COQUITLAM, B.C., June 25, 2026 – The City of Coquitlam has adopted amendments to the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw to support the delivery of purpose-built rental housing, improve access to shops and services, and align with new provincial housing legislation.
The adopted changes update the City's approach to density bonus and rental housing incentives in high-density areas. The amendments are intended to maintain incentives that encourage the delivery of market rental, below-market and non-market housing while meeting provincial requirements by the Provincial deadline of June 30, 2026.
The amendments do not affect existing buildings. The new provisions would only apply if eligible properties choose to redevelop in the future.
Why are the Changes Needed?
Coquitlam has long been a regional leader in housing delivery. However, Provincial legislation introduced in 2023 and 2024 requires Coquitlam to update its density bonus system by June 30, 2026. In response, Coquitlam has restructured its existing framework while preserving many of the tools that have helped deliver new housing options across the city.
What's Changing?
The City is has replaced existing high-density zones with four new zones:
- RA-3 High-Density Residential
- MU-2 High-Density Mixed-Use
- MU-3 Transit-Oriented Mixed-Use
- MU-4 Urban Centre Mixed-Use
These new zones are designed to align with provincial requirements and continue to support complete communities near frequent transit by encouraging a mix of housing options in high-density neighbourhoods.
Building on a Successful Approach
Coquitlam's rental housing incentive program has delivered significant results over the past several years.
Since 2018, Council has approved nearly 10,000 market rental units and more than 3,000 below-market or non-market housing units through the City's rental incentive framework. More than 4,400 of these homes have already been completed or are currently under construction.
Rental Incentives Continue
Under the new framework, developers may continue to access bonus density – an additional 1.5 floor area ratio (FAR) – in exchange for providing secured rental housing.
Rental housing created through this bonus density remains exempt from Amenity Cost Charges, maintaining an important incentive for the delivery of purpose-built rental housing.
Supporting Affordable Housing
The updated approach also encourages the delivery of affordable housing in new developments.
Developers seeking additional rental density are required to dedicate a portion of that bonus floor space to affordable housing. Under the revised framework, developers may either construct these affordable units or provide a cash contribution to the City's Affordable Housing Reserve Fund, which supports the creation of new non-market housing throughout Coquitlam.
What Comes Next
City staff will continue to monitor the uptake and effectiveness of the new zones and density bonus provisions.
Staff will also develop policy to prioritize the delivery of turn-key affordable housing units over financial contributions to the Affordable Housing Reserve Fund. Engagement with development stakeholders, followed by recommendations to Council, are expected in early 2027.
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.