Case Studies & Stories of Practice
British Columbia
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
