Our City, Our Homes
Project Update – May 15, 2026:
Two Public Hearings for updates to the OCP and Zoning Bylaw are scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026 at 6:00 pm. in Council Chamber, at New Westminster City Hall. These updates include implementing the Infill Housing Program, considering development next to TOD Areas (TOD area extensions), and updating the City’s Regional Context Statement.
The Public Hearings are the final step in the process required to implement these changes. Community members interested in providing feedback are welcome to speak at the Public Hearing or submit written comments.
Click the links below to learn more about how to participate, including how to speak at the Public Hearings:
- Public Hearing - Infill Housing Program
- Public Hearing - Transit Oriented Development Area Extensions and Regional Planning
Submit Written Comments:
By email:
mayorandcouncillors@newwestcity.ca
By mail:
Legislative Services
511 Royal Avenue
New Westminster, BC V3L 1H9
All submissions will form part of the public record of the Public Hearing(s) and be published on the City’s website. Once the Public Hearing has concluded, no further information or submissions may be considered by Council.
Visit the Upcoming Official Community Plan Updates webpage to learn more about upcoming updates.
You can also learn more about what’s happening with the Infill Housing Program on the City’s webpage or here on Be Heard!
What is Our City, Our Homes?
Want a quick introduction? Learn more by watching the Our City, Our Homes introduction video below!
Keep scrolling for an overview of the Our City, Our Homes initiatives and how we engaged the community about them! For more detailed project information, you can also find links to visit a webpage for any of the housing initiatives under “Links to Learn More” (or by clicking through the links in the overview below).
RESOURCES
Who's Listening
Housing and Land Use Planning Team
Planning and Development Department
Phone 604-5274532
Email plnpost@newwestcity.ca
What’s Changing in Housing?
The City uses bylaws and policy tools to enable housing development, including our Official Community Plan (OCP) Bylaw and Zoning Bylaw. These are our main tools for regulating what type of housing (e.g. apartment, townhouse, or duplex) is allowed, and where, along with what height and size those buildings can be. These bylaw updates, whether ongoing or approved by Council, cover many of New Westminster’s properties through one of the four initiatives described below:
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:
Visit the Infill Housing Program Be Heard page for more details on recent engagement events and to learn more about next steps!
This initiative is exploring allowing multiplexes of up to six units to be built on properties in the city that currently allow houses, secondary suites, laneway houses, and duplexes (outside of TOD Areas). This is in alignment with the Province’s Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) legislation. This program will go forward to Council for direction in 2026. There will be additional consultation opportunities in advance of the program being adopted.
Visit the Infill Housing webpage to learn about the infill housing design principles, parking rates, and permit processes we’re exploring!
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.
- 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.
- 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!
Why Change and Why Now?
Governments of all levels across Canada are working to tackle the housing crisis. Here in New Westminster, the City is continuing to advance Council’s Strategic Priorities Plan to clear the way for all types of new housing, including what’s needed today and into the future. We are working together towards more and better housing for all. These changes are being considered alongside other long-term amenity and servicing plans, including for Parks and Recreation and our Electrical Utility.
Several of the above programs were a part of the City’s participation in the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund. The Province of British Columbia has also made significant changes to housing legislation, impacting how local governments operate when it comes to reviewing development applications. The City was required to meet timelines related to both. Learn more how senior government continues to shape housing in our city by clicking through the links on this page or by using “Links to Learn More”.
We are not currently proposing changes to housing regulations in Queensborough. More research is needed on infrastructure, including water and sewer systems, to see if the area can support more housing. The Province has given the City an extension until May 2029 to complete this research before making any decisions. The City will consult with residents before any changes in Queensborough are finalized.
Work on other Official Community Plan updates is also ongoing. You can learn more about these additional updates here. In response to community feedback, this work has included identifying properties at the edge of the TOD Area boundaries that could be designated for similar building heights and types, to help enable a smooth transition in density while considering development potential of sites. This is being explored since the Provincial TOD Area boundaries do not consider local conditions such as subdivision patterns, roadways or topography.
Work on the Infill Housing Program is also ongoing and is expected to complete in June 2026. Click here for more details.
See the timeline of phases below for an overview of past work.
Phases
Federal Government Housing Accelerator Fund and Initiatives Launch
- City of New Westminster receives a multi-year federal grant from the Housing Accelerator Fund program. This program, established by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), provides financial support that enables the City to work on seven new housing initiatives aimed at improving the housing approval process, increasing housing supply, and expanding housing choice.
- The City launches the Affordable Housing Accelerator, Infill Housing, and Townhouse Accelerator initiatives as part of the Housing Accelerator Fund program.