Restrictive covenants: A barrier to housing developments in British Columbia

Historical restrictive covenants in British Columbia are hindering efforts to increase housing availability by limiting property use and preventing multi-unit housing development. Recent government bills aim to support small-scale multi-unit housing, but existing covenants still pose challenges for developers. Homeowners often oppose changes to preserve neighborhood character. Section 35 of the Property Law Act allows modification or cancellation of covenants, but the process is complex and requires legal advice.