Mayor Richard Stewart says staff are looking into the 1956 bylaw and will report back to council

The bylaw states that a single-family home can only house up to three people if they aren't related or married

With more mansions entering the rental market, Vancouver examining a law that restricts how many people can live in them

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The City of Vancouver is starting to look at an old bylaw which makes it illegal for a big group of friends to rent out a single-family home together.

The bylaw in question dates back to 1956 and states that a single-family home can only house up to three people if they aren’t related or married.

Former councillor George Affleck first brought up the issue, arguing the bylaw makes no sense, and Mayor Kennedy Stewart seems to agree.

“I do think for very large homes, three would seem to be a bit tight,” Stewart adds. “Luckily this isn’t a problem that we have in isolation, all cities around the world experience this. And so we’ll be looking at what other jurisdictions do.”

RELATED: Old Vancouver bylaw restricts co-habitating, former councillor says

Council has told city staff to investigate, gather input from experts, and report back.

“Usually these things, they sound simple until you get into the nuts and bolts of them so that’s why you know we’re waiting for staff to come back with a more comprehensive review of this and some recommendations,” Stewart adds.

Affleck argued the bylaw can prevent students or people who are in need of housing to finding a home to share.

Stewart says there are other issues to consider, including safety. Staff will also consult with the fire department to see if there are any issues with larger groups living in one home, he adds.