High-Rise Projects in Burnaby Face New Affordability Mandates
A city policy requires future developers to include affordable units in high-density builds, aiming to curb skyrocketing housing costs while increasing supply.
Burnaby is rolling out one of the region’s most aggressive affordability mandates for high-rise developments, requiring that at least 25% of all new units in towers over 10 stories be classified as below-market housing.
The new policy, which comes into effect July 1, has received praise from housing advocates and pushback from some of the city’s largest developers. Mayor Linda Hong called the move “a necessary correction” during a recent council meeting, citing record-breaking rent hikes and low vacancy rates as driving factors.
“Burnaby has become unaffordable for too many,” Hong said. “We can’t let the skyline grow if the community can’t afford to live under it.”
Developers, however, argue that the policy could discourage investment and slow construction. Representatives from the Burnaby Developers Association warned that the mandate would shrink profit margins and potentially delay or cancel upcoming projects.
“Affordable housing is a shared goal,” said BDA president Carlo Jimenez. “But this level of requirement, without subsidies or tax incentives, could make some builds financially unfeasible.”
In response, the city is considering a tiered incentive system offering density bonuses and expedited permitting for projects that exceed the minimum affordable unit threshold.
Housing advocates have applauded the proposal as a bold shift from previous voluntary guidelines, which they say lacked teeth. “We’ve seen a decade of promises and very little action,” said Simran Grewal, an organizer with Housing Now BC. “This is the kind of step that changes lives.”
The policy was passed with an 8–1 council vote and includes a review mechanism after two years to assess its economic impact and effectiveness in increasing affordable supply.