and is now available for feedback!

This Strategy encompasses the input of over 800 residents who participated by providing their insight.

Draft Recommendations include:

  • Strengthen coordination between RDCO electoral areas, member municipalities and First Nations.
  • Coordinate a regional housing advocacy strategy aligned with Provincial and Federal housing policy to approach higher levels of senior government for additional Central Okanagan resources and support.
  • Strengthen mechanisms for information sharing and partnership with First Nations, local governments and non-profit housing providers.
  • Develop regional best practices to regulate and protect rental housing stock and facilitate the development of affordable housing.
  • Regionally assess policy and development processes to build staff capacity, identify opportunities for policy coordination and streamline approvals with senior government.

Please provide your feedback to planning@rdco.com by June 12, 2022.


Summary and findings in a story map

This presentation was provided to the Regional Board as an update on March, 17. In this GIS story map, you can scroll through the research and findings, as well as seeing housing types shown by community on the maps. Zoom in by clicking on any map.

Regional Housing Strategy findings

Community survey

To ensure that this strategy is representative of those living in our communities, community members were invited to participate in the Regional Housing Strategy by completing the community survey. Over 700 people answered the call.

The survey encouraged participants to share their experiences with housing in the region and provide input on housing needs and objectives that will guide development of the strategy. The community survey closed March 7 and results are expected shortly.

Note: To reduce question redundancy and better understand residents’ needs, this survey also included questions relating to the RDCO’s Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness Strategy (COPAWS) .

About the Regional Housing Strategy

The RDCO is developing a Regional Housing Strategy (RHS) to explore tools and actions that can address housing issues, needs and gaps throughout the Central Okanagan.

The objective is to develop a regional approach moving forward to address challenges around affordability, supply, and supportive housing across the region and to improve coordinated action. The RHS will focus on the regional district as a whole to identify a range of actions at the local level, specific to non-market and market housing. The area covered includes two electoral areas, District of Peachland, City of West Kelowna, City of Kelowna, District of Lake Country, Westbank First Nation, and Okanagan Indian Band.

The Central Okanagan is one of the fastest growing regions in the province. Housing gaps exist at all levels across the housing spectrum due to a lack of suitable and affordable housing to meet local needs. These factors include high construction costs, aging housing stock, historically low rental vacancy rate, short-stay accommodation, an increase in demand, and a growing gap between what households can afford and the average cost of renting or entering home ownership.

Collaborative effort is required throughout all levels of government, the housing industry, community groups, and organizations to confront challenges within the region.

Stay up to date on this project

  • If you would like to receive updates on this project, please sign up for email updates using the Stay Informed / Subscribe widget on the right side of this page.
  • You'll get notices sent to your inbox as we move through the project timeline