The urgent need for more market homes in municipalities province-wide led the BC government to enact legislation aimed at creating more housing, including:

• Bill 44: Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act to pre-zone land to meet housing needs, reduce current lengthy rezoning processes, and eliminate public hearings;
• Bill 46: Housing Statutes (Development Financing) Amendment Act, 2023 to streamline the delivery of homes, services and infrastructure; and
• Bill 47: Housing Statutes (Transit Oriented Areas) Amendment Act, 2023 to allow municipalities to streamline the delivery of transit-oriented density within 800 metres of a SkyTrain station and within 400 metres of a bus exchange.

To help municipalities comply with legislation, the province began providing $51 million in grant-based upfront funding, starting January 18, 2024.

“We’re working with local governments to build this housing faster,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing.

Local governments can use funding to hire consultants and staff to update:

• community plans and housing needs reports;
• the development approvals process;
• zoning bylaws; and
• development cost charge and amenity cost charge bylaws.

Local governments can also use the funds for research and community engagement.

Read BC government legislation trying to make market and rental housing more affordable.

Read the government news release about this new funding.

Read about the amount of funding your local government received.

If you have questions about local government funding for market housing, contact Harriet Permut, director of government relations at hpermut@rebgv.org.