Kamloops is a step closer to streamlining the process for people to have rental suites in their homes and on their property.

City council has advanced a proposed zoning change on secondary suites to a public hearing, which will happen in the coming months.

Councillor Mike O’Reilly says the proposed changes would provide clear guidelines for constructing attached and detached suites, and would mean more suites would be allowed in the city.

“If you want to put one in legally, you have to go through a full rezoning process, come to council, and a lot of people are intimidated by that, and they don’t want to do that. We feel that’s a very large barrier; it’s upwards of 90 per cent in Kamloops aren’t registered and aren’t legal. We want to try and change that, and have a little bit more control and help getting these suites done properly.”

O’Reilly says more secondary suites help meet a demand for renters and help homeowners with paying their mortgage.

The proposed zoning change for rental suites would also see homeowners who rent property that isn’t their primary residence charged a business license fee of $67.20 annually.