by VRBA | Jun 16, 2025 | Blog, Building Code, Housing data, news
Despite provincially-mandated housing targets and rezonings, CMHC reports Greater Victoria’s 1,379 housing starts from January to May 2025 are 12% lower than the 1,572 starts in 2024. The region’s 376 housing starts in May 2025 are 4% lower than the 391 starts in... read more
by VRBA | Feb 5, 2025 | Blog, Building Code, Housing data, news
There are hundreds of small earthquakes annually in our region that usually go unnoticed. They are constant reminders we live in a subduction zone where large earthquakes can happen any time. Scientists discovered an active earthquake fault running under Elk Lake,... read more
by VRBA | Jul 16, 2024 | Blog, Building Code, news, Renovating
A swarm of earthquakes, one with a magnitude up to 6.4, recently struck off the coast of Vancouver Island. Thirteen earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more have occurred so far in July. Natural Resources Canada reports there are plates sliding past each other due to three... read more
by VRBA | Jun 18, 2024 | Blog, Building Code, Housing data, news
By July 1, municipalities must update their bylaws to accommodate the provincial legislation enabling moderate housing density (called missing middle) in single family zones. In municipalities of more than 5,000 people, this will allow: three to four units on... read more
by VRBA | May 14, 2024 | Blog, Building Code, news
The public, media, elected officials are often unaware of the challenges experienced by builders in the world of home construction. The process of home design, changing building codes, rezonings, permit approvals, project management and sales is understood only by... read more
by VRBA | Apr 16, 2024 | Blog, Building Code, news
According to CMHC, there has been a 94.5% decline in Victoria housing starts with only 13 units from January to March this year vs 240 in 2023. This will likely reverse in the next couple of months because the municipality is the home of large multis and one project... read more
