Making Room Housing Program

Adding housing choice in neighbourhoods across Vancouver

Get updates

Shifting towards the right supply of housing to meet the needs of people who live and work in Vancouver is a key objective of the Housing Vancouver Strategy.

To meet the right supply targets, we are looking at new opportunities to add housing choice across the city in our low-density neighbourhoods as a key building block of a future citywide plan.

The aim is to deliver housing that falls in the “missing middle”, between single-family homes and higher density apartments.

City Plan

Further to a Council motion passed in November 2018, staff will report back late in spring 2019 on the scope of a citywide plan.

Making Room will be a key building block of the citywide plan. We will have an updated timeline and work program for Making Room following a Council decision on the scope and timing of the citywide plan

Duplex design changes

On April 2, 2019, Council approved changes to the design regulations (4.8 MB) for duplexes in select RM, RT, and RS zones.

The changes encourage improved design outcomes, enhanced livability, and greater flexibility for innovative designs.

See our how-to guide on building a duplex (1 MB) for more information.

Since duplexes were permitted in RS zones in September 2018

applications have been received (last updated April 30, 2019)

Early actions

|
In September 2018, Council approved duplexes as a use in most RS zones (1 MB). Enactment took place at the Council meeting on October 30, 2018.

In December 2018, Council reaffirmed duplexes as a trial housing option in most RS zones (583 KB).

View RS zones with and without option to build a duplex (5 MB)

For information about development options in most RS zones, see our housing options brochure (785 KB)

For permit enquiries, contact 604-873-7611.
At the public hearing on September 19, Council postponed the public hearing for the proposed rezoning of the RT-7 & RT-8 zones to RT-5 and rezoning of the RT-10 & RT-10N zones to RT-11 & RT-11N (4.5 MB) to a public hearing following the election.

On December 4, 2018, Council considered a staff report (470 KB) and approved a recommendation to rescind the motion adopted on July 24, 2018 to refer amendments to RT zones in Kitsilano and Kensington-Cedar Cottage along with various by-laws, policies and guidelines to a public hearing, and instead focus planning resources on advancing the Making Room Housing Program as a key building block of a future city plan.

Kitsilano and Kensington-Cedar Cottage will be included in future planning for low-density neighbourhoods as part of Making Room.

Other work underway

Other work related to creating more housing choice includes:

Review of the Character Home Retention Incentives Program
Review of livability and environmental impacts of basement suite rules in RS zones
Exploring low-carbon housing options as part of the Climate Emergency Response (609 KB)