Surrey creating ‘small-scale’ zones, updating public hearing criteria to comply with Province’s new housing laws

Surrey, BC - The City of Surrey is making changes to its zoning rules to comply with new provincial housing laws and allow for more small-scale, multi-unit housing developments in the city. The provincial government is requiring cities to make these changes in an effort to increase the supply and affordability of housing in British Columbia. During its Regular Council Meeting on June 10, Surrey Council approved bylaw amendments to create new zones for small-scale, multi-unit housing developments; update existing rules to make it easier to build these types of developments; increase the distance that people need to be notified when there are changes to the city's official community plan or zoning bylaw from 100 to 120 metres; and create new rules for providing notices for proposed development variance permits.

While Surrey Council understands the need for more housing, it must be matched by investment in community infrastructure.

"Surrey and other cities are facing an unprecedented challenge due to the Province's new housing legislation, which was implemented without any consultation," said Mayor Brenda Locke. "Aside from hindering a city’s ability to plan for livable communities, I am very concerned how these unilateral measures will change communities forever. The lack of foresight coupled with inadequate provincial investment in healthcare, education, and transportation will place a strain on our city's infrastructure and services. We need a collaborative approach with higher levels of government to ensure sustainable and equitable growth, rather than simply imposing top-down solutions."

In addition to the new provincial legislation, cities—including Surrey—are receiving targets from the Province to build new housing quickly. It is therefore imperative that higher levels of government ensure adequate public infrastructure is being delivered alongside this growth. Surrey is experiencing record-breaking development. As of the end of April, the City had issued for 5,123 new housing units which total $2.12B in construction values. This record pace breaks many previous annual records, and the City has more than 34,000 housing units approved in principle that have not yet been built.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimates Canada needs to build 5.8 million new housing units by 2030. This will prove to be a significant burden for municipalities like Surrey, which are being asked to build without the necessary resources or infrastructure. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities research estimates the average cost of municipal infrastructure to support new housing in Canada is $107,000 per home.

The City of Surrey is joining the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and cities across the country in calls for a Municipal Growth Framework to address the pressing challenges facing Canada's cities, including aging and inadequate infrastructure in health care, schools, transportation housing and homelessness. Mayors across Canada are urging provincial and federal governments to work with municipalities to create a Municipal Growth Framework that prioritizes the needs of Canada's cities and equips municipalities with the tools and funds they need to create liveable communities. The proposed framework would ensure that cities have the tools they need to build the infrastructure residents need daily and deliver the services they depend on in their everyday lives.

Read more about our response to New Provincial Housing & Financial Regulations