September 12, 2024

You may have heard about B.C.’s recent housing legislation changes, which aim to provide more housing options across the province.

To comply with this legislation, Coquitlam is required to implement significant changes that will affect resident experiences and how the City manages growth and development in our community.

In this special edition, we cover some key points of the provincial housing legislation, its impacts to our residents, and opportunities to learn more about the City's work in implementing these changes. 

Why Does This Matter To Coquitlam Residents?

The provincial housing legislation and related changes are expected to impact multiple aspects of community life in Coquitlam.

For a transcribed version of the graphic above, view this PDF.

Join Us at an Upcoming Information Session

The City’s work to implement the provincial housing legislation is ongoing, with many changes still to come. Coquitlam residents are invited to join us at one of two drop-in style information sessions, where you can view information materials, speak to City staff, and ask questions about the impacts of the housing legislation on local neighbourhoods and future development.

  • Thursday, October 3: Town Centre Park Community Centre (1207 Pinetree Way), 5 to 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, October 9: Bettie Allard YMCA (555 Emerson Street), 5 to 8 p.m.

Both sites are accessible, close to SkyTrain and transit stops, and have on-site parking.

Presentation materials from these sessions will be posted to our Provincial Housing Changes page at Let’s Talk Coquitlam, by Friday, October 4, along with an email contact for anyone unable to attend or wishing to provide more feedback.

Learn more

Funding for Community Growth

The provincial legislative changes will require significant updates to Coquitlam’s land use plans, zoning regulations and development finance framework.

While the City will adopt the new provincial funding mechanisms, these new programs are not expected to match the success of Coquitlam’s current framework. These changes may delay capital projects, such as parks and community centres, and shift the financial burden for these projects from developers to taxpayers.

Read more

Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing

Coquitlam will be required to allow for up to four housing units on most single-family lots.

Next steps: Coquitlam has requested an extension from the Province to implement this legislation. In the interim, City staff are doing a review of the infrastructure needed to support the increased density in single-family neighbourhoods.

Learn more

Transit-Oriented Areas Update

A Transit-Oriented Area is a designated area within 800 meters of SkyTrain stations where the provincial government has set minimum building heights and densities. The goal of this legislation is to promote high-density, mixed-use development close to transit, reducing the need for cars and eliminating minimum parking requirements for new buildings.

Learn more

Stay Informed

Earlier this summer, we held an “Ask Us Anything” event on social media about the new provincial housing legislation. We gathered the questions and answers from that event along with others that were received by phone, email and in person. You can find the list of frequently asked questions on our Let’s Talk page.

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We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.