City of Burnaby Releases Details on SSMUH Zoning Update

The City of Burnaby’s planning department has released a report on the upcoming zoning changes to accommodate the Province’s mandated Small Scale Multi Unit Housing (SSMUH) under Bill 44, passed in December 2023.

Bill 44 requires municipal governments to permit the following minimum number of housing units in land use zones that are otherwise restricted to single family dwellings or duplexes:

• 3 units on lots that are up to 3,014 SF;
• 4 units on lots that are greater than 3,014 SF; and
• 6 units on lots that are at least 3,025 SF & within 400 m of bus stops with frequent service.

The City’s proposed approach is to repeal all of the existing single family residential zones (R7 Mobile Home Park District and R1, R1a, R2, R2a, R3, R3a, R4, R4a, R5, R5a, R6, R8, R9, R9a, R10, R11, R12, and R12s) and replacing them with a single R1 SSMUH District.

The City is required to pass the zoning bylaw update by June 30, 2024.

There are currently 30,662 single family zoned lots in the City of Burnaby.

Details of Proposed R1 SSMUH Zoning

The following zoning provisions are proposed as part of a new Section 101, R1 Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing District, within the Zoning Bylaw:

• Uses:
  o Up to 6 dwelling units on a lot, depending on the lot size and proximity to a bus stop
  with frequent service
  o Rowhouses, which would permit up to 3 dwelling units on a lot
  o Boarding, lodging, or rooming house, subject to Comprehensive
  
• Subdivision:
  o For rowhouse dwellings, require a minimum lot width of 16 ft to 26 ft
  o For SSMUH subdivisions, require a minimum lot width of 33 ft
  o Subdivision to create panhandle lots will continue to be restricted, with
  individual consideration of irregular shaped lots to be determined by
  the Approving Officer.

• Number of Units:
  • 3 units on lots that are up to 3,014 SF;
  • 4 units on lots that are greater than 3,014 SF; and
  • 6 units on lots that are at least 3,025 SF & within 400 m of bus stops with frequent service.
  • Lot Coverage:
    o 40% for 1 to 3 SSMUH dwelling units
    o 45% for 4 SSMUH dwelling units
    o 50% for 5 to 6 SSMUH dwelling units
    o 55% for rowhouse dwellings
  • Parking
  • Minimum 0.5 parking stalls per unit outside of lots within 400m Frequent Transit Network
  • No parking minimums for lots within 400m Frequent Transit Network

  Other

  • Does not regulate tenure – can be either strata or rental
  • Minimum of one 3-bedroom unit for lots with 1 to 3 units
  • Minimum of two 3-bedroom units for lots with 4-6 units
  • allows fee-simple rowhouses
  • 70% maximum impervious surface requirement to support more lot area for stormwater management, tree retention, and outdoor amenity space for residents
  • Building heights up to a maximum of 40 ft and 4 storeys, inclusive of any basement or cellar storey
  • Reduced yard setbacks for buildings and introduce the concept of “street yards” to provide consistent setbacks from all property lines adjacent to streets
  • Minimum separation of 8 ft between principal buildings and/or accessory buildings and a minimum separation of 20 ft between front and rear principal buildings on the same lot
  • Minimum of 107 SF of outdoor amenity space for the exclusive use of each primary dwelling unit on a lot
  • Heritage provisions that provide more flexibility in siting and massing of buildings for lots on the Community Heritage Register to support retention of heritage assets