In late 2023, the provincial government introduced a series of new acts that significantly change how BC municipalities plan, consider and approve development in their communities. The intent of these amendments is to increase the housing supply and improve housing affordability across the province.
Over the next two years, the City will be working on a number of projects that respond to the legislation, in particular, updating the Zoning Bylaw, Housing Needs Report and the Official Community Plan. Expand the following key pieces of legislation below to learn more:
In October 2023, the Province adopted the Short-Term Rental Accommodations (STRA) Act intending to support local government enforcement of short-term rental accommodation bylaws, return dwelling units used for short-term accommodation to the rental housing market, and establish a new Provincial role in the regulation of short-term rental accommodations.
The STRA Act sets minimum standards for short-term rental accommodations which include defining “short-term rental accommodations” as a rental of a self-contained suite for a period of less than 90 consecutive days and limiting short-term rental accommodations to the rental host’s principal residence plus an accessory dwelling unit or secondary suite.
The STRA Act eliminates non-conforming use protections for properties offering short-term rental accommodations that are not in keeping with current municipal regulations, establishes a mandatory Provincial short-term rental accommodation registry that will require hosts and platforms to include a provincial registry number, and provides for increased fines and tickets for persons who contravene a municipal short-term rental accommodation regulation. The Province is also establishing a new compliance and enforcement unit.
Municipal regulations were required to be amended by May 1st, 2024 to reflect these minimum standards; a municipality may implement more restrictive requirements or prohibit all short-term rental accommodations. Staff assessed the implications of this Act on existing City regulations and policies and presented a report to Committee of Council on March 12th, 2024 summarizing this review and recommending minor changes to ensure the City’s regulations remain in compliance.
In November 2023, the Province adopted the Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act. This legislation impacted development approval processes by prohibiting public hearings for residential rezoning which are consistent with an Official Community Plan and changed planning frameworks by requiring municipalities to amend their bylaws to allow increased density (Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing or SSMUH) on lots currently zoned for single family or duplex homes (by June 30th). This legislation also required municipalities complete an updated Housing Needs Report by December 2024, and update Official Community Plans and Zoning bylaws to align and accommodate a 20-year housing projection by December 2025.
In order to comply with this legislation, the City has amended its bylaws to permit up to 4 dwelling units in RS1-4 zones. The type of permitted development includes single residential or duplex; secondary suite (within a single residential or duplex building); and an Accessory Dwelling Unit (coach house) on a lot containing a single residential use. For properties within 400 meters of a prescribed bus stop, a triplex with secondary suites would also be permitted to accommodate up to 6 units. Siting, landscaping, parking, floor area and administrative regulations have also been amended to meet Provincial legislation, and the City has amended and streamlined its development approval processes. Finally, the City has prezoned most residential properties located within an area designated in the OCP for Apartment uses to RA1 (Residential Apartment 1) to ensure these areas continue to redevelop for apartment uses.
More information and details on the changes are provided in the staff report:
As new housing is built, the City will need to add or improve existing infrastructure and amenities. The Bill 46 legislation, adopted in November 2023, expands what Development Cost Charges (DCC) can be collected for and introduces framework for Amenity Cost Charges (ACC), a new tool that local governments can use to fund future facilities or features that provide social, culture, heritage, recreational or environmental benefits to a community. Examples include: community, youth, or seniors’ centres, recreational or athletic facilities, libraries, daycare facilities, and public squares.
Staff are reviewing the possibility of utilizing ACCs to help fund future amenities. Part of this process is conducting a comprehensive review of current amenity capacities and anticipated future demands.
This Bill establishes Transit Oriented Areas (TOA) around prescribed transit stations to permit more dense development. Local governments were required to update their bylaws to permit minimum density on lots within Transit Oriented Areas by June 30.
In response to this legislation, the Official Community Plan has been amended to designate the TOAs and include the permitted densities and policies to guide future development. Rezoning applications will still be required for redevelopment in these areas.
Transit stations in and around Port Coquitlam differ based on transit technology and are split into two categories:
Category 1: Skytrain Station (Coquitlam Central and Lincoln Station)
Category 2: Bus Exchange or West Coast Express Station (Port Coquitlam Station)
Properties are divided into tiers based on their distance from transit stations. The minimum permitted density for each tier is calculated by storeys and floor area ratio which is the total floor area of all buildings on a lot divided by the surface area of the lot. The table below shows a summary of the categories, tiers, and permitted densities:
Category
Tier
Distance
Minimum Permitted Density (Floor Area Ratio)
Minimum Permitted Height (Storeys)
Category 1: Skytrain Station
1
200m or Less
Up to 5.0
Up to 20
2
200m-400m
Up to 4.0
Up to 12
3
400m-800m
Up to 3.0
Up to 8
Category 2: Bus Exchange or West Coast Express Station
4
200m or Less
Up to 4.0
Up to 12
5
200m-400m
Up to 3.0
Up to 8
In April 2024, the Province amended the Local Government Act to include additional tools that municipalities can use to support the creation of more housing. These new and updated tools include: inclusionary zoning and density bonus bylaws, tenant protection bylaws, and site-level infrastructure and transportation demand management authorities.
Port Coquitlam staff will be reviewing these new tools over the next year to determine any necessary bylaw amendments.
Future Deadlines
January 1, 2025: Updates to Housing Needs Report must be completed.
December 31, 2025: Updates to the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw (based on the Housing Needs Report) must be completed.
Stay Informed
The City of Port Coquitlam is committed to keeping community members informed about the Official Community Plan update process. Here's how to stay informed:
