June 3rd, 2025

As noted in previous updates, the Province passed “… a comprehensive package of legislation in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024,” intended to address the housing affordability and delivery challenges British Columbia faces. It included: 

• Bill 44, the Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, which mandated Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) zoning in single-family/duplex zones as well as a proactive planning framework in which local governments would pre-zone a 20-year housing supply based on their housing needs;  
• Bill 46, the Housing Statutes (Development Financing) Amendment Act, which allows DCCs to be used for “… fire protection, police, solid waste, and recycling …,” facilities as well as provide a new tool to fund growth related amenities – Amenity Cost Charges (ACCs) – so municipalities do not have to rely “… on time-consuming and costly site-by-by-site rezonings …,” to obtain amenities (e.g., Community Amenity Contributions); 
• Bill 47, the Housing Statutes (Transit-Oriented Areas) Amendment Act, which “Designate Transit-Oriented Areas in which new minimum density and height regulations apply;” and  
• Bill 16, the Housing Statutes Amendment Act, which provided new tools for local governments, so they, again, do not have to rely on the rezoning process to obtain them. The new Bill 16 tools include: 
• Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) 
• A new Density Bonusing approach that can be used for amenities and affordable housing;  
• “… works and services that individual developments may be required to provide as a condition of obtaining a building permit or subdivision approval …;” and 
• Transportation Demand Measures (TDM).  

The Ministry refers to this legislative package and its implementation as a new Local Housing Government Framework (LHGF). They have released several guidance documents for local governments and the industry regarding the requirements and tools, which have been noted in previous newsletters and are available on the Ministry’s LHGF webpage.  

Last month, MHMA released an overview document about the LHGF changes - the Guide to the Local Government Housing Framework: New Legislation for Community Planning, Zoning, Affordable Housing, Infrastructure, and Amenities. It provides high level information on all the new requirements and tools for municipalities and how they are intended to work together to improve the delivery of new housing as well as “Implementation Considerations” and the timing of the changes (see below):  

April 22, 2025

As mentioned in previous updates, in April, the Province released additional Amenity Cost Charge (ACC) and Development Cost Charge (DCC) Guides for Elected Officials. 

More information can be found in the ACC Guide and DCC Guide. 

March 25, 2025

As noted in previous newsletters, the Province introduced several legislative changes in 2023 and 2024 to encourage more proactive planning and pre-zoning. Under Bill 44 - Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, by January 1, 2026, local governments must update their “… zoning bylaws to permit the use and density to accommodate the total number of housing units needed over at least the next 20 years.” 

In order to allow local governments to obtain infrastructure, affordable housing and amenities without utilizing rezonings, the Province also passed Bill 46 - Housing Statutes (Development Financing) Amendment Act which broadened Development Cost Charges (DCCs) and introduced Amenity Cost Charges (ACCs).  

Last year, the Province passed Bill 16 - Housing Statutes Amendment Act, which gave municipalities new authorities regarding inclusionary zoning (IZ), and the ability to have Tenant Protection Bylaws that can by enforced through their development permits powers. In addition, Bill 16 amended municipal density bonusing (DB) authorities, which can be used for additional affordable housing and amenities. 

Earlier this month, the Province released new Guidance documents for some of these initiatives, including: 

• A Comprehensive Guidance: Tenant Protection Bylaws (as noted in the last Federal/Provincial newsletter);
• An Amenity Cost Charges Best Practices Guide (as noted in the last Federal/Provincial newsletter);
• Comprehensive Guidance: Inclusionary Zoning and Density Bonusing (see more information here);
• A Proactive Planning Guide (see more information here); and
• An updated Development Cost Charges Best Practices Guide (see more information here).

If you have any questions regarding the Guidance documents, please contact the Ministry at PLUM@gov.bc.ca.