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Infill Housing Accelerator Program

This project is ongoing. At their May 11 2026 meeting, Council is scheduled to consider bylaw amendments incorporating these proposed updates. Learn more and ask questions about what’s proposed to change and what’s still to come. You can also connect directly with staff to learn more about the Infill Housing Program.

Program Summary

Through the Infill Housing Accelerator Program, the City 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 detached dwelling and duplex properties across most of the city.

Learn more about how we're encouraging new housing! The video below introduces New Westminster's Infill Housing Program.

 

The intended outcome of this work is to allow for diverse housing options, specifically infill housing. This aligns with City Council’s 2023-2026 Strategic Priorities Plan and responds to Provincial housing legislation, which requires the City to allow up to three, four or six units on properties by June 2026, depending on lot size and distance from frequent transit. The City will be implementing these required changes as part of the Infill Housing program.

To achieve this outcome, the City initiated the Infill Housing Program, with funding from the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).

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.  

Proposed Changes

The City uses bylaws and policy tools to enable housing development. Currently, we’re making updates to 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.

Official Community Plan

The OCP includes land use designations that describe the type of development that would be supported on each property as the city grows. Through the Infill Housing Accelerator Program, the City is proposing that the “Residential – Ground Oriented Infill Housing” (RGO) land use designation apply to more areas of the city. The majority of these properties are currently designated “Residential – Detached and Semi Detached” (RD) which only permits a house, suite, and/or laneway or carriage house. Click here to see a map of the proposed Infill Housing areas in the OCP.

Following Council direction in October 2025, staff reviewed whether additional areas considered for the Infill Housing Program should be included in Phase 2 of the Townhouse Program. Staff identified the block bounded by Eighth Avenue, Hamilton Street, Fourteenth Street, and Sixteenth Street as a potential candidate for townhouse designation. At the March 2, 2026 Workshop, Council recommended that this block be included in the Infill Housing Program.

Zoning Bylaw

The City’s Program includes creating new zoning regulations, guided by Provincial requirements, technical analysis, and community feedback. Proposed changes include streamlining the application process through pre-zoning, removing the need for a separate, site-specific rezoning application. Owners may also choose to stay in their existing home, or choose to renovate or rebuild their home, rather than build any infill housing.

Development Permits

Applications for infill housing projects would require a Development Permit. New development permit guidelines are proposed to ensure high quality housing and site design that fits well within city neighbourhoods, and to encourage best practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting water and energy conservation.

How do I Learn More?

At their May 11, 2026 meeting, Council is scheduled to consider bylaw amendments incorporating these proposed updates.

It is anticipated that a public hearing regarding the Infill Housing Program will be scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chamber, at New Westminster City Hall. All persons who believe that their interest in property is affected by a proposed land use application are welcome to speak at the Public Hearing or submit written comments. More information on how to provide feedback can be found here.

Visit the Infill Housing Be Heard page  to learn more and stay up to date on the process. The Be Heard Page also includes project timelines, and past consultation event materials.

You can also sign up for Citypage to stay connected and hear about upcoming events!

  • Program Timeline

    • Background Research | Summer – Fall 2024

    • Community Consultation | Spring 2025

    • Program Development | Fall 2024 – Spring 2026

    • Community Consultation | Fall 2025 - Winter 2026

    • Council Direction and Community and Industry Outreach | Spring 2026

    • Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments | Summer 2026

    • Implementation | Summer 2026

  • Making a Development Application

    Interested in building a laneway or carriage house? Click here to learn more about the City's Laneway and Carriage House program.

    Applicants interested in building duplexes, triplexes and quadraplexes have two options:

    1. Wait until the full Program is developed. At which point we will be able to provide more clarity and guidance to applicants and likely a shorter application process.

    2. Apply as a pilot project. Pilot projects will help us understand which regulations, guidelines, and approval process to include in the program. Pilot projects would be subject to thoughtful design, site planning and landscaping review, and likely a longer application process. Applications that don’t meet the requirements outlined in the Interim Policy will have to wait for the full Program to be developed.

    It is recommended that applicants who wish to proceed as a pilot project contact the City to set up a pre-application meeting at which time a Planner will evaluate and advise whether the application is consistent with the Interim Policy. At this meeting the Planner can also discuss with you the application requirements and approval process, and answer any questions you may have.

    Click here to see the Interim Development Review Policy: Duplexes, Triplexes and Quadraplexes.

    Regulations and guidelines for small or compact lot subdivision are not included in the Infill Housing Program, as single detached dwellings are already well-represented in the city’s current housing stock. Although this form of infill housing could be examined at a future date, at this time staff is not recommending small or compact lot applications to Council.

  • How We Got Here

    City Strategic Priorities and Housing Accelerator Fund

    Phase One of the Infill Housing Program was adopted in 2017 and included policies that encouraged both laneway and carriage houses as well as townhouses and rowhouses.

    Phase Two of the Infill Housing Program began in 2024, and the Infill Housing Program and Townhouse Program were separated into two programs to address their unique requirements in terms of size and shape of buildings, as follows:

    • The Infill Housing Program focuses on a range of housing forms such as laneway houses and multiplexes, which can be built on a single lot.

    • The Townhouse Program focuses on townhouses and will typically include multiple consolidated properties, with a minimum site size requirement. Lessons learned from the first phase of the program informed program updates that were adopted in 2026.

    The Infill Housing Program, is being undertaken with funding from the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) and aims to align with City Council’s 2023-2026 Strategic Priorities Plan focus area “Homes and Housing Options”, and the Province’s Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) legislation.

    Public Outreach 

    • Spring 2026: Participants attended pop-up information sessions on program details as shown on these information boards, and ask a planner sessions, where interested property owners could book one on one sessions to see how infill housing could work on their property.

    • Winter 2025: Participants provided feedback on infill housing proposed design guidelines, height, parking and number units allowable, as detailed in this What We Heard report from January 2026. 

    • Spring 2025: Participants provided feedback on Phase Two of the Infill Housing Program as part the 'Our City, Our Homes' events on housing updates, sharing thoughts on proposed housing locations, housing types, streamlined permitting processes, and building floor area, as detailed in the Our City, Our Homes Engagement Summary Report from April 2025. 

    • 2022: Participants took part in a survey of feedback on Phase One of the Infill Housing Program, and the City incorporate feedback into Streamlined Guidelines for laneway and carriage houses.

    • 2017-2019: Participants provided considerable feedback for Phase One of Infill Housing as part of the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw update, on policies that encourage laneway and carriage houses, and townhouses (strata) and rowhouses (fee simple)

  • Resources

    Community Outreach
    Council Reports

     

  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    Development Related Questions

    What Would It Mean To Be Designated For Infill Housing?

    The Official Community Plan (OCP) sets out the vision, goals, and policies for New Westminster to the year 2041. If a property has a Residential – Ground Oriented Infill (RGO) land use designation the OCP, then the long-term vision for that property is to provide ground oriented infill housing developments which are compatible with areas of other lower density housing.

    In 2026, the City is considering designating approximately 3,000 properties in the city as “Residential – Ground Oriented Infill Housing” (RGO) in the Official Community Plan (OCP).

    Click here to see a map of the properties proposed to be designated for Infill housing.

    What Would It Mean For A Property To Be Zoned For Infill Housing?

    If a property is zoned for infill housing, that means that infill housing is a permitted use in the property’s existing zone. If redevelopment is desired, property owner(s) can choose to apply for a simplified City approvals process to construct new infill housing.

    There would be no requirement for an Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment or rezoning application. Projects would still require other City approvals, including a Development Permit, Works and Services Agreement and Building Permit.

    Click here to see a map of the properties zoned for infill housing.

    Will Infill Housing Units Be Able To Stack On Top Of Each Other?

    A maximum of two infill housing units are proposed to be able to stack on top of each other. This would help ensure that units are ground oriented, with high quality shared and individual outdoor spaces. In 2021, less than 7% of the homes in New Westminster were units other than single detached houses and apartments. Infill housing provides a different option for the community, as many members cannot find suitable housing as their needs change. Small-scale apartment buildings that stack more than two units on top of each other could be well-suited for the city’s Transit Oriented Development Areas.

    Will Infill Housing Units Be Able To Be Stratified?

    Different tenures (i.e. rental housing, ownership or a combination) and ownership models (i.e. freehold, strata, co-op) would not be restricted. 

    Would More Work Be Undertaken On The Infill Housing Program After Program Launch?

    Yes, if the program is approved by Council, the City would monitor the program outcomes, and may propose refinements and provide additional details for ease of use.

     

  • Contact

    Housing and Land Use Planning

    604-527-4532