June 3, 2026

As mentioned in previous updates, as part of a suite of initiatives under Fast-Tracking Rental and Small Hotels, on June 2, the amendments to various land use documents for residential districts came into effect. The report focuses on changing the residential rental districts in low-density residential areas by reducing or removing BMR requirements to improve project viability. The report’s rationale is explicitly tied to financial testing, showing that below-market requirements were often infeasible. 

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.

May 28, 2026

As mentioned in previous updates, as part of a suite of initiatives under Fast-Tracking Rental and Small Hotels, on May 19, Council approved amendments to update Residential Districts requirements. This report focuses on changing the residential rental districts in low-density residential areas by reducing or removing BMR requirements to improve project viability.

Key changes include:

• RR-2C is eliminated entirely;
• RR-2B becomes a 6-storey 100% market rental district with no below-market requirement;
• RR-3B affordability requirement is reduced from 20% of floor area at 20% below CMHC rents to 20% of floor area at 10% below CMHC rents;
• New RR-3C district allows 6-storey mixed-use market rental with no below-market requirement on the east side;

The report’s rationale is explicitly tied to financial testing, showing that below-market requirements were often infeasible. More information can be found in the full report by City staff.

May 12, 2026

As mentioned in previous updates, at Public Hearing on May 5, Council approved amendments relating to fast-tracking rental and small hotels in the City. The report proposes to consolidate several existing commercial zones (C-2, C-2B, C-2C, and C-2C1) into a new, simplified C-2A mixed-use district, affecting over 2,300 properties. 

The new zoning would allow 6-storey rental buildings in most areas and up to 8 storeys in transit-oriented locations, eliminating the need for site-specific rezonings. This is intended to support the delivery of low-rise market rental housing near commercial corridors. The changes would also enable small-scale hotel development outside the downtown core through a development permit process.

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.

April 27, 2026

On April 14, Council generally approved and referred amendments to Public Hearing relating to fast-tracking rental and small hotels in the City. The report proposes to consolidate several existing commercial zones (C-2, C-2B, C-2C, and C-2C1) into a new, simplified C-2A mixed-use district, affecting over 2,300 properties. 

The new zoning would allow 6-storey rental buildings in most areas and up to 8 storeys in transit-oriented locations, eliminating the need for site-specific rezonings. This is intended to support the delivery of low-rise market rental housing near commercial corridors. The changes would also enable small-scale hotel development outside the downtown core through a development permit process.

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.