From previous engagement through the Vancouver Plan and Housing Vancouver Strategy, we’ve heard strong support for adding more housing choice in low density neighbourhoods, including more “missing middle” housing. Work to explore new options is underway, and we are seeking feedback on what residents think about the concept so far.
Specifically, we are exploring changes that would allow a “multiplex” to be built in low density neighbourhoods where a single-detached house or duplex can be built today. Multiplexes would:
- Help make low-density neighbourhoods more complete
- Provide more ownership housing options that cost less than a new detached house or duplex unit, so more households can build a future here
- Provide more housing options that meet the needs of a diverse range of household types, including families with children
- Improve the accessibility and sustainability of new housing
We are also exploring changes to simplify regulation for all housing options in low density areas in order to create capacity in the permitting system to handle new missing middle options and make it simpler and easier to process permits.
Share your thoughts on our ideas to add “missing middle” housing options and simplify housing regulations.
- The feedback received from this survey will help shape the development of a more detailed proposal and draft recommendations to add multiplexes as an option and simplify regulations in low density neighbourhoods. These will be shared for additional public input later this year.
The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete and is open until March 5th. Thank you, your input is important to us!
For more information you can review the materials on the project webpage, and consider attending one of the information sessions.
Key Terms
“Missing middle” refers to a range of housing types that fit between houses and apartment building over 6 storeys, including multi-unit buildings such as duplexes, triplexes, townhouses and low-rise apartments. It’s described as “missing” because there is very little of this type of housing in most of Vancouver’s low density neighbourhoods, which account for more than half of the city’s land area.
“Multiplexes” are a type of missing middle housing, consisting of small townhouse buildings on single lots, that could include up to 4 units on standard lots and 6 units on larger lots.
“Low density neighbourhoods” in Vancouver are areas where the primary type of buildings are single-detached houses. While these RS-zoned areas are often referred to as “single-family” neighbourhoods, many houses contain a secondary suite, and some have a third unit in a separate laneway house. Since 2018, duplexes have also been allowed and are starting to be built in most of these neighbourhoods as well.
