Small-scale, multi unit housing (SSMUH)

What is small-scale, multi unit housing?

Small-scale, multi-unit housing describes a range of buildings and housing units that can provide attainable housing for middle-income families. Examples of small-scale, multi-unit housing include:

  • Secondary suites in single-family dwellings
  • Detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs), like garden suites or laneway homes
  • Triplexes
  • Townhomes
  • House-plexes

Small-scale, multi-unit housing offers housing options that are ground-oriented and compatible in scale and form within established single-family neighbourhoods. These housing forms typically offer more family-oriented units than larger-scale multi-family housing and more affordable options than single-family dwellings.

Legislation

In the fall of 2023, the Province of British Columbia (BC) introduced changes to the Local Government Act (LGA) and Vancouver Charter (VC) to allow more small-scale, multi-unit housing in land use zones that are otherwise restricted to single-family dwellings or duplexes. These are referred to as Restricted Zones in the new legislation. The legislation applies to all municipalities and regional districts in the province.

Some of the required changes that municipalities and regional districts must make include:

  • Allowing Secondary suites and/or accessory dwelling units in all single-family residential zones
  • Permitting three to four units of small-scale, multi-unit housing on each parcel of land, if zoned exclusively for single-family or duplex residential, which are:
    • Wholly or partly within an urban containment boundary established by a regional growth strategy, or
    • Within a municipality with a population greater than 5,000 and is wholly or partly within an urban containment boundary established by an official community plan, or
    • In a municipality with a population greater than 5,000 that does not have an urban containment boundary

Requirements will apply in single-family and duplex zones that already allow a secondary suite and/or an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). The minimum number of dwelling units that must be allowed by parcel size are:

  • A minimum of 3 housing units on parcels that are 280 m2 or smaller
  • A minimum of 4 units on parcels greater than 280 m2
  • Some exemptions apply

To read more about the upcoming legislated changes, please see the Provincial Policy Manual & Site Standards document or visit HERE.

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