B.C. stonewalling on whether condos allowed under density plan

May 5, 2023



The B.C. government introduced its Homes for People action plan in April 2023. It calls for a blanket rezoning of all single-detached house lots in the province to accommodate three to four housing units.
But the province is mum when asked if the new legislation, to be introduced later this year, will restrict new units on traditional lots to rentals, or allow the homes to be strata units, a term used in B.C. that includes condo apartments and townhomes that can be bought and sold.
Repeated attempts by Home BUILDER to have the rules clarified have been stonewalled.
“ This fall, we will introduce legislation that will apply to many areas of the province and will allow up to four units on a traditional single-family detached lot (or 3 depending on the size/type of lot) with additional density permitted in areas well-served by transit. Policy work on this is underway and we’ll have more to say this fall,” according to the latest boilerplate statement from the office of B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon.
This issue is important because the success of the density program relies on the co-operation of detached house owners. Real estate experts in Vancouver note that many detached house owners don’t want to become landlords but would welcome the opportunity to provide strata units on their lots.