Small Scale Multi Unit Housing

Mainland

Most residential neighbourhood properties in New Westminster permit a single detached dwelling unit (house) and two additional housing units – an accessory dwelling unit (laneway or carriage house) and a secondary suite.

However, new opportunities for these properties are coming! In alignment with Council’s Strategic Priorities Plan, the City has launched an expanded infill housing program, which includes consultation with our community in Spring 2025 under the ‘Our City, Our Homes’ initiative, with further consultation planned for Fall 2025. The infill housing program hopes to create diverse housing options in all neighbourhoods of New Westminster which further supports the City’s and the Province’s housing goals. For more information on the proposed Infill Housing Program, see the program's website or staff’s work plan report.

Queensborough 

Generally, properties in Queensborough that are zoned for a house are not permitted the number or types of units outlined by the Province in its new legislation. This is because further study is needed to understand the impact of that change on the area’s infrastructure system(s) like water and sewer, which has been specifically constructed based on the previously planned density and in consideration of the area’s geotechnical conditions. As such, the City applied to the Province for an extension and was granted an extension with a new compliance date of May 4, 2029 The City will advance the work necessary to be in compliance with the legislation for this neighbourhood.

Existing Duplexes

There are roughly 160 duplex properties in New Westminster whose zoning was required to be changed to be in compliance with Provincial Bill 44 (Small Scale Multi-unit Housing). Under previous City regulations, these duplex properties were considered “restricted zone” properties and were not permitted to include secondary suites.

In July 2024, Council adopted Bylaw No. 8453, 2024 which rezones “restricted zone” properties to a new (RD-1) zoning district, which permits duplex properties to add rental secondary suites and provides updated parking requirements for those additional units. The new regulations permit three parking spaces per site. Laneway or carriage houses continue not to be permitted. To see the Zoning Amendment Bylaw and map of the properties that have changed, see Bylaw No.8453, 2024. As of November 2025, with the adoption of Provincial Bill 25 (Housing and Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act), these properties’ new permissions are now also considered “restricted”, and have a new date of compliance of June 2026, to allow up to 3, 4, or 6 units, depending on lot size and distance from frequent transit. The City will be implementing this as part of the Infill Housing program.

Note that duplex properties within a transit oriented development area are not included, as higher-density development is expected on those sites.

Click here for more information on secondary suites in New Westminster. Adding or legalizing a secondary suite requires a Building Permit. To inquire about constructing a new duplex, please contact the Planning Division.