Update: On September 16, the Province approved the City’s application to extend the deadline for the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing Zoning Bylaw changes. The new deadline for Coquitlam is June 30, 2025. See our Information Bulletin for more information, and stay tuned to this page for further updates.
At the end of 2023, the B.C. Government passed several pieces of legislation that apply across the province and impact the City of Coquitlam’s planning framework and development finance system.
Among these changes is Bill 44, which requires increased density allowances in single-family areas to accommodate diverse small-scale housing types, eliminates public hearings for residential rezoning applications that are compliant with the Official Community Plan, and requires that Official Community Plans be updated every five years. Urban communities, including Coquitlam, are required to allow for Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) on lots currently zoned for single-family and duplex uses with no need for a rezoning application. Specifically, the City must:
- Allow for a minimum 3 units on lots with an area less than 280m² (3,014 sq.ft.).
- Allow for a minimum 4 units on lots with an area between 280m² and 4,050m² (1 acre).
The legislation also establishes requirements for lots near bus stops with frequent service, but TransLink (the regional transit authority in Metro Vancouver) has confirmed no bus stops in Coquitlam meet the necessary criteria.
These changes affect approximately 25,000 properties across Coquitlam.
What is Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing?
The province defines Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (PDF) as a range of housing options that are typically ground-oriented and generally compatible in scale and form with established single-family and duplex neighbourhoods.
Examples of Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing include, but are not limited to:
- Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) including secondary suites, carriage houses or garden cottages
- Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes
