Burnaby, led by Mayor M. Hurley, is updating its old zoning rules from 1965 to help build more types of homes in areas traditionally meant for single or two-family houses. This big decision was made at the Planning and Development Committee meeting on April 8, 2024.

More Homes in Less Space

The city’s new plan creates a zone called the R1 Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing District (R1 SSMUH). Properties in this zone can have up to six homes on one lot, depending on how big the lot is and how close it is to regular bus services. This change is designed to help more people find homes in Burnaby by allowing more homes to be built in the same amount of space.

Following New Rules

These changes are in response to a new law called Bill 44-2023, which requires cities to make it easier to build small multi-home units. This is part of a bigger effort by the province to get more homes built faster because more people need places to live.

Making Building Easier

Burnaby is taking away some old rules that made building homes complicated, like strict limits on building size and how much of a lot can be covered by a building. Instead, they’ll use simpler rules based on how tall buildings can be and how far they need to be from the property line. This means builders can be more creative and build different types of homes.

Listening to the Community

Before making these changes, the city asked residents what they thought about the idea, and many people supported it. The new rules also focus on keeping Burnaby green and livable, by encouraging energy-saving features like solar panels and making sure homes have enough outdoor space.

Budget and Planning Ahead

Updating these zoning rules might bring some financial challenges, but also opportunities. Burnaby is preparing by adjusting its Development Funding Program, which will help manage the costs of these new developments over the next 25 years.

What’s Next

These changes are just the beginning. Burnaby is planning to update more of its rules to keep up with new laws and the city’s overall plans. This should help make the city a better place to live for everyone.

These new zoning rules will start on July 1, 2024, and they’re expected to make a big difference in how Burnaby grows, making it easier for more people to find good homes.

101.1 Permitted Uses

Principal Use	Use-Specific Regulations
Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing	–
Rowhouse Dwellings	101.5.2
Boarding, Lodging, or Rooming House	101.5.3
Group Home	–
Supportive Housing (Category A)	101.5.4
Accessory Use	Use-Specific Regulations
Boarding Use (up to 2 boarders)	–
Home Occupations	6.8, 6.8A
Urban Agriculture	6.30
Accessory Buildings, Structures, and Uses	101.5.5, 6.6

101.3 Subdivision Regulations

	Dwelling Type
	Rowhouse ^.1	Small-Scale Multi-Unit
Minimum Lot Width ^.2
Interior Lot	5 m, except 6.2 m for end unit lots	10 m
Corner Lot – Street	8 m	10 m
Corner Lot – Lane	6.2 m	10 m
Lot Area ^.3
Minimum Lot Area	–	281 m²
Maximum Lot Area	280 m²	–

101.4 Development Regulations

	Dwelling Type
	Rowhouse	Small-Scale Multi-Unit
Permitted Dwelling Units (including secondary suites)	1 to 3 Units	1 to 3 Units	4 Units	5 to 6 Units Within Frequent Transit Network Area
Minimum Lot Area	–	–	281 m²	281 m²
Maximum Lot Area ^.1	280 m²	–	–	–
Maximum Lot Coverage
All Buildings	55%	40%	45%	50%
Impervious Surfaces	70%
Maximum Height
Principal Building	12.0 m \| 4 storeys
Accessory Buildings	4.0 m \| 1 storey
Minimum Lot Line Setbacks for All Buildings ^.2 ^.3
Street Yard	3.0 m
Rear Yard without Lane	3.0 m, except 1.2 m for accessory buildings
Rear or Side Yard with Lane	1.2 m
Interior Side Yard	0.0 m, except 1.2 m for end unit lots	1.2 m	1.2 m	1.2 m
Minimum Separation of Buildings on the Same Lot ^.4 ^.5
Between Front Principals	–	2.4 m	2.4 m	2.4 m
Between Rear Principals	–	2.4 m	2.4 m	2.4 m
Between Front & Rear Principals	6.0 m
Between All Other Buildings	2.4 m