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Trail city council received a nudge from the provincial government reminding councillors that municipalities must submit interim housing reports that use a new standardized method.

According to an agenda item from the March 11 meeting, Trail council housing reports will now have to include projected housing demands over the next five to 20 years, using the province's new method.

B.C. Housing officials introduced the formula in June of last year to ensure that municipalities were adequately assessing their housing needs.

The new regulations include reducing housing needs for extreme situations for households that spend more than 50 per cent of their income on shelter. One key element of the changes also requires certain municipalities to maintain a three per cent vacancy rate.

According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the average rent price in Trail increased by $167 in 2024 and currently sits at $893. Currently, the city of Trail's vacancy rate is 1.4 per cent.

The new rules for housing reports must now include proximity to transit and other modes of active transportation when planning housing developments. In conjunction, progress updates must now document what actions a municipality has taken since its last housing report.

Municipalities must include these elements within their official community plans (OCP) and zoning bylaws for future reports by Dec. 31, 2025.