Not to be mistaken with houseboats or boat houses, float homes are full-time, year-round residences. There are no motors, nor are they designed to navigate. Float Homes are typically located in marinas or along the waterfront and they offer a unique living experience with waterfront views and a close connection to the water. Although some older Float Homes are built on timber, metal or fiberglass foundations, newer homes use 'positive floatation' consisting of concrete encased foam. Positive Floatation - a floatation system designed to continue to float when compromised.

Modern Float Homes and Float Home Communities are designed to manage waste water in an environmentally friendly manner. Some local Float Home Communities in Ladner BC have their own sophisticated waste treatment facilities, where as others are simply connected to the same City Services that serve land-based homes.

In British Columbia Float Home owners pay both property tax and utilities to their local government. In addition, owners also pay property tax on the Leased Water their Float home floats on. These taxes contribute to local government revenue and services.

Float Homes are built to meet or exceed local building and plumbing codes. In fact, the engineering process of a Floating Home involves floatation, balance, wind effect and mooring. Work is Inspected similar to land-based housing and an Occupancy Permit is granted by the local government.

Floating Homes are inherently sustainable. The construction process typically involves eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient design principles. Also, these homes have a smaller ecological footprint since they don't require extensive land excavation. Most modern Float Homes are built on land in a shipyard and when completed are put into the water and towed to their moorage. There are 2 main advantage of this process: Materials and chemicals used in the construction process cannot enter the water The neighbourhood that will be the permanent home for the Float Home does not have to endure noise and other construction related disturbances.

The BC Float Home moratorium, which prohibits new water leases for the purpose of mooring float homes, has been in place for 10 Years. SFRES is currently working with the Ministry of Water, Lands, and Resource Stewardship to remove the moratorium.

Float Home Owners are responsible for ensuring the maintenance of adequate water depth under their float homes to prevent grounding. The process of Dredging is used to remove siltation in the water lot, which involves permits and substantial costs to the owner.

Dredging is the process of excavating and removing sediments or debris from the bottom of water bodies like rivers, lakes, or harbors to maintain or increase the depth of the waterway for navigation, flood prevention, or environmental restoration purposes.

River dredging offers various benefits: 1.) Maintaining safe navigation depth for vessels. 2.) Improve water quality by removing pollutants / debris and increasing water flow. 3.) Reduce the risk of flooding by increasing channel water capacity.