Our City, Our Homes

Transit Oriented Development Areas (TOD Areas):

In 2023, the Province identified five TOD Areas in New Westminster at 22nd Street, New Westminster, Columbia, Sapperton, and Braid SkyTrain stations. The intent of the provincial legislation was to enable high-density, mixed-use development within walking distance of these stations. At the February 23, 2026 meeting, Council adopted an OCP amendment bylaw that updated the OCP to be consistent with the direction set by the Province. For these TOD Areas, in most case, a rezoning application and Council approval will still be required to achieve the envisioned heights and densities. Implementing the TOD Area around 22nd Street Station will be considered as part of a future OCP update, as planning for that area advances.

Visit the Provincial Housing Legislation Implementation webpage to read about the Council endorsed changes and other future proposed changes! Click here for more background on the provincial legislation for the TOD Area!

Townhouses:

Historically, townhouses have been limited to a small area of the city, and only when approved by Council through a rezoning. To encourage more townhouse construction, we explored allowing this type of housing in more areas and with a streamlined development approvals processes. As a result, the City expanded the OCP’s townhouse land use designation to more areas of New Westminster, with some of those properties being “pre-zoned”. For townhouse development on “pre-zoned” properties, an individual rezoning application won’t be required. “Pre-zoned” properties may still be developed with a detached house and secondary suite and, in many cases, a laneway home; people can choose to live in, renovate, rent, rebuild their houses, or to sell their property. A builder could purchase and consolidate multiple properties in order to build townhouses. At their February 23, 2026 meeting, Council adopted OCP and Zoning Bylaw amendments to implement the Townhouse Program.

Visit the Townhouse webpage to find out more about the changes adopted by Council, including a new version of the maps indicating which properties are designated or pre-zoned for townhouses!

Infill Housing:

This initiative explored pre-zoning multiplexes of up to six units to be built on properties in New Westminster that previously only allowed houses or duplexes (outside of TOD Areas).Pre-zoning would mean that a rezoning application would no longer be required to build these forms. Other City approvals would still be required. This is in alignment with the Province’s Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) legislation. At their June 8, 2026 meeting, Council adopted OCP and Zoning Bylaw amendments to implement the Infill Housing Program.

Visit the Infill Housing webpage to learn about the infill housing design principles, maximum height allowed, parking rates, and more!

Non-Profit Affordable Housing:

The goal of this initiative is to reduce barriers for non-profit housing providers seeking to create new affordable rental housing in the city. Two changes were proposed to Council to support this goal.

1. Residential properties in TOD Areas (see above) would be “pre-zoned” to allow these types of projects without a rezoning application, where only projects owned and operated by a non-profit housing provider (among other conditions) would qualify.
2. Rezoning applications for non-profit affordable rental housing up to six storeys would be considered on properties designated for townhouses by the OCP (see above). At their February 23, 2026 meeting, Council adopted OCP and Zoning Bylaw amendments to implement this program.

Visit the Affordable Housing Accelerator webpage to learn more about the required conditions, property locations, and reduced approvals processes!