BC (province)

BC Housing Targets for 20 Priority Municipalities

Ministry of Housing

Date: 2024-04-23

development

The British Columbia government has identified 20 additional priority municipalities to receive housing targets for the next five years, as part of its efforts to address the housing crisis in the province. These communities are located in high-growth, high-need regions and will work with the province to meet their targets, which will be announced this summer.

The 20 Priority Municipalities:

Central Saanich
Chilliwack
Colwood
Esquimalt
Kelowna
City of Langley
Maple Ridge
Mission
Nanaimo
New Westminster
North Cowichan
North Saanich
City of North Vancouver
Port Coquitlam
Prince George
Sidney
Surrey
View Royal
West Kelowna
White Rock

Support for Municipalities:

Historic $1-billion Growing Communities Fund: To help 188 local governments address population growth
$10 million for a second intake of the Local Government Development Approvals Program: To support municipalities
$51 million in grant-based funding: To support activities or projects, such as updating existing zoning bylaws, housing needs reports, and official community plans

Legislative Changes:

The Housing Supply Act was introduced in 2023 to establish housing targets for the first 10 priority municipalities
Municipalities are taking action to approve housing quicker through the implementation of provincial legislation, such as allowing small-scale multi-unit housing, designated Transit-Oriented Areas, updated Official Community Plans, and streamlined local-development approval processes

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