Burnaby already delivers some of the strongest tenant protection measures in the province, and this week City Council has further strengthened these protections by formally enshrining its leading Tenant Assistance Policy into a new Tenant Protection Bylaw, ensuring tenants are protected no matter how a redevelopment project proceeds.
The new bylaw will build on more than a decade of experience, formalizing long-standing requirements and adding enforcement tools to better protect renters during redevelopment.
What’s new
Previously, Burnaby’s Tenant Assistance Policy applied only to redevelopment projects that required rezoning. Under the new Burnaby Tenant Protection Bylaw, protections will now apply to all qualifying redevelopment projects city-wide if the previous site has at least five purpose-built rental housing units, even when no rezoning is required. Additionally, the new Bylaw will add new enforcement tools and improve communication with tenants throughout the redevelopment process.
“We want Burnaby to be a city that is affordable and where you can stay in the neighbourhood you call home and love,” said Mayor Mike Hurley. “At the City of Burnaby, we continue to improve our tenant protections with these goals in mind.”
Real results for renters
Burnaby’s tenant protections are already delivering positive results. Rental homes have been offered to displaced tenants at four completed redevelopment projects. As of December 31, 2025, residents of 91 households have moved back into brand new buildings at the same rent they paid before redevelopment, plus any allowable Residential Tenancy Act increases. Remaining replacement units are being delivered as affordable housing to community members.
Across the city, approximately 1,900 rental homes are in various stages of redevelopment under Burnaby’s Tenant Assistance Policy. Tenants are expected to begin moving into three additional completed projects this year, further demonstrating how the policy supports renters through long-term redevelopment.
Leading the province
Burnaby first adopted tenant protections in 2015, strengthened them in 2020, and is continuing to refine its approach based on experience and results into a Tenant Protection Bylaw. This approach offers one of the most substantial tenant supports in British Columbia.