Transform Your Burnaby Home into a Multiplex
Stay rooted in your Burnaby community while creating modern family housing, generating income, and building equity on the lot you already own.
Your Burnaby home, reimagined
Many Burnaby homeowners have lived on their lots for decades. The house may be aging, the kids have grown, and the property is worth more as land than as a home. But selling means leaving the community you built your life in.
A multiplex transformation offers a third option: replace your aging house with a purpose-built multi-unit property. Keep a unit for yourself — a brand-new, energy-efficient home on the same lot — and use the other units to create family housing or generate income.
Burnaby's larger lots (typically 50-60 ft wide) are particularly well-suited for this. More width means better unit layouts, larger outdoor spaces, and the possibility of 5-6 units with comfortable designs.
Neighbourhood integration in Burnaby
A common concern is how a multiplex will fit into an established neighbourhood. Burnaby's design standards address this directly:
- Height limits — Multiplexes are limited to 10-12 metres, similar to existing two-storey homes, maintaining the neighbourhood skyline
- Setback requirements — Front, side, and rear setbacks ensure spacing between buildings and preserve the open feel of residential streets
- Landscaping — Required front yard landscaping, permeable surfaces, and tree planting maintain the green character of Burnaby neighbourhoods
- Parking — Vehicles are typically parked at the rear (accessed from the lane), keeping the street frontage free of cars
- Building character — Architects design front facades to reflect residential scale and materials, avoiding a commercial or institutional appearance
Family benefits of a Burnaby multiplex
For growing families
Adult children who cannot afford Burnaby's housing market can live in a unit next door. Grandparents provide childcare without a commute. The whole family benefits from proximity without sacrificing privacy.
For empty nesters
Downsize into a new, accessible unit while generating rental income from the others. No need to leave your neighbourhood, change your routine, or give up your garden (most designs include outdoor space)
For retirement planning
Two rental units in Burnaby generate $4,000-$6,000/month — a substantial retirement income supplement. Combined with a paid-off home, it creates financial security without selling your property.
For equity building
A multiplex on a Burnaby lot is typically worth $4-6M — far more than the $1.5-2.5M your single-family home is worth. Even after construction costs, you gain $500K-$800K in equity.
The Burnaby homeowner's timeline
- Property assessment (1-2 weeks) — Check lot eligibility, unit potential, and preliminary financials
- Family planning (2-4 weeks) — Decide unit allocation, design preferences, and budget
- Design (2-3 months) — Architect creates plans tailored to your family's needs
- Permitting (5-8 months) — Development and Building Permit through Burnaby's SSMUH stream
- Temporary housing (arrange during permitting) — Rent nearby to maintain school zones and routines
- Construction (10-14 months) — Your new homes take shape on your lot
- Move in — Return to your community in a brand-new, modern home
FAQs
Can I stay in Burnaby if I build a multiplex?
Yes. You will need temporary housing during construction (12-16 months), but you return to the same lot with a new home, keeping 1-2 units for family and selling or renting the rest.
How will a multiplex fit into my neighbourhood?
Burnaby's design standards ensure multiplexes respect building heights, setbacks, landscaping, and residential character. Well-designed multiplexes enhance neighbourhood appeal.
Are Burnaby lots good for multiplexes?
Very. Burnaby lots tend to be wider (50-60 ft) and deeper than Vancouver lots, allowing more design flexibility, better unit layouts, and potentially more units.
Explore what your Burnaby home could become
Enter your address to see unit potential, financial projections, and how a multiplex could work for your family.