This guide was co-authored by ReHousing and Ha/f Climate Design and funded by the Neptis Foundation
The Low Carbon Guide for Multiplex Conversions was created as an accessible starting point for non-professionals. It offers practical guidance for balancing cost, performance, and carbon impact with a focus on making informed choices about construction materials and building systems like heating and cooling.
Sightline Institute – Housing Messaging Resource
This online resource from Sightline is a go-to guide for anyone communicating about housing reform. Drawing on years of field-tested research, it offers practical messaging guides, short educational videos, and key “dos and don’ts” to help advocates, policymakers, and community leaders talk about new housing options in ways that resonate. Whether you’re writing a campaign, speaking with media, or just trying to shift the narrative in your community, this toolkit helps frame the conversation for real-world impact.
Do you have any resources to share?
Do you have materials or resources that can advance collective understanding and action on gentle density housing? Share them here, for review by our project team.
Unlock New Space at Home: Burlington’s Garage Conversion Toolkit
Thinking about converting your garage into a livable suite? The City of Burlington’s Garage Conversion Toolkit can help you explore what’s possible—whether you’re creating a comfortable space for a family member or planning to rent it out as a secondary unit.
Designed to spark ideas and support early planning, the toolkit features sample layouts for one- and two-bedroom units, an accessible design option, and a Supply List with estimated costs. It also outlines key considerations like zoning, permits, and construction steps—tailored to Burlington’s local context.
While the toolkit is a great starting point for inspiration, always consult your local municipality or a qualified professional to ensure your project aligns with regulations in your area.
Download the toolkit and take the first step toward making the most of your garage.
New Development Cost Charges (DCC) Best Practices Guide Now Available
The Province of BC has released a new Development Cost Charges (DCC) Best Practices Guide to help local governments streamline how they create and manage DCC bylaws. Built in collaboration with local governments and the development community, the guide encourages standard practices while allowing flexibility for unique local needs. It also offers clear, practical advice on how to calculate and administer DCCs using industry best practices.
For elected officials, a companion guide provides a quick overview of key legislative requirements and best practices. There’s also a new Amenity Cost Charges (ACC) Best Practices Guide focused specifically on amenity-related charges.
By adopting the recommended practices, local governments can simplify the provincial review process and build greater transparency and trust with the development community.
Learn more and access the guide today!
Outils pratiques pour les communautés locales
Vous songez à offrir davantage d’options de logement à votre communauté ? Les Considérations réglementaires relatives à la densification douce – élaborées par Small Housing et la SCHL – est votre feuille de route pour y parvenir.
Cette ressource présente l’histoire de l’habitat à densification douce et propose des mesures aux communautés locales, aux urbanistes, aux élus et aux défenseurs du logement. Qu’il s’agisse d’entamer la conversation ou d’affiner les politiques, ce guide offre des conseils clairs et pratiques pour aider à façonner des quartiers plus inclusifs et plus agréables à vivre.
Téléchargez le guide pour commencer à façonner l’avenir de votre communauté dès aujourd’hui !
Thinking about bringing more housing options to your community? The Gentle Density Bylaw Guide—developed by Small Housing and CMHC—is your roadmap to making it happen.
This resource captures the “story so far” of gentle density housing and provides actionable steps for local governments, planners, elected officials, and housing advocates. Whether you’re just starting the conversation or refining policies, this guide offers clear, practical advice to help shape more inclusive, livable neighborhoods.
Launched by the Community Planning Collaborative (CPC) in August 2024, the California ADU Plans Gallery is an innovative web application showcasing an array of prefabricated and traditional site-built designs. While tailored to U.S. jurisdictions, this gallery offers valuable insights for Canadian audiences, particularly for municipalities and planners exploring accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a way to expand housing supply. Examples such as prefabricated designs and statewide pre-approvals can serve as inspiration for Canadian local governments considering ADU implementation in their communities. The site also includes a demo, offering local governments a preview for launching a similar custom tool.
“The California ADU Plans Gallery gives local governments a place to demonstrate what’s possible for their communities while providing a publicly accessible database of prefabricated plans approved for use statewide,” said David Driskell, principal at CPC, in a press release announcing the launch. “Digital tools like the ADU Plans Gallery help local governments assist their residents through the challenging ADU process and expand housing supply in their existing neighborhoods.”
Explore the California ADU Plans Gallery here.
“Throughout the United States, the housing deficit has created an affordability crisis. The underbuilding of new homes following the recession coupled with restrictive policies has led to historically low housing supply–and the high costs that come with it. To highlight the solutions that will address this crisis, Zillow and the Casita Coalition have assembled a playbook of strategies to “Build the Middle” by expanding affordable, middle-scale housing options.”
Our friends at Zillow & the Casita Coalition have published a useful playbook that highlights innovations in the field of gentle density housing, collating them in an actionable framework template.
Our friends at Happy Cities have crafted a one-of-a-kind toolkit designed to enhance social well-being through thoughtful multi-unit housing designs, supporting diverse individuals of all ages, backgrounds, abilities, household sizes, and incomes. As they describe it:
“Over 2023 and 2024, Happy Cities, Hey Neighbour Collective, and researchers from Simon Fraser University worked together with five local municipalities and one First Nation to co-create new policies to encourage sociable multi-unit housing design.
“Building on the learnings from this project—and nearly a decade of prior research—Happy Cities and Hey Neighbour Collective have published a new design toolkit of evidence-based strategies to nurture social wellbeing multi-unit housing. The design principles and actions equip policy makers, planners, designers, and community members to build and advocate for more socially connected, inclusive communities, drawing on long-term research and engagement with residents and housing industry actors—including non-profit housing providers, city planners, architects, and market developers.
“In the face of growing challenges—including an acute housing affordability crisis, extreme weather, social isolation, and an aging population—our social connections are one of the strongest resources we have to chart a more sustainable, resilient path forward.”
Discover the New Standardized Designs for Gentle Density Homes in B.C.
In September 2024, the Government of British Columbia released a series of free, standardized designs to help facilitate the development of gentle density homes. These designs are versatile, using a “building blocks” approach that allows for customization. You can mix and match elements to add features like garages or additional bedrooms and stack up to three storeys high. The collection includes a range of options from duplexes and triplexes to quadplexes and townhouses, with various roof shapes and exterior finishes to blend seamlessly into existing neighborhoods. There are also designs for accessory dwelling units, like laneway homes, and adaptable cottages perfect for aging in place.
All designs comply with the 2024 B.C. Building Code and can be tailored to fit different lot sizes and site conditions across the province. The design files are available for free download and have been compiled into a convenient catalogue for easy browsing.
These standardized designs are expected to save time and reduce costs for local governments and builders, speeding up approvals and construction. This initiative is a key component of the Homes for People action plan, aimed at unlocking more homes faster by creating favorable conditions for rapid housing development.
Click the image to view the designs and access the full document.
