Coquitlam is meeting its obligations under new provincial housing legislation by completing an Interim Housing Needs Report Update.
COQUITLAM, B.C., April 30, 2025 – Coquitlam is meeting its obligations under new provincial housing legislation by completing an Interim Housing Needs Report Update.
This update builds on the foundational work completed in the City’s 2022 Housing Needs Report and will guide housing policies and land use planning in Coquitlam until the next comprehensive update in 2028.
Mandated by the Province in 2019, Housing Needs Reports require specific data intended to help communities better understand their current and future housing needs. The 2024 interim report update, available online at coquitlam.ca/HousingNeedsReport, serves as an addendum to the previous report and incorporates new provincially mandated components, including standardized housing projections for the City over five- and 20-year periods (by 2026 and 2041).
Housing Gaps Require Broader Support
Coquitlam’s 2024 Legislated Interim Update estimates a need for 43,253 new homes by 2041 – about 2,160 new units each year – to address both projected population growth and long-standing gaps in the housing supply. Notably, 27 per cent of this need reflects existing shortfalls in housing required to address extreme core housing need, homelessness, people who cannot afford to move into their own homes, and low vacancy rates in the rental market.
While Coquitlam continues to approve enough housing to meet the needs of our growing community, the City does not control whether – or when – approved developments are built. Factors such as market conditions, construction costs, labour shortages, and developer timelines all influence the timing and delivery of new housing.
Despite these challenges, Coquitlam has been a regional leader in supporting the creation of housing and has made significant progress. Between 2021 and 2024:
- 7,457 new homes were completed – averaging 1,864 per year.
- 12,200 building permits were issued – 3,045 per year – reflecting Coquitlam’s active support for development.
- 6,400 units are currently under building permit review, and
- Nearly 23,000 housing units have been approved by Council, providing a strong pipeline for future housing.
- More than 16,800 units are currently in the development application stage, displaying the City’s ongoing work to meet future demand.
This includes 5,100 rental unit approvals and 2,700 issued building permits for rentals, with almost 6,000 more in the development application review process since 2021.
These achievements have been driven by the City’s long-standing commitment to thoughtful land use planning and housing policies that address the community’s evolving needs. However, continued investment and partnership from senior levels of government into affordable housing projects will be essential to address current and future needs.
Actions Taken by the City to Support Housing
Coquitlam continues to build on its award-winning Housing Affordability Strategy adopted in 2015, which guides efforts to deliver diverse and inclusive housing options. Key initiatives spearheaded by the City, prior to the provincial housing legislation, include:
- Affordable Housing Reserve Fund: Over $30 million has been collected ($22.8 million since 2021) with $19.3 million granted to support 872 affordable housing units.
- Grants Supporting Housing Initiatives: Over $770,000 in UBCM grants were used for homelessness support during the pandemic and to streamline development permit applications through an online portal.
- Rental Incentives Program: Developed by the City in 2017, the program has encouraged purpose-built rentals and below-market housing, using rental incentives to enhance housing diversity and affordability.
- Tenant Relocation Protection: Introduced policy protections and support for tenants affected by redevelopment.
- Transit-Oriented Development: The City adopted a Transit-Oriented Development Strategy in 2012 to promote higher density, mixed-use, and pedestrian-friendly areas near SkyTrain stations. In 2024, the City designated Transit-Oriented Areas in line with the provincial legislation, aiming to support increased density while balancing tenant protections and housing diversity.
- Strategic Partnerships for Affordable Housing: Partnered with BC Housing and non-profits on projects like Robert Nicklin Place, Hoy Creek Housing Co-op and S.U.C.C.E.S.S.’s two seniors rental housing projects, among others.
- Housing Accelerator Fund: Secured $25M CMHC grant to enhance housing supply and affordability through an action plan that includes streamlining approval processes, increasing rental incentives, etc.
A comprehensive list of City’s actions and progress can be found in the Housing Needs Report – Legislated Interim Update.
Coquitlam's Response to Provincial Housing Legislation
Coquitlam is committed to addressing housing affordability and supply challenges within the framework of provincial legislation. The City is actively implementing the changes imposed by the provincial government, including enabling Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, increasing density in Transit-Oriented Areas and updating its Official Community Plan. These steps build on Coquitlam’s strong housing record, with more than 7,400 new homes created between 2021 and 2024, including non-market and below-market rentals.
Coquitlam’s award-winning Housing Affordability Strategy remains a key driver in delivering diverse and inclusive housing options. While the City’s efforts align with provincial objectives, the City emphasizes the importance of local expertise in community planning.
Media contact
Renée De St. Croix
Director Urban Planning and Design
604-927-3430
DevInfo@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.