VanPlex Plexperts · BC Multiplex Resource
BC Bill 44 — Housing Statutes Amendment Act
Indexed on VanPlex Plexperts — the BC multiplex civic-programs and reference directory.
Bill 44 — the Housing Statutes Amendment Act — was passed by the BC provincial legislature in November 2023. It requires every BC municipality to permit Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) on lots that were previously zoned for single-family or duplex only.
Why multiplex builders care
Every BC multiplex permit currently being filed exists because of Bill 44.
Every BC multiplex permit currently being filed exists because of Bill 44. Without it, most municipalities would still be enforcing single-family-only zoning. Understanding the SSMUH baseline matters: some municipalities offer more (Vancouver allows up to 8 units with secured rental), some restrict via design controls (Burnaby tightened lot coverage in 2026).
Key documents
The actual PDFs, programs, and forms you'll use.
How to use it
- 1
Check your municipality's implementation — minimums set by Bill 44, anything above is the municipality's choice.
- 2
For Vancouver: see /plexperts/resources/cov-multiplex-program.
- 3
For Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, etc.: check municipal zoning bylaws individually — Bill 44 is the floor, not the ceiling.
Related resources
BC Energy Step Code
BC's tiered energy-efficiency standard for new construction. Step 4 is the multiplex sweet spot for CMHC MLI Select bonuses; Step 5 approaches Passive House.
BC Housing
Provincial Crown agency overseeing the BC Housing Licensed Residential Builder registration — every BC multiplex builder must be on this list.
City of Vancouver Multiplex Program
The municipal program that defines what you can build under Vancouver's R1-1 zone. The rulebook for every Vancouver multiplex.
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