What Happened

The City of Prince George authorized the creation of a standardized housing design catalogue during a city council meeting on Monday night, July 22, 2026. The initiative aims to streamline development approvals and facilitate the construction of small-scale, multi-unit housing across the northern British Columbia community. City staff have contracted Small Housing B.C. to research the catalogue and explore integrating Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) designs into the local framework.

Tamara White, co-executive lead of planning and innovation at Small Housing B.C., presented findings to the council, highlighting a growing demand for ground-oriented options like duplexes, row houses, and accessory dwellings. The city plans to update zoning bylaws and release a request for proposal (RFP) for standardized, permit-ready designs. This effort supports the city's target of delivering 1,803 housing units by 2029 under the provincial Housing Supply Act.

White noted that design catalogues have historical precedent in Canada, particularly during the post-war era for veterans. The goal is to provide local builders with visual references and predictable timelines to build confidence in small-scale development. The city intends to ensure the final catalogue includes pre-approved designs that are compatible with Prince George's specific local context.

Why It Matters

This move addresses a critical bottleneck in housing supply by reducing the time and uncertainty associated with early-stage development. By offering pre-approved, permit-ready designs, the city aims to lower the barrier to entry for small-scale developers and homeowners looking to build secondary suites or duplexes. This directly supports the provincial mandate to increase housing density and variety, moving away from a zoning landscape that traditionally favours large, single-family homes.

The introduction of a standardized catalogue provides a predictable framework for development, which is essential for securing financing and managing construction costs. For Prince George, which has a specific target of 1,803 units by 2029, this tool is a mechanism to accelerate the pace of delivery. It shifts the planning process from a case-by-case negotiation to a more efficient, standardized review, potentially speeding up the time from concept to construction start.

Local Vancouver / Burnaby Context

While Prince George is acting independently, this aligns with broader provincial strategies to increase housing supply through standardized design. In the Greater Vancouver area, including Burnaby and Vancouver, housing supply challenges are often compounded by complex zoning bylaws and lengthy approval processes for multi-unit developments. The province has previously commissioned standardized, customizable residential building designs for small-scale, multi-unit housing on lots previously zoned for single-family homes.

Local context in Burnaby and Vancouver shows that while density is increasing, the feasibility of small-scale projects like laneway houses or duplexes often hinges on design flexibility and approval speed. The approach taken by Prince George, leveraging federal resources like the CMHC catalogue, mirrors strategies seen in other regions like Kelowna, which has been cited as a leading case study for pre-approved designs. For local stakeholders, this highlights a growing trend where municipalities are actively seeking tools to bypass traditional red tape to meet provincial housing targets.

Market Impact

The adoption of pre-approved designs in Prince George is likely to increase the feasibility of small-scale multi-unit projects. Developers may find it easier to secure pre-development financing due to the reduced design risk and clearer regulatory pathway. This could lead to a modest increase in the supply of duplexes, row houses, and accessory dwelling units in the near term, helping to stabilize rental markets and provide more diverse housing options for seniors and smaller households.

For the broader market, the success of this model could influence other municipalities to adopt similar standardized approaches. It signals a shift towards more efficient development processes, which may eventually impact land values in areas zoned for small-scale multi-unit housing. The focus on ground-oriented housing rather than high-rise apartments suggests a targeted impact on neighbourhood character and local rental supply.

Builder / Developer Perspective

For builders and developers, the standardized catalogue offers a way to reduce pre-development costs and time. By using pre-approved, permit-ready designs, developers can minimize the risk of design-related delays and streamline the permitting process. This is particularly valuable for small-scale projects where margins can be tight. The availability of visual references and predictable outcomes provides the confidence needed to pursue smaller, ground-oriented housing options that might otherwise be deemed too risky or complex.

BurnabyHouse Insight

Prince George's move to adopt a standardized housing design catalogue is a pragmatic response to the provincial housing supply mandate. By leveraging the CMHC catalogue and contracting Small Housing B.C., the city is attempting to bypass traditional planning bottlenecks. This approach mirrors strategies in other regions like Kelowna, where pre-approved designs have been used to accelerate small-scale multi-unit housing. For Burnaby and Vancouver, this highlights the growing importance of standardized tools in making small-scale density feasible. While the immediate impact is local, the trend towards standardized, permit-ready designs could reshape how small-scale development is approached across British Columbia, potentially reducing costs and time for developers and homeowners alike.