Housing Design Catalogue

All design sets in the catalogue serve as practical tools to help navigate the small-scale multi-unit housing process. Follow these steps to make the most of these resources:

Understand Your Property

• Confirm what can be built on your lot using the City’s Urban Infill Residential Locator App or by contacting Planning staff at Planning@MapleRidge.ca
• Review key zoning restrictions, including setbacks, height limits, and servicing requirements.

Browse Designs

• Explore the catalogue for a range of possible site plans and building layouts that align with applicable zoning and permitting requirements.
• Select a design that fits your lot size, layout, and housing goals.

Connect with a Designer (if using a licensed design)

• Work directly with the designer to customize or refine your chosen plan.
• Ensure that the design meets all necessary Zoning and Building Code standards.

Apply for a Building Permit

• Prepare and submit your Building Permit application to the City.

* All applications are reviewed for zoning, servicing, and Building Code compliance as part of the City’s standard permit review process.

A series of pre-reviewed site plans have been developed to help homeowners and builders explore what small-scale urban infill residential development could look like on typical lots across the city.

These plans illustrate how different housing configurations can fit within existing neighbourhoods while meeting the applicable Zoning, Parking, and Building Code requirements. Each plan provides a visual example of lot layout, access, parking, private outdoor space, and unit placement to demonstrate how the design can achieve gentle density.

For details on SSMUH zoning and regulations, visit our Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing webpage.

Available Site Plan Scenarios

The following scenarios represent common small-scale housing combinations that may be possible under the Urban Infill Residential zoning:

• Single Detached + Secondary Suite + Detached Garden Suite
• Duplex + Secondary Suite + Detached Garden Suite (Version 1)
• Duplex + Secondary Suite + Detached Garden Suite (Version 2)

Each example highlights practical approaches to site organization, parking integration, and open space design, supporting high-quality infill that respects neighbourhood character.

A combined package of all pre-reviewed site plan scenarios is also available here to view or download.

For details on SSMUH zoning and regulations, visit our Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing webpage.

* Important Note: These designs are conceptual and for illustrative purposes only. They do not guarantee compliance with all City bylaws or the BC Building Code and may not reflect site-specific considerations such as lot size, shape, slope, servicing, or environmental constraints. All designs require a full building permit review and approval. Use of a design does not result in automatic or expedited approval of a development permit and/or building permit. All proposals are reviewed case-by-case. Please refer to the Full Disclaimer below.

The City has partnered with pre-authorized architectural and design firms through a Request for Qualifications process to create a Housing Design Library — a catalogue of pre-reviewed, small-scale home designs that homeowners and builders can licence directly from participating designers.

The intent of this initiative is to support landowners who may want to redevelop their property, and streamline the permitting and construction process by providing ready-to-use, code-compliant designs that reflect the City’s housing policies, bylaws, and design expectations.

• Six Dwellings 

  A six-unit urban infill concept designed for a mid-block or corner lot, featuring two primary units, two secondary suites, and two garden suites, with discreet massing, permeable access, and flexible unit sizes to support a range of household types.

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• Fourplex Courtyard

  A contemporary fourplex courtyard design featuring two duplex buildings arranged around private outdoor spaces, providing family-oriented units with garages, efficient site coverage, and a human-scaled architectural expression.

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• Fourplex Stacked Townhouse

  A stacked townhouse fourplex design with a compact building footprint, shared circulation, and flexible interior layouts, offering adaptable living spaces, rooftop patios, and efficient massing suited to a range of household needs.

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 For details on SSMUH zoning and regulations, visit our Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing webpage.

* Important Note: These designs are conceptual and for illustrative purposes only. They do not guarantee compliance with all City bylaws or the BC Building Code and may not reflect site-specific considerations such as lot size, shape, slope, servicing, or environmental constraints. All designs require a full building permit review and approval. Use of a design does not result in automatic or expedited approval of a development permit and/or building permit. All proposals are reviewed case-by-case. Please refer to the Full Disclaimer below.

In addition to City-led and locally partnered design resources, the Province of British Columbia has developed a standardized housing design catalogue to support small-scale, multi-unit housing across the province.

These designs are intended to provide ready-to-use housing concepts that can be adapted to local zoning and site conditions. Applicants in Maple Ridge may choose to reference or use these provincial designs as part of a Building Permit application, subject to the City’s zoning, servicing, and Building Code requirements.

Learn more about the Province of BC’s Standardized Housing Design Catalogue.

* Important Note: These designs are conceptual and for illustrative purposes only. They do not guarantee compliance with all City bylaws or the BC Building Code and may not reflect site-specific considerations such as lot size, shape, slope, servicing, or environmental constraints. All designs require a full building permit review and approval. Use of a design does not result in automatic or expedited approval of a development permit and/or building permit. All proposals are reviewed case-by-case. Please refer to the Full Disclaimer below.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has also released housing design resources to support small-scale housing delivery across Canada. These designs are intended to demonstrate housing concepts, construction approaches, and design efficiencies that may be adaptable to local contexts.

Applicants in Maple Ridge may choose to explore or reference CMHC designs as part of a Building Permit application, subject to the City’s zoning, servicing, and Building Code requirements.

Explore CMHC’s latest Housing Design Catalogue.

* Important Note: These designs are conceptual and for illustrative purposes only. They do not guarantee compliance with all City bylaws or the BC Building Code and may not reflect site-specific considerations such as lot size, shape, slope, servicing, or environmental constraints. All designs require a full building permit review and approval. Use of a design does not result in automatic or expedited approval of a development permit and/or building permit. All proposals are reviewed case-by-case. Please refer to the Full Disclaimer below.

All applications using a design from the Housing Design Catalogue must still follow the City’s standard permitting and approvals process, including:

• Development Permits (where applicable)
• Building Permits
• Servicing requirements and engineering review

Using a pre-reviewed design does not guarantee approval or expedited processing of a development permit and/or building permit application. Each application is reviewed case-by-case to ensure compliance with zoning, lot conditions, servicing, and the BC Building Code.

All of the details about the City’s application and approvals process are available on our Construction, Development and Permits webpage.

Licensing is done directly between the homeowner/builder and the participating designer.

To licence a design:

1. Browse the designs in the Housing Design Partnerships.
2. Contact the designer listed for that design.
3. Discuss pricing, licensing terms, and any customization needed for your property.
4. Enter into a contract or agreement directly with the designer.

The City is not a party to licensing agreements and does not manage, review, or approve licensing terms.

All payments related to Housing Design Partnership designs are handled directly between the landowner and the participating designer.

This includes any fees for:

• Licensing a design.
• Customizing or modifying a design.
• Additional architectural or engineering services.
• Any other professional work related to the design.

The City does not:

• Charge fees for Housing Design Library designs.
• Collect or process payments.
• Set pricing or terms for designers.
• Participate in or facilitate transactions.

All financial arrangements are strictly between the landowner and the designer.

Both the provincial government and federal governments have released their own catalogues of standardized residential designs for small-scale, multi-unit housing built on single lots. Applicants in Maple Ridge are welcome to submit a Building Permit application using provincial or federal designs. 

Please note, these designs have not been pre-reviewed for zoning compliance and all applications are subject to the regular permit application review process. 

View the BC Standardized Housing Designs Catalogue

View the Federal Housing Design Catalogue

1. Scope and Acceptance

The designs available through the Housing Design Catalogue (the “Designs”) are provided by Designers and hosted by the City of Maple Ridge(the “City”) for the user’s consideration and information only. 

By accessing or using the Housing Design Catalogue (including the City’s Pre-Reviewed Site Plans, the Housing Design Partnerships, and any links to external design catalogues) (together, the “Catalogue”), you acknowledge and agree to this Disclaimer and the City of Maple Ridge’s Terms of Use, Copyright, and Privacy pages as they apply to your use of this website.

If you do not agree with these terms, you must not use the Catalogue.

2. Nature of the Designs and Compliance

The designs, drawings, site plans, images, and related materials made available through the Catalogue (the “Designs”) are provided for illustrative purposes only.

The Designs are not guaranteed to meet the requirements of:

• the British Columbia Building Code;
• the City’s Zoning Bylaw or other City bylaws, policies, guidelines, or engineering standards; or
• any other applicable laws, statutes, regulations, or requirements.

The Designs are conceptual and may not reflect the specific conditions of any particular property, including but not limited to lot size, shape, topography, servicing, environmental constraints, or covenants.

Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring that any proposal based on a Design complies with all applicable requirements before applying for a development permit and/or building permit.

3. Availability and Changes

The Designs and participating designers listed in the Catalogue may be removed, altered, or priced differently at any time without notice.

The presence of a Design or a designer in the Catalogue does not guarantee:

• that the Design will remain available;
• that the designer will be available to provide services; or
• that any particular pricing, terms, or options will remain the same over time.

4. Permits and Approvals

Any proposal that uses a Design—whether from the City’s Pre-Reviewed Site Plans, the Housing Design Library, or an external catalogue—must still go through the City’s standard application and review process, including any required:

• development permit;
• building permit; and
• other applicable approvals.

Use of a Design does not:

• guarantee that any application will be approved; or
• qualify an application for expedited review, priority processing, or automatic approval.

All applications are reviewed case-by-case based on the applicable bylaws, policies, and site conditions in effect at the time of application.

5. Relationship Between the City, Designers, and Members of the Public

For Designs provided by external architectural or design firms (the “Designers”) through the Housing Design Library or via links to external catalogues:

• The City’s role is limited to hosting or linking to the Designs for public information;
• The City is not a party to, and is not responsible for any correspondence, agreements, or financial transactions between an applicant and participating designers or any other third party;
• Any purchase of Designs, customization services, or “Additional Work” is strictly between the applicant and the Designer or other third party; and
• The City does not set, collect, or receive fees related to these transactions and will not facilitate the purchase, sale, or negotiation of any Design or related service.

If you choose to engage a Designer or use a Design, you do so at your own risk and are solely responsible for reviewing and understanding the terms of any contract you enter into.

6. Personal Information and Correspondence with Designers

The City is not a party to, and is not responsible for any correspondence, communications, or agreements between applicants and participating designers or other third party.

The City will only receive or use any personal information arising from those interactions if that information is voluntarily provided or forwarded to the City, and then only in accordance with:

• the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA); and
• the City’s applicable privacy policies and practices.

Personal information related to development or building permit applications is collected directly by the City through its regular permitting processes and used only for those purposes. 

7. Copyright and Use of Designs

All content on the City’s website is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. This includes:

• the City’s in-house Pre-Reviewed Site Plans; and
• any Designs, images, or materials made available through the Catalogue, whether created by the City or by Designers.

Designs provided by Designers remain the intellectual property of the Designers, and may only be used in accordance with:

• the terms of any licence or agreement you enter into with the Designer; and
• any applicable laws.

Unless expressly permitted under the City’s Terms of Use, a Designer’s licence, or other written permission, you may not copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, distribute, or create derivative works from any part of the Catalogue.

For more information, please see the City’s Copyright and Terms of Use pages.

8. External Catalogues and Third-Party Content

The Catalogue may include links to external design catalogues and resources, such as:

• the Province of British Columbia’s standardized housing design catalogue; and
• CMHC housing design resources and catalogues.

These external sites and Designs are not controlled by the City of Maple Ridge. The City does not endorse, guarantee, or make any representations about:

• the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any external Designs;
• the terms and conditions attached to those Designs; or
• any products, services, or transactions offered through external sites.

Use of any external Designs or resources is entirely at your own risk and is subject to the terms of those third-party providers.

9. Warranty Disclaimer

The Catalogue and all Designs are provided on an “as is”, “with all faults” and “as available” basis.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the City makes no representations or warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to:

• warranties of accuracy, completeness, or timeliness;
• warranties that the Designs are free from errors or defects;
• warranties that the Designs are suitable for your particular property or project; or
• implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

You are solely responsible for performing your own due diligence and obtaining professional advice before relying on any Design.

10. No Liability

The City assumes no responsibility or liability for any issues, damages, losses, or defects arising from the use of Designs in the Catalogue.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the City is not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, economic, or other damages—including property loss or damage—arising from the use of any Design.

By using the Catalogue, you agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless the City and its officials, officers, employees, and contractors from all claims related to your use of the Designs.

11. Relationship to City Terms of Use and Governing Law

This Disclaimer supplements the City’s Terms of Use, Copyright, and Privacy pages. If there is any inconsistency, those broader pages apply.

These terms are governed by the laws of British Columbia and applicable federal laws of Canada, and you agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of British Columbia.