The Metro Vancouver region is facing serious housing challenges. The high cost of housing has made it harder for people — especially those with lower incomes — to find homes they can afford. There is also a shortage of supportive and non-market housing options.
To meet the region’s growing and changing needs, communities need a mix of housing types and affordable options in all areas of the region, close to transit, jobs, and services.
Metro Vancouver's role
Metro Vancouver plays a regional role in supporting affordable and diverse housing.
Metro 2050, the Regional Growth Strategy, identifies actions to increase the supply and variety of housing, protect renters, preserve and renew rental housing, and address the needs of lower-income households and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Key areas of work include:
- Providing data, policy guidance, and resources to support regional planning and assist member jurisdictions with local housing research and policy initiatives
- Facilitating regional collaboration on shared housing priorities
- Convening subject matter experts on housing issues
- Advocating to federal and provincial governments for housing resources and policies
Metro Vancouver also directly contributes to affordable housing through
Metro Vancouver Housing, one of the region’s largest non-profit housing providers. Work is currently underway to update the
Metro Vancouver Housing 10-Year Plan — a vision to provide, preserve, and expand our portfolio of affordable housing across the region, and develop 2,000 new units over the next 10 years.
Housing 2050
Metro Vancouver is developing Housing 2050: A Roadmap to Implement Metro 2050’s Housing Goal to support diverse and affordable housing choices. This includes the regional target for at least 15% of new housing in transit-oriented areas to be affordable rental units.
This project is supported by robust engagement with municipalities, First Nations, other governments, and housing organizations across the region.
Housing policy resources
Metro Vancouver compiles housing policies from across the region and conducts research into best practices to support local and regional housing initiatives.
| Housing Policy Library | Housing Policy Library | <div class="ExternalClassE5678D4CBFB04A4C8ED135A6AB4DEDC4"><p>A centralized resource that tracks local government policies aimed at improving housing affordability and diversity. The dashboard draws from municipal websites, bylaws, and policy documents to support housing planning and policy development.<br></p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li"></span><i class="fa-light fa-link" aria-hidden="true"></i> <a href="/services/regional-planning/housing-policy-library" title="Housing Policy Library " target="_blank">Housing Policy Library </a><br></li></ul></div> |
| What Works Guides | What Works Guides | <div class="ExternalClassD2F28D36770A4E40BDFC352630C9656D"><p>Best-practice research and policy guides to support housing planning and policy priorities across the region.</p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<a href="/services/regional-planning/Documents/local-government-sustaining-expanding-supply-purpose-built-rental-housing.pdf" title="Local Government Measures for Sustaining and Expanding the Supply of Purpose-Built Rental Housing (2024)" target="_blank">Local Government Measures for Sustaining and Expanding the Supply of Purpose-Built Rental Housing (2024)</a> </li><li>
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<a href="/services/regional-planning/Documents/securing-affordable-and-special-needs-housing-through-housing-agreements.pdf#search=what%20works%20guides" title="Securing Affordable and Special Needs Housing through Housing Agreements (2020)" target="_blank">Securing Affordable and Special Needs Housing through Housing Agreements (2020)</a><br></li><li>
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<a href="/services/regional-planning/Documents/municipal-measures%20for-sustaining-expanding-supply-rental-housing.PDF" title="Municipal Measures for Sustaining and Expanding the Supply of Purpose-Built Rental Housing (2016)" target="_blank">Municipal Measures for Sustaining and Expanding the Supply of Purpose-Built Rental Housing (2016)</a></li><li>
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<a href="/services/regional-planning/Documents/affordable-housing-initiatives-in-metro-vancouver-municipalities.pdf" title="Affordable Housing Initiatives in Metro Vancouver Municipalities (2012)" target="_blank">Affordable Housing Initiatives in Metro Vancouver Municipalities (2012)</a></li></ul></div> |
| Inclusionary Housing Resources | Inclusionary Housing Resources | <div class="ExternalClassE1FD0ACE983543A9A937D3114FABD4D8"><p>Resources on inclusionary housing policies designed for the Metro Vancouver policy and economic context. </p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span><a href="https://mvinclusionaryhousingcalculator.ca/ihc/" title="Metro Vancouver Inclusionary Housing Calculator" target="_blank">Metro Vancouver Inclusionary Housing Calculator</a></li><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i></span><a href="/services/regional-planning/Documents/inclusionary-housing-policy-review-regional-model-policy-framework.pdf" title="Regional Model for Inclusionary Housing" target="_blank">Regional Model for Inclusionary Housing</a></li></ul>
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| Rental Housing Blueprint | Rental Housing Blueprint | <div class="ExternalClassCA06E0AC8865463283B95B9578124889"><p>A collaborative initiative between Metro Vancouver, the Province of BC, and 11 member jurisdictions to accelerate the design and approval of affordable rental housing. </p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<i class="fa-light fa-link" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><a href="/services/regional-planning/rental-housing-blueprint" title="Rental Housing Blueprint" target="_blank">Rental Housing Blueprint</a><br></li><li>
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<i class="fa-light fa-link" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><a href="https://www.acceleratedhousing.ca/" title="BC Housing – Digitally Accelerated Standardized Housing (DASH)" target="_blank">BC Housing – Digitally Accelerated Standardized Housing (DASH)</a></li></ul></div> |
| Research into Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing (TOAH) funds | Research into Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing (TOAH) funds | <div class="ExternalClass0D4D38646F3F4B32834D8A0A8095C962"><p>Research into financing mechanisms that support affordable housing near transit. </p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><a href="/services/regional-planning/Documents/transit-oriented-affordabl-housing-fund-business-framework-eoc-northwest.pdf" title="TOAH Fund Business Framework: Final Report" target="_blank">TOAH Fund Business Framework: Final Report</a><br></li></ul></div> |
Housing data resources
Metro Vancouver compiles housing data and provides analysis to support informed decision-making across the region.
| Housing Data Dashboard | Housing Data Dashboard | <div class="ExternalClassAE3506F68E93496FA47BC067174C74AB"><p>An annually updated overview of the region’s housing market, trends, and impact on households. </p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="/services/regional-planning/housing-data-dashboard" title="Metro Vancouver Housing Data Book " target="_blank">Housing Data Dashboard</a><br></li></ul><br></div> |
| Metro 2050 Performance Monitoring Dashboard – Goal 4: Provide Diverse and Affordable Housing Choices | Metro 2050 Performance Monitoring Dashboard – Goal 4: Provide Diverse and Affordable Housing Choices | <div class="ExternalClass6915BA9068A64B96BB63D0805F90297C"><p>Progress tracking for the Regional Affordable Rental Housing Target, which aims for least 15% of newly completed housing units in Urban Centres (UCs), Frequent Transit Development Areas (FTDAs), and Major Transit Growth Corridors (MTGCs) to be affordable rental housing by 2050. </p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="/services/regional-planning/metro-2050-performance-monitoring/goal-4" title="Metro 2050 Performance Monitoring Dashboard – Goal 4: Provide Diverse and Affordable Housing Choices" target="_blank">Metro 2050 Performance Monitoring Dashboard – Goal 4: Provide Diverse and Affordable Housing Choices</a></li>
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<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i></span> <a href="/services/regional-planning/Documents/metro-2050-implementation-guideline-regional-affordable-rental-housing-target.pdf" title="Regional Affordable Rental Housing Target: Metro 2050 Implementation Guide" target="_blank">Regional Affordable Rental Housing Target: Metro 2050 Implementation Guide</a>
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| Housing and Transportation Cost Burden Study | Housing and Transportation Cost Burden Study | <div class="ExternalClass449266571D954A17B61A3F7755E1049C"><p>Analysis of combined housing and transportation costs across different areas of the region to better understand how location and other factors impact household costs.</p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="/services/regional-planning/transportation" title="Housing and Transportation Cost Burden Study (2025)" target="_blank">Housing and Transportation Cost Burden Study (2025)</a></li></ul></div> |
| Regional Parking Studies | Regional Parking Studies | <div class="ExternalClass16561BCA6CB3448F9BD06F93704819F6"><p>Research into residential off‑street parking utilization patterns to evaluate how parking supply, transit access, and development economics interact, including exploring the implications for housing affordability.</p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i></span> <a href="/services/regional-planning/transportation" title="Regional Parking Studies" target="_blank">Regional Parking Studies</a></li></ul></div> |
| Costs of Providing Infrastructure and Services to Different Residential Densities | Costs of Providing Infrastructure and Services to Different Residential Densities | <div class="ExternalClass8D1EB6E5075C49A7BE461BF53C4B9EB9"><p>A study examining how the costs of providing municipal infrastructure and services vary across different residential densities in Metro Vancouver, with the goal of informing regional growth planning and policy.</p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i></span> <a href="/services/regional-planning/Documents/costs-of-providing-infrastructure-and-services-to-different-residential-densities.pdf" title="Costs of Providing Infrastructure and Services to Different Residential Densities (2023)" target="_blank">Costs of Providing Infrastructure and Services to Different Residential Densities (2023)</a></li></ul></div> |
DCC waivers for affordable rental housing
Metro Vancouver supports affordable rental housing development in the region through waivers of development cost charges (DCCs).