[This is an EXCERPT: read the whole article here. -Ed.]

By Bill Cleverly

Farming will soon become a legitimate home occupation in Victoria.

Victoria councillors have approved changes to the municipality's zoning bylaw to include urban agriculture as an allowable home occupation for up to two people living in a house.

Urban farming is not new in Victoria: Large gardens can be found in virtually every neighbourhood. The changes to the zoning bylaw are intended to recognize the city's desire to encourage small-scale agriculture within its borders, as well as put in place rules to govern it as it grows in popularity.

At the request of Coun. Geoff Young, staff will ensure the revised bylaw, slated to come back to council next week for approval, restricts activities that would be allowed at rural farms but are not appropriate for the urban environment, such as agricultural pesticide use.

In a lesson learned from Oak Bay, the city is also protecting itself from drops in property taxes that can occur when properties are given farm status.

Photo credit: Laurie