Infill Housing Program

Infill housing can be built in many areas of the city. Approximately 1,900 single detached dwelling and duplex properties have been zoned to allow up to four units and approximately 1,100 properties have been zoned to allow up to six units. This means that no rezoning application is required to build infill housing, streamlining the approvals process. 

View a map and list of the properties zoned to allow infill housing, either RGO-A (up to four units) or RGO-B (up to six units).

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. 

The City also intends to create comprehensive guidance on where lower density ground oriented building forms (including infill housing) could be considered in Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Areas to optimize housing choice. Until new policy is created, rezoning applications for infill housing developments within TOD Areas will only be considered where consolidation is not possible, and in the Queens Park Heritage Conservation Area, as identified in the Interim Development Review Framework.

The Infill Program was developed to align with the Small Scale Multi-Unit housing legislation implemented by the Province. The legislation requires the City to allow a number of units based on lot size and proximity to transit:

• Up to three units on a lot smaller than 280 square metres (3,014 sq. ft.).
• Up to four units on a lot larger than 280 square metres (3,014 sq. ft.).
• Up to six units on a lot larger than 280 square metres (3,014 sq. ft.) that also is within 400 metres of a bus stop with frequent service.

Approximately 50 properties that are legislatively required to permit three units, were allowed up to four units or six units (to align with the rest of the block), for simplicity of regulation given that there are very few such properties in New Westminster.

Approximately 150 additional properties were allowed to have up to six units, beyond what legislation requires. These properties were identified based on three criteria: completing blocks where some properties already had this allowance and an accessible lane was available (continuous and at least 4.88 metres (16 ft. wide)); including blocks where apartments are already permitted; and, including additional blocks or properties where the necessary infrastructure is already in place.

A maximum of two infill housing units are permitted to stack on top of each other to ensure that units are ground oriented family friendly housing. 

Yes, infill housing units can be stratified. The new zoning districts created for infill housing (RGO-A and RGO-B), allow different tenures (e.g. rental, ownership or a combination) and different ownership models (e.g. strata, co-op). One exception is that a rezoning is required to develop a freehold model, where each unit is on a separate property (i.e. rowhouses). 

The City will monitor the program outcomes, and may identify program refinements in alignment with program goals. 

Property taxes are calculated based on the assessed value of a property, which is set annually by BC Assessment, the provincial agency responsible for determining assessed property values, using market conditions and property characteristics. Tax rates are set every year by City Council.

Visit the City's Property Taxes and Utilities page for current tax rates and payment information.

If you feel the assessed value for your property is inaccurate, you can submit an appeal to BC Assessment. Learn more about the assessment appeals.

Redevelopment depends on many factors outside of the City’s control, including individual owners’ choices, financing interest rates, and construction costs.

The City’s housing projections estimate is that New Westminster would see between 35 and 45 attached units built per year (outside of Downtown and Queensborough). This includes all duplex, multiplex and townhouse units. 

The new infill housing zoning districts respond to the provincial requirements set out through the Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing legislation, and have been tailored to the New Westminster context, including: 

• Parking – For sites where the City can require vehicle parking, the required number of spaces aims to balance vehicle ownership rates with the need to maximize space for other elements such as tree retention and planting, open space, garbage storage, and electrical infrastructure. 
• Density  – The City’s program includes  maximum floor space ratios (FSR), instead of the Provincial recommendation to guide density through building setbacks and height. The Program also encourages spaces like shared bike parking or amenity rooms through FSR exclusions. 
• Side Setbacks – The side setbacks allowed are smaller than what is allowed for single detached dwellings and duplexes, but larger than what is recommended by the Province. This approach aims to enable new housing that fits well within city neighbourhoods. 
• Rear Upper Stepbacks – The City’s program requires new buildings at the lane edge of a site to be stepped back at the third storey to minimize building bulk at the rear of properties. 
• Development Permit Guidelines – Building and site design guidelines have been established, as well as guidelines that encourage best practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting water and energy conservation. 

Existing heritage designations and heritage revitalization agreements (HRAs) remain in place across the city, and are not overridden by Provincial legislation.

Individual owners of heritage assets can still consider a new HRA and/or heritage designation. There may be fewer applications due to the reduced ability to offer incentives, such as greater density or reduced parking, following the Provincial legislation and new Infill Housing program. New heritage designations and HRAs cannot limit density below Provincial requirements, including within the Queen’s Park Heritage Conservation Area (QPHCA).

Applications for renovation or construction in QPHCA still require a heritage alteration permit (HAP) showing compliance with the Heritage Conservation Area guidelines. Applications to demolish unprotected buildings still need to show that the density allowable on the property is not possible without demolishing the buildings.

Infill housing may increase demand for on-street parking because:

• Households in the city with similar housing types, such as duplexes, often own more than one vehicle; and 
• Provincial legislation limits a municipality’s ability to require parking near frequent transit service.

The City’s parking requirements try to balance parking needs with other priorities, such as trees, open space, solid waste, and electrical infrastructure. Outside frequent bus service areas, all infill housing applications must include at least one on-site parking space for each principal unit. Secondary suites must also provide parking, but at a lower rate. These requirements are the same as those for duplexes and townhouses.

The City is also working on a curbside management strategy to help manage on-street parking demand. This work will guide decisions about curb regulations and residential permit parking. The approach will be guided by a set of principles supported by Council in September 2025, and by the City’s Master Transportation Plan curbside hierarchy, which prioritizes active transportation like walking and bicycling.

The infill housing program could result in more family-sized homes being built, which may bring more school-aged children to the community and increase demand for schools. 

The School District is planning for this growth as part of its Long Range Facilities Plan. The School District and City work together to advocate to the Province for more resources for schools.

To help make it easier to build new schools, the City updated its Official Community Plan to allow schools in most residential and some mixed-use areas across the city.

• Spring 2026: 
  • Infill Housing Outreach (information Boards)
• Winter 2025: 
  • What We Heard Report
  • Infill Housing Program Open House Engagement Boards
• October 2025: Infill Housing Program Summary Video 
• Spring 2025:
  • Our City, Our Homes Engagement Summary Report
  • Our City, Our Homes Engagement Infill Housing Boards

• May 25, 2026 Public Hearing: Our City, Our Homes: Implementation of the Infill Housing Program

• May 11, 2026 Council Report: Our City, Our Homes: Implementation of the Infill Housing Program
• March 2, 2026 Council Report: Our City Our Homes: Implementation of the Infill Housing Accelerator Program
• October 27, 2025 Council Report: Our City, Our Homes: Implementation of Townhouse and Affordable Housing Accelerator Housing Accelerator Fund Initiatives
• September 8, 2025 Council Report: Our City Our Homes: Additional Option for Structuring Council Consideration of Housing Legislation and Housing Accelerator Fund Initiatives
  
  • Draft Map of Infill Housing Program Focus Area
• June 2, 2025 Council Report: Our City Our Homes, Implementation of Provincial Housing Legislation and Housing Accelerator Fund Initiatives
  
  • Infill Housing Program Work Plan Summary
  • Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing Legislation and Implementation Summary
• May 27, 2024 Council Report: Infill Housing and Townhouse Acceleration Work Plans
• May 27, 2025 Council Workshop: New Provincial Housing Legislation Implementation Council Report

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 was 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.

• 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)