At the end of 2023, the B.C. Government passed several pieces of legislation that apply across the province and impact the City of Coquitlam’s planning framework and development finance system.
Among these legislative changes is Bill 47, which mandates increased densities and heights in prescribed Transit-Oriented Development Areas.
Transit-Oriented Development Areas in Coquitlam
These new rules affect eight areas in Coquitlam close to SkyTrain stations.
On July 8, Coquitlam City Council approved three bylaws needed to comply with Bill 47:
- Transit-Oriented Areas Designation Bylaw 5393, 2024 officially designates the eight Transit-Oriented Areas located within Coquitlam.
- Zoning Amendment Bylaw 5394, 2024 removes requirements to provide residential off-street parking within Transit-Oriented Areas.
- Zoning Amendment Bylaw 5396, 2024 revises the boundaries of Schedule ‘O’: Evergreen Line Core and Shoulder Station Areas, revising the ‘core’ areas to reflect the boundaries of Transit-Oriented Areas
For more details, refer to the June 17 Report to Council in the Background Documents section
Transit-Oriented Development Areas – New Requirements
Under this new legislation, for all lands currently zoned for residential or mixed residential uses and located within 800 metres of a rapid transit station (i.e. SkyTrain station), the City must:
- Designate these lands as Transit-Oriented Areas by June 30, 2024.
- Allow the following minimum densities and heights set out by the Province:
Tier | Prescribed Distance from Station (metres) | Min. Allowable Density (FAR)* | Min. Allowable Height (storeys) |
---|
1 | 200 or less | 5.0 | Up to 20 |
2 | Greater than 200 to 400 | 4.0 | Up to 12 |
3 | Greater than 400 to 800 | 3.0 | Up to 8 |
*FAR stands for Floor Area Ratio. |
- Eliminate minimum residential off-street parking requirements by June 30, 2024.
Stay tuned for additional information as implementation of the legislation related to Transit-Oriented Areas progresses.
For further information on the provincial mandates, see our provincial housing changes webpage.
Planning Bulletins
Updates and advisories to help you understand bylaw and zoning changes due to provincial housing changes.
Background Documents