British Columbia Launches Urgent Housing Orders for 10 Cities

URGENT UPDATE: British Columbia has just announced ambitious new housing orders for 10 municipalities, aiming to deliver approximately 40,000 homes over the next five years. This significant move, confirmed by the Housing Ministry, is designed to address the growing housing demands in the province and begins on September 1, 2025.

The latest initiative targets municipalities including Burnaby, Coquitlam, Courtenay, the Township of Langley, Langford, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Richmond, Squamish, and Vernon. Each community has been assigned specific five-year targets reflecting 75 percent of their estimated housing needs, with guidelines on unit sizes and rental versus ownership ratios.

The Housing Ministry emphasizes that more than 14,000 of the new homes will be designated as below-market rentals, a crucial step toward increasing affordable housing options for residents. Notably, Burnaby has received the largest allocation, with a target of 10,240 homes. Other municipalities, such as Coquitlam, Richmond, and the Township of Langley, have been tasked with increasing their housing supply by over 6,000 homes each.

Since the inception of this expanded housing-targets program, which now includes a total of 40 communities, more than 16,000 new homes have already been built in the first three groups of municipalities. This latest development underscores the provincial government’s commitment to tackling the ongoing housing crisis that affects many British Columbians.

As cities brace for the upcoming changes, local officials are urged to accelerate their housing strategies to meet these ambitious targets. The Housing Ministry’s proactive approach highlights the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to housing shortages across the province.

What’s next? Residents and stakeholders should prepare for discussions on how these targets will be implemented in their communities. With the clock ticking down to September 1, the momentum for change is palpable, and further updates are anticipated as municipalities finalize their plans.

Stay tuned for more updates as British Columbia takes significant strides toward enhancing its housing landscape. This is a developing story, and we will bring you the latest as it unfolds.