Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing Changes

Update: May 2025

At the May 5, 2025 Regular Council meeting, City staff presented a draft Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing bylaw. At this meeting, Council requested staff reconsider this bylaw with a view to better managing growth and accommodating more housing in the City. Staff are now working on a two-step process to ensure the City is compliant with Provincial requirements, while also considering areas of the City where additional lower-density housing could be added per Council’s direction. 

For more information contact zoningupdate@cnv.org

In 2023, the Government of British Columbia announced a range of new housing rules to increase housing supply across the province. One of those rules requires cities to allow up to 3, 4, or 6 dwelling units to be built on certain properties. 

The City amended the Zoning Bylaw on June 9, 2025, to comply with the new Provincial rules. The changes affect 19 zones encompassing 35 properties. The bylaw also relaxed restrictions on where coach houses may be built. These changes allow impacted property owners the opportunity to add more units to their property, should they wish to do so. They do not set a minimum number of units that must be built.

 

Growing a Liveable City - Under Development

As a second step, the City is considering where it makes sense to add more housing. This work is connected to a different set of requirements that have resulted from new Provincial legislation. Under these rules, local governments must review and update their Official Community Plan (OCP) and Zoning Bylaw by December 31, 2025 to accommodate 20-year housing need. As a result, the City needs to update the OCP and Zoning Bylaw to add more housing capacity. Staff are working on a draft zone for low-density neighbourhoods as part of this work.

The details of the draft zone and where it might apply are still under development. The City will be engaging with community and industry over the coming months as work continues to finalize this zone.  Feedback gathered will inform proposed changes to the City’s Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw to add more liveable density, and is anticipated to be brought forward to Council for consideration in the fall.


Next Steps

June/July 2025

  • Engagement with builders and the development industry on the draft zone and design guidelines.
  • Community engagement on the draft zone, guidelines and implementation of the new zone.

Contact Us

Planning & Development Team
Phone: 604-982-9675
Email: zoningupdate@cnv.org

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