Housing Accelerator Fund

Year one update

We've created two short-term project incentives to stimulate and accelerate the developing of housing units in Surrey. 

Rapid Transit Development Incentives Program

The Rapid Transit Development Incentives Program encourages and accelerates the development of housing units near existing rapid transit, including existing SkyTrain stations and RapidBus corridors, by offering a 50% rebate on certain planning, engineering, and building permit application fees. 

Non-Market Rental Housing Development Incentives Program

The Non-Market Rental Housing Development Program encourages and accelerates the development of non-market rental housing units by offering:

• An exemption on Surrey Development Cost Charges (DCCs) and Community Amenity Contributions (CACs).
• A 50% rebate on certain planning, engineering, and building permit application fees. 

Learn more about the eligibility criteria and rebate information for the incentive programs. 

In July 2022, the City launched the Guaranteed Permitting Timelines Program with the introduction of guaranteed processing times for single-family building permits, tenant improvement building permits, and rezoning applications. 

Deliverables 

Through the HAF grant, we will increase the scope of the program across high-volume permit types with the:

• Implementation of processing timelines in additional permitting areas, including townhouse building permits, low-rise building permits, high-rise building permits, and rezoning applications with plan amendments;
• Establishment of incremental performance measures at key milestones in the approval process to provide additional insights into the approval process and seek to reduce the overall application processing times for applicants; and
• Exploration of policies to promote project completion, lowering the amount of idle land in Surrey.

Year one update

• Introduction of the Development and Permit Approval Targets: Expand on the Guaranteed Permitting Timelines Program to include a range of development types, including townhouses, low-rise and high-rise projects. In early 2025, staff will update the City's permit timelines on the website to reflect the expanded applicant experience approval times. 
• Introduced and updated policies to streamline project completion and discourage unit vacancy: 
  • Pilot program for early permit submission: Introduced a pilot program for early building permit submission for single-family homes before subdivision approval.
  • Stormwater drainage policy revisions: Updated policies for single-family lots to simplify stormwater drainage requirements.
  • Advisory design panel process updates: revised the process to expedite project approvals for projects requiring design review.

This initiative seeks to review and implement professional reliance in the development approval process.

Deliverables  

• Delegate some decision-making authority to trusted qualified professionals.
• Increase the speed of the permit issuance process.
• Provide the City and development industry with further clarity to the legal framework around professional reliance. 
• Enhancements to the existing professional reliance programs, including the Certified Professional Program. 

Digital permitting, supplemented with artificial intelligence (AI), can provide significant improvements to the permitting process, allowing for enhanced transparency, reduced errors, process automation, and reduced costs.

In 2020, the City began the shift toward digital permitting with the Citizen Portal which enables digital permitting for municipalities using AMANDA as their land management system. Several new and improved online permitting capabilities have been enabled, including electrical permit applications, plumbing permit applications, building permit inspection requests and cross connection control permit data management. 

Deliverables 

We will continue to leverage digital permitting capabilities for enhanced transparency and increased efficiency, including: 

• Provide end-to-end online permitting capabilities for building, planning, and engineering permits;
• Research and implement AI-powered digital compliance capabilities to support staff in evaluating submissions; and
• Research and develop an AI-powered development inquiry tool to better support applicants in understanding development requirements and fostering increased development.

Year one update

• Continuous improvements to the Development Inquiry Assistant (DIA) tool: Provides enhanced support for zoning and development inquiries.
• Contract award to Archistar: Implemented an automated rule-based bylaw compliance tool to streamline zoning reviews.
• Revamped permitting portal: Improved the Online Development Inquiry (ODI) to include single-family building permit information and expanded trade permitting and inspection request capabilities.

This initiative intends to update the City’s Zoning Bylaw and policies to readily accommodate high density residential uses within rapid transit corridors. 

Deliverables 

Zoning Bylaw updates

• Create new multi-family zones (six-storey, mid-rise, mixed use zones);
• Introduce rental zoning as an option within multi-family zones; and
• Reduce parking requirements for rental near rapid transit.

Policy updates

• NCP review and update of South Newton and King George Corridor; update old designations; 
• Review land use designations in the Official Community Plan (OCP) to permit higher density along rapid transit without the need for undertaking a Neighbourhood Concept Plan (NCP) amendment;
• Review use of pre-approved multi-family plans

This initiative will be facilitated by implementing updates and amendments to policy framework. 

Deliverables 

• Supports diversifying housing stock in existing infill neighbourhoods to support the 15-minute neighbourhood concept, as well as market responsive designations in new neighbourhood plan areas.  
• Facilitated by implementing the necessary policy and regulatory framework to permit Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and other additional units “as of right” through Zoning Bylaw updates to existing zones as well as creation of new zones.
• It will be further supported by amendments to the OCP and development of Design Guidelines for preapproved ADU plans.

This initiative aims to remove barriers to the provision of below market housing units through analysis of financial considerations based on Surrey’s market context as well as implementation of policies, regulations, and processes toward increasing the supply of affordable housing. 

Deliverables

• Partner with external agencies to expediate affordable rental housing and building permit issuance for pre-approved plans; 
• Explore "as of right" zoning for below market affordable and supportive housing units that are OCP compliant; 
• Review the Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) amounts for the Affordable Housing Fund; and
• Review affordable housing policies 

The City seeks to provide short-term and inform long-term staffing opportunities to existing and new staff. 

Deliverables

• Review and increase staffing capacity 
• Introduce temporary project positions 
• Seek to inform long-term staffing plans