ALR stands for Agricultural Land Reserve and is a type of zoning that is found in rural areas. The intent of ALR is to encourage land protection for agricultural production. Only 5% of land in BC is preserved for agricultural use.
What are the restrictions?
Some parcels of ALR may have exceptions to certain prohibited activities and uses but here are some that are usually restricted:
Subdividing the land
Secondary suites: You may only have one
Multiple dwellings: You may have one secondary residence as long as it is under 968 sqft
Certain commercial business
Another thing to keep in mind is that there may be additional restrictions registered on the title. Some examples are covenants, easements, and riparian areas. It’s a good idea to ask your real estate agent to review the title if they haven’t already.
Who oversees ALR?
The Agricultural Land Commission makes decisions based on the provincial legislation, the Agricultural Land Commission Act, and associated regulations. In Powell River, we have 4 districts outside of the City limits that help govern ALR. These are the qathet Regional Districts A, B, C, and D.
What is permitted in ALR?
Keep in mind that while these are permitted by the ALC, the local government may restrict certain activities.
Agroforestry
Grapes
Mushrooms
Berries
Tree Fruits
Vegetables (field, greenhouse)
Nuts
Grains and oilseeds
Forage crops
Ornamentals (floriculture, horticultural, nursery crops)
Green housing
Wineries & Cideries
Storage, packing & processing of farm products
Timber production, harvesting and silviculture
Equestrian facilities
Application of soil amendments
Farm retail sales
Temporary or seasonal agri-tourism activities
Agroforestry
Production of compost with conditions
Land development works for farm purposes
This information is not to be relied on, it is to be used as general guidelines. It’s always recommended to double check the restrictions for each property as they are not always the same.
This information was gathered from:
