Thank you to all those who participated in the Increasing Housing Options survey. We received 863 survey responses, and 1,066 comments from people all over Nanaimo. Staff are now compiling the results and will provide a summary document in the coming weeks. Please be advised of the recent Provincial changes as they will have implications for this project going forward. These changes include new housing legislation to deliver more small-scale, multi-unit housing, including townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes. For more on the Provincial initiative see here.

Increasing Housing Options is a series of recommended changes aimed at making housing more attainable in Nanaimo.

These recommendations are in response to City Plan - Nanaimo ReImagined, where we heard the community's desire to prioritize creating affordable housing. ‘Increasing Housing Options’ is a set of four proposed changes to increase the types of housing options available to Nanaimo residents.

These four projects will seek to increase rental housing stock and diversity by amending existing suite regulations, encourage gentle infill and intensification in existing neighbourhoods, and require much-needed family-friendly and adaptable units in multi-unit housing developments.

Click on the four projects below to learn more:

In addition to these four initiatives, the City is currently working on various other actions to create more housing options. These will be presented to residents for feedback at a future date and include:

1. Tenant Relocation Policy considerations;
2. Building more supportive housing in partnership with BC Housing;
3. Consider prezoning land in 'urban centre' and 'corridor' designations for affordable housing;
4. Support to Rent Bank & Rent Supplement Programs in Nanaimo;
5. A 'Woodgrove Area Plan'; and
6. Short Term Rentals review