Can I run a campground or farm stay on my land in BC?

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On ALR land classed as a farm, up to 10 sleeping units of agri-tourism accommodation are allowed, seasonal or short-term; anything more needs the Commission, and the zone decides off the reserve. In the Agricultural Land Reserve the Province's regulation sets how many guests a farm may house and when: tents, trailers, cabins and rooms count alike as sleeping units. Off the reserve the zoning bylaw decides whether a campground, cabins or glamping are allowed at all, and the water, sewage and business rules follow the number of guests. Look up the address or PID on PlaceDossier to see the record for that lot. Agri-tourism accommodation on ALR land: Accommodation tied to an agri-tourism activity is allowed if the land is classed as a farm under the Assessment Act, the structures, landscaping and access for it take less than 5% of the parcel, it's limited to 10 sleeping units in all, counting tourist bedrooms in the house, and it's seasonal or short-term only (ALR Use Regulation s. 33 (2)). A sleeping unit is a bedroom or other sleeping area in a house, cabin or other structure, or a vehicle, trailer, tent or other structure on a campsite or field (s. 33 (1)). What counts as agri-tourism: Farm tours, demonstrations and other activities about the farm, heritage exhibits, cart, sleigh and tractor rides, livestock shows, dog trials and the regulation's other listed activities, on land classed as a farm, open to the public and with no permanent facilities built for them (s. 12). A local government may not prohibit those activities, short of a farming area bylaw (s. 4). It can still regulate or prohibit the accommodation, which the regulation lists among residential uses, not among those it says may not be prohibited (our reading). Rooms in the house: Tourists may stay in the principal residence, up to 4 bedrooms, short-term only; a house built before the rule keeps the bedrooms it lawfully had (s. 34). These count toward the 10 sleeping units. Events: On land classed as a farm, gatherings for an event such as a wedding or music festival are allowed without the Commission's approval if no permanent facilities are built, parking stays on the land, no more than 150 guests attend at once, each lasts no more than 24 hours, and there are no more than 10 a year; a local government may not prohibit them (ss. 14, 17). More than that takes an application (see ALR applications). Off the reserve: the zone: A zone that lists a campground, cabins or tourist accommodation sets its own lot size, density and setbacks. Abbotsford's Recreation and Campground (CRC) zone, for example, allows at most 50 trailers or camping spaces a hectare on a lot of at least 2.0 ha, 12.0 m back from lot lines, wells and watercourses (Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, s. 590). Where the zone doesn't list the use, it takes a rezoning or a temporary use permit (our reading; see rezoning). Water, sewage and rentals: Water you supply to guests can make a water supply system under the Drinking Water Protection Act (see shared wells), and the septic system has to be sized for them (see septic). Rooms rented short-term may fall under the principal residence requirement (see short-term rentals). What it means for a buyer: Count the sleeping units the land could hold before you plan on guest income: on ALR land, 10 in all and only with farm status; off it, what the zone allows. Ask the local government about a business licence, and your insurer about cover for guests (our reading).

Can I run a campground or farm stay on my land in BC?

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