New standardized housing designs aim to lower costs, build faster

The British Columbia government has introduced free standardized designs to accelerate the construction of small-scale, multi-unit housing. The initiative aims to reduce planning time and costs, offering flexible designs for duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, and townhouses that blend seamlessly into communities.

The designs, which comply with the 2024 B.C. Building Code, can be customized to fit various lot sizes and include options like garages and additional bedrooms.

“Our government is leaving no stone unturned to deliver more housing of all kinds for people everywhere,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “Set housing designs mean that people will be able to build more beautiful homes in their communities, faster than ever before.”

This initiative supports the broader Homes for People action plan to address housing shortages.