SSMUH Vision • Infrastructure • Parkland
Burnaby's Gentle Density Approach
Burnaby is building a future where every residential neighbourhood offers a mix of housing types. The R1 SSMUH framework enables multi-unit homes that respect existing character while expanding who can afford to live in the city.
Burnaby's vision for residential densification
For decades, Burnaby concentrated growth in high-rise clusters around SkyTrain stations while keeping residential neighbourhoods frozen in single-family zoning. SSMUH changes that equation. The city now envisions a gradient of density: towers and mid-rises near transit hubs, townhomes and rowhouses along collectors, and multiplexes throughout residential areas.
This distributed approach to densification avoids the "tower in the park" model that creates stark contrasts between dense nodes and low-density surroundings. Instead, every neighbourhood contributes modestly to housing supply, spreading the benefits—and the adjustment—across the entire city.
Burnaby's Official Community Plan explicitly identifies gentle density as a tool for achieving equity goals. By enabling attainable housing forms in established neighbourhoods, the city opens doors for renters, first-time buyers, and families who have been priced out of the detached market.
Distributed density model
Rather than concentrating all growth in a few high-density nodes, Burnaby spreads gentle density across the residential fabric. Each lot contributes 3-6 units, and the cumulative effect is transformative without being disruptive to any single street.
Equity-driven policy
Gentle density brings diverse housing types to neighbourhoods that previously only offered $2M+ detached homes. This opens established communities to a wider range of household incomes and family structures.
Incremental investment
Each multiplex project represents a private investment in neighbourhood renewal. New buildings replace aging housing stock with energy-efficient, accessible, and well-designed homes—funded by homeowners and investors rather than public subsidy.
How R1 SSMUH serves gentle density goals
The mechanics of Burnaby's SSMUH bylaw are designed specifically to produce gentle density outcomes. Every design parameter reinforces neighbourhood-scale development.
Envelope-based controls
Height, setbacks, and site coverage define the buildable area. No FSR cap means efficient layouts are encouraged. The result is buildings that look like houses but contain multiple homes.
Ground-oriented design
SSMUH encourages units with direct ground access. Front doors face the street, patios open to yards, and each household interacts with the neighbourhood the way a detached homeowner would.
Flexible unit configuration
Owners can choose stacked flats, side-by-side townhomes, or hybrid layouts. This flexibility means the same zoning can produce family-sized three-bedroom units or efficient one-bedroom rentals, depending on market needs.
Fee-simple ownership
Burnaby permits fee-simple title structures, which means individual units can be owned outright without strata governance. This simplifies financing, reduces ongoing costs, and appeals to buyers who want house-like ownership.
Parking right-sizing
Near SkyTrain and frequent transit, parking requirements are reduced or eliminated. This allows more of the building envelope to be used for living space rather than vehicle storage, improving both density and affordability.
Streamlined approvals
Conforming SSMUH applications follow a predictable path through Burnaby's permit process. No rezoning or public hearing is required for projects that meet bylaw parameters, reducing timeline uncertainty.
Infrastructure capacity and parkland access
Built for more
Burnaby's residential neighbourhoods were engineered in the 1960s and 1970s for larger families and higher occupancy than they currently serve. Water mains, sewer capacity, and electrical infrastructure in most areas can accommodate a tripling of household density without upgrades.
Where localized upgrades are needed—typically in older areas with undersized storm drainage—Burnaby's capital improvement program coordinates utility work with the natural pace of gentle density adoption. Developers may contribute to servicing upgrades as a condition of building permit issuance.
Parks and green space
Burnaby residents benefit from proximity to Central Park (86 hectares), Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area (317 hectares), Deer Lake Park, and dozens of neighbourhood parks. The city's green network is a major quality-of-life asset that gentle density residents share.
As gentle density incrementally adds households, the city invests in park improvements, playground upgrades, and new community garden spaces. The per-capita park ratio remains among the best in Metro Vancouver even under full SSMUH buildout projections.
Discover your Burnaby lot's gentle density potential
See how many units your property can support, estimate project costs, and model returns under Burnaby's SSMUH framework.