Housing Accelerator Fund

HAF funding supports:

• introducing laneway homes and suites in semi-detached homes (“suites in semis”) on single and two-family zoned properties
• amending the zoning bylaw and overall program implementation
• speeding up the review of these applications

Status: Complete and implementation underway

• Zoning Bylaw changes were adopted on September 11, 2023 to allow density of up to 4 units (two semi-detached primary units, each with one suite) per eligible lot, without the need for further rezoning.
• Applications for this housing type are currently being processed.

HAF funding supports:

• expanding missing middle housing to all low-density neighbourhoods 
• providing new rental and attainable ownership options to meet housing needs across the entire housing spectrum
• allowing laneway houses and suites in semis on single and two-family zoned lots without lane access and multiplexes of 3 or 4 units on most single-family lots
• approving these units through simple building permit, without any other additional development approvals required
• speeding up the review of these applications

Status: Complete and implementation underway

• Additional zoning bylaw changes for Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) R1 District were adopted on June 10, 2024 and came into effect on July 1, 2024. These changes introduced multiplexes on single detached lots, and expanded permissions for laneway housing and suites in semi­detached homes to properties without lane access.
• Applications for this housing type are currently being processed.

HAF funding supports:

• creating a new arms-length municipal housing corporation called the Burnaby Housing Authority (BHA) to create more new affordable housing
• speeding up application review and enhancing management of City lands used for housing initiatives, including those of the BHA

Status: Complete and implementation underway

• The BHA was incorporated on June 14, 2024 and an inaugural Board of Directors was appointed in July 2024.
• The BHA is now operational, having successfully onboarded its Chief Operating Officer and a Financial Controller.
• Strategic planning is currently underway, along with efforts to advance the first two development projects, which are being fast-tracked by the City.

HAF funding supports:

• reducing approval times by improving and simplifying the development approval process
• delivering additional improvements with a focus on system-wide improvements for all permit types, including faster processing of smaller and larger scale developments in Burnaby

Status: Complete and implementation underway

• Numerous process efficiencies have been implemented, with much of the work supporting the first 2 projects - Project 1 (Laneway Housing and Suites in Semis), and Project 2 (Additional Units in Low Density Neighbourhoods).

HAF funding supports:

• a comprehensive Zoning Bylaw update which will update and modernize Burnaby's planning rules to allow more housing and more housing choice, and simplify planning rules to reduce the time it takes to approve new housing
• aligning with the City's Official Community Plan (OCP) update, which will consider new housing opportunities such as multi-unit housing near rapid transit and multi-unit missing middle housing in transition areas between high-density and low-density neighbourhoods

Status: Complete and implementation underway

• A new height-based development framework was adopted by Council on June 10, 2025 significantly simplifying development regulations for multi-family dwellings. The first project implementing this framework is already underway, with 384 market and 96 non-market rental units proposed.
• New inclusionary zoning and density bonusing bylaws were adopted by Council on October 14, 2025, allowing greater housing diversity and simplifying regulations to decrease permit processing time.

HAF funding supports:

• exploring and implementing new features and new technologies to improve digital permitting and reduce approval timelines
• making the application process easier for applicants and the public

Status: Complete and implementation underway

• Numerous new features and enhancements have been made to the City’s existing permitting system, EnerGov.
• Automated zoning compliance software (Archistar eCheck) to support faster R1 processing and housing delivery launched as a closed pilot program in Spring 2025.
• eCheck transitioned to an open pilot phase in Fall 2025, enabling customers to directly upload draft building plans to review for zoning compliance before submitting their permit application. This helps identify deficiencies early and is expected to result in higher-quality submissions and reduced review times.

HAF funding supports:

• pre-zoning a specific area of the city to allow more multi-family homes, without the need for rezoning, therefore saving time

Status: Complete and implementation underway

• Pre-zoning of single-family properties to permit SSMUH development was adopted by Council on June 10, 2024 and went into effect on July 1, 2024.

HAF funding supports:

• speeding up lease negotiations for non‐market housing projects and enhanced property management support for City‐owned properties, including units rented at below market rates

Status: Underway

• Implementation is underway, with one new staff member hired to focus on expediting affordable housing delivery.

HAF funding supports:

• upgrading infrastructure related to new housing development, including residential laneways and other offsite infrastructure required to support new growth

Status: Underway

The following projects will be completed in 2025:

• Upgrading 7 residential laneways next to small scale multi-unit housing applications in the Edmonds, East Burnaby, Broadview, Heights and Royal Oak areas.
• Replacing aged watermains and fire hydrants in the Buckingham Heights, Royal Oak and South Slope areas, along with associated road upgrades.
• Installing new sidewalks, curbs and gutters, front boulevards, street trees and streetlights on 6th Street in the Buckingham Heights and east Burnaby areas.

HAF funding supports:

• implementing Park Pulse, a 4-year park improvement program of installing park and recreation amenities throughout the city
• improving access and quality of park amenities in high growth areas

Status: Underway

• Improvements were completed at 7 parks in 2024.
• The following projects were completed in 2025: Central Park signage upgrades, McKay playground replacement, Willingdon Heights new basketball courts, playground accessibility upgrades at 9 parks, Ernie Winch bench seating, environmental habitat development on various sites, temporary Park Pulse furnishings at 4 parks and Day of Play event.
• Additional projects are planned for 2026.