Government Actions
Local and senior governments can support and incentivize small scale housing options through ensuring their bylaws are not restrictive. Download the Government Action Plan below for more details on how government can enable uptake of these housing options.
Click each section below to explore some reasons why your local government should consider supporting them and a checklist of bylaws to check when undergoing a zoning bylaw or Official Community Plan (OCP) update:
Why these housing options?
The benefits of these housing options extend beyond offering additional housing units. They also offer social, economic and environmental benefits by:
- Addressing health for older adults – such as reducing social isolation through more socially connected housing options
- Expanding capacity within the housing continuum – these options can create new and at times more affordable housing units, potentially at a faster rate than new multi-unit buildings
- Saving on building carbon emissions – creating extra housing units in existing homes can reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with constructing new housing. These options can be paired with retrofits to reduce building operating carbon emissions and adapt homes to more suitable for extreme weather events
Checklist for municipal governments
How can governments support the uptake of these options?
Download the Government Checklist for some local government regulations that can affect whether home sharing, secondary suites and coach/laneway houses are feasible in a community.
Government support in action
Below are some examples of how local and provincial governments have incentivized these housing options:
Shared room initiatives
- Salt Lake City anti-displacement strategy
Note: This list is not exhaustive and is not an endorsement of the programs listed. The list is provided for reference only.
Secondary suite incentives
- BC Secondary Suite Incentive Program and Home Suite Home guide
- City of Edmonton Cornerstone Grant
Note: This list is not exhaustive and is not an endorsement of the programs listed. The list is provided for reference only.
Preapproved accessory dwelling unit designs
Check out some of these preapproved accessory dwelling unit designs in the cities of:
Note: This list is not exhaustive and is not an endorsement of the programs listed. The list is provided for reference only.