British Columbia

Key insights:

This Small Housing Guidance Paper presents recommendations that will assist various actors involved in planning, designing and constructing energy efficient buildings, especially as it relates to new gentle density development.

It provides background information and identifies challenges and recommendations in eight key areas:

1. Building industry productivity and collaboration
2. Expertise gap in building sector
3. Training and skills development
4. Standardization and process improvement
5. Challenges with legislation and bylaws
6. Focus on embodied carbon
7. Energy modeling and verification
8. Infrastructure and utilities

The Infill Challenge Best Practices Summary from the City of Kelowna provides an analysis of leading edge policies, processes and projects in infill housing, and gives us the opportunity to learn from them.

Key insights:

The Best Practices Guide is intended to provide leading edge examples of infill housing from across Canada in the areas of process, development, and policy and regulations. The key lessons from each of these areas can be used to inform the Infill Challenge project as it unfolds in Kelowna.

Samples include:

Process:

• Engage stakeholders early
• Follow an objective, transparent process
• Use data and research to clarify needs and objectives

Development:

• Encourage the use of place-based design
• Ensure that lane access and a grid network are in place
• Require that front doors face the street, where possible

Policy & Development:

• Use clear language (no jargon)
• Support the process with strong visuals
• Consider context-based zoning regulations and guidelines

Single Egress Stairs: Unlocking Missing Middle Housing Potential

The National Building Code’s two-egress requirement, introduced in the 1940s, limits the design and cost-efficiency of “missing middle” housing. Modern fire safety technology — from sprinklers to fire-rated materials — means single-egress wood-frame buildings can now match or exceed the safety of older two-egress designs.

This case study examines the growing movement to update the NBC, spotlighting efforts by LGA Architectural Partners and David Hine Engineering to permit single-egress residential buildings up to six storeys.

Read how code reform could open new pathways for affordable, small-scale multi-unit homes.

Keywords: Single egress stairs; National Building Code Canada; NBC building code reform; Missing middle housing; Small-scale multi-unit housing; Affordable housing design solutions; Low-rise apartment safety; Fire safety building codes Canada; Gentle density housing; Wood-frame multi-unit buildings

Edmonton’s Fire Flow Assessments: Cutting Costs for Infill Development
In older Edmonton neighbourhoods, redevelopment was often tied to costly infrastructure upgrades — especially for fire flow capacity. But density and fire flows aren’t always linked, and mandatory upgrades can become a major barrier to building new infill homes.

This case study highlights Edmonton’s innovative site-by-site fire flow assessment, which determines whether upgrades are truly needed. In many cases, the result is significant avoided costs without compromising safety.

Learn how targeted infrastructure assessments can unlock more cost-effective gentle density housing.

Keywords: Edmonton infill development; fire flow assessment; infrastructure cost savings; gentle density housing; small-scale multi-unit housing; building code and fire safety; urban redevelopment Edmonton; affordable housing solutions; site-specific infrastructure assessment; missing middle housing

New Westminster’s Infill Housing Program: Expanding Ground-Oriented Housing Options

Since 1998, New Westminster has permitted secondary suites in all single-family zones. By 2017, demographic analysis revealed a major gap in ground-oriented, family-friendly housing — prompting community conversations and strong support for laneway houses, townhouses, and rowhouses.

While updating its Official Community Plan, the City launched Phase One of the Infill Housing Program, enabling laneway and carriage houses in most single-family zones. This case study explores the program’s origins, the key actors behind it, and lessons learned along the way.

Discover how targeted zoning changes can meet family housing needs without high-rises.

Keywords: New Westminster infill housing; gentle density housing; laneway houses; carriage houses; townhouses; rowhouses; family-friendly housing; small-scale multi-unit housing; missing middle housing; OCP housing policy

Kelowna’s Infill Housing Program: Removing Zoning Barriers to Boost Housing Supply
As one of Canada’s fastest growing cities, Kelowna has made infill housing a core part of its growth strategy, supporting the housing goals in its 2040 Official Community Plan.

Historically, restrictive zoning limited new housing supply. The City is tackling this by expanding permissions, unlocking land, and streamlining approvals to enable faster development. Highlights include the Infill Design Challenge Competitions in 2015–16 and 2021, which promoted innovative and diverse housing forms.

Explore how zoning reform and design competitions are shaping Kelowna’s gentle density future.

Keywords: Kelowna infill housing; gentle density housing; zoning reform; small-scale multi-unit housing; housing supply solutions; infill design challenge; affordable housing Kelowna; OCP housing policy; missing middle housing; streamlined development approvals

Gibsons’ Expanding Housing Policies: From Secondary Suites to Garden Suites
Since 2008, the Town of Gibsons has allowed secondary suites in all single-family dwellings, setting an early example of flexible, forward-thinking housing policy.

Over time, these permissions have expanded — in 2020 to include duplexes, townhouses, and lock-off suites in apartments. Garden suite regulations, introduced in 2015, are now under review for possible expansion through community engagement and planning.

See how Gibsons is evolving its zoning to create more diverse, gentle density housing options.

Keywords: Gibsons housing policy; gentle density housing; secondary suites; duplexes; townhouses; lock-off suites; garden suites; small-scale multi-unit housing; zoning reform; affordable housing solutions