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. 

The aim is to deliver housing that falls in the “missing middle”, between single-family homes and higher density apartments. This housing is 4-storeys or less in height, and includes duplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, and 3-4 storey apartments.

By making room for housing that falls in the missing middle, we can accommodate the needs of a range of households at all stages of life.

Early actions

Further to Council direction in June, the following proposed zoning changes were referred to public hearing on September 18:

• Amendments to most RS (one-family) areas to allow duplexes  (1 MB)
• Rezoning RT-7 and RT-8 zones (two-family districts in Kitsilano) to RT-5  (4 MB) to expand housing choice to include laneway houses, secondary suites within duplexes, and to allow for improved opportunities for infill and multiple conversion dwelling with the retention of a character house.
• Rezoning RT-10 and RT-10N (two-family districts in KCC) to RT-11 and RT-11N  (4 MB) to maintain the characteristic “small house/duplex” option currently permitted while expanding housing options to include laneway houses, secondary suites within duplexes, and providing additional opportunities for infill.
• Lock-off suite regulations  (1 MB)

Our focus over the next year

We are taking a city-wide approach with this program and are focusing on low-density neighbourhoods. 

Over the next year, the Making Room program will:

• Map and research the current conditions in low-density neighbourhoods
• Analyze new housing options and types for consideration
• Explore ways to improve affordability
• Engage with residents on what they want to make room for in their neighbourhoods
• Develop principles and selection criteria to identify suitable locations for new housing options, considering factors such as proximity to transit, shopping, schools, parks, and amenities
• Evaluate where the greatest opportunities exist for increasing housing diversity with the least impacts
• Develop recommendations on changes beyond duplex and report back to Council in spring, 2019