Infill Housing Program
Project Update – May 25, 2026:
On Monday, May 25, 2026, a Public Hearing was held, and Council supported changes to the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw to allow infill housing.
You can view the comments received at the Public Hearing by clicking here and the video here.
For details on the proposed bylaw changes, you can view the May 11, 2026 Council report to implement the Infill Housing Program here.
Next Steps: Council consideration of adoption (June 2026)
Want to Learn More?
We’re working on policy and bylaw changes that will guide where and how infill housing can be built. Keep scrolling for a summary of program details!
You can also learn more about these changes to infill housing by talking to City staff by:
- email plnpost@newwestcity.ca
- phone 604-527-4532 or
- pop by City Hall (511 Royal Avenue) Monday to Friday from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
What is the Infill Housing Program?
The Infill Housing Program is exploring pre-zoning to permit up to six units of infill housing (such as secondary suites, laneway and carriage houses, triplex, quadplex, and multiplex forms of housing) on single family and duplex properties across most of the city. Pre-zoning would mean that a rezoning application would no longer be required to build these forms. Other City approvals would still be required. Council will consider next steps for the program this spring. This includes potential changes to the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw, based on Provincial housing legislation, technical analysis, and community feedback.
The program builds on the Phase 1 Infill Housing program, considers lessons learned from past projects, and input gathered from previous rounds public engagement, including the Our City Our Homes initiative. Take a look at the ‘Phases’ section at the bottom of this page to learn more about Phase 1 and past public engagement!
Right now, the City is not making changes to housing regulations in Queensborough because more research is needed on infrastructure like water and sewer systems to see if the area can support more housing. The City will consult with residents before any changes in Queensborough are finalized.
City Council also recently endorsed moving forward with proposed changes to the Official Community Plan, for new Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Areas around SkyTrain stations in New Westminster, and infill housing will be allowed in some parts of the TOD Areas. The engagement for the Infill Housing Program is focused on future infill housing located outside these TOD Areas.
Want a quick introduction to learn more? Watch the Infill Housing Program introduction video below!
Engagement on the Infill Housing Program ran from November 18 to December 9, 2025. The information and questions presented to participants as part of this engagement are available under the ‘Documents’ section of this page, titled ‘Infill Housing Program Open House Engagement Boards – Winter 2025.’
The purpose of the Infill Housing Program engagement was to:
- Explain what infill housing is;
- Share how we’ve used public feedback from the Our City, Our Homes Spring 2025 engagement;
- Introduce our proposed approach to infill housing; and,
- Seek your feedback to help shape the program!
Engagement activities included:
🏡 In-person events
The City hosted three events that allowed the public to stop by to talk with staff. All events presented the same information and resources, and asked participants questions to gather their input on specific topics. Drop-in open houses were held on November 20, November 26, and November 29, 2025.
📋 Survey
From November 18 to December 9, 2025, participants were able to provide input through an online survey about infill housing location, types and design guidelines. The questions asked through the survey mirrored the questions asked at the events listed above.
During the engagement events, participants were asked a range of questions, including questions on topics like height, density, design guidelines and number of allowable units. This section summarizes some of the key findings from select questions. See the full report here for results for all questions.
Key Findings
Participants indicated general support for:
- Proposed three-storey height and setbacks (61% support).
- Sliding scale of building floor area, based on the number of proposed units (52% support).
- Allowing a variety of infill housing types (61% support).
- Encouraging carports or surface parking rather than enclosed garages (61% support).
There was mixed feedback on:
- Where to allow up to six units, with 53% supporting six units only in areas required by the Province, 25% supporting six units in some additional areas, and 22% supporting six units across the whole area.
- Off-street parking, with 30% supporting the proposed parking, 48% feeling there was not enough, and 14% that there was too much.
What's Next?
On May 11, 2026, Council considered first and second readings of the bylaws to change the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw.
The next steps include:
- A Public Hearing is scheduled for Monday May 25, 2026, in Council Chambers at City Hall, where community members can give their feedback to Council on the proposed changes. More information on the multiple ways to provide feedback is available under ‘Phase 11: Public Hearing’ in the timeline below.
- Following the Public Hearing, Council will decide whether to support the proposed bylaws.
See the Phases (below) on this page for an overview of past work!
Phases
Public Hearing
A Public Hearing on the City’s Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments to implement the Infill Housing Program was held at 6:00 pm on Monday, May 25, 2026 in Council Chambers at New Westminster City Hall. Following the Public Hearing, Council supported the proposed changes.
Purpose of OCP Amendment Bylaw No. 8573:
- To update the OCP land use map to permit up to six infill housing units on approximately 3,000 single detached and duplex properties, excluding Queensborough, Transit Oriented Development Areas, and properties identified for other land uses, such as townhouses; and
- to establish new Infill Housing Development Permit Area guidelines.
Purpose of Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 8578:
- To implement new regulations for infill housing developments, including building size, height, density, and parking; and
- to pre-zone approximately 1,900 properties to allow up to four units, and approximately 1,100 properties to allow up to six units.
Anyone who considered themselves affected by the proposed bylaw were provided an opportunity to make representations to Council by speaking at the Public Hearing or by submitting written comment via email or mail. All comments will form part of the public record and be published on the City’s website.
No further information or submissions may be considered by Council now that the Public Hearings have concluded.
Upcoming and ongoing events
Past events
Event date: November 29th, 2025 at 9:00 PM to November 30th, 2025 at 12:00 AM.
65 East Sixth Avenue
1 registrant
Event date: November 27th, 2025 from 1:30 AM to 4:30 AM.
511 Royal Avenue
2 registrants
Event date: November 21st, 2025 from 1:30 AM to 4:30 AM.
620 Eighth Street
2 registrants