Why did we do this?
The City of Maple Ridge's Housing Action Plan & Housing Needs Report outlines priority issues, including the need for market and affordable rental housing. Existing rental housing stock in Maple Ridge is aging and the demand for rental housing is increasing. The City is aware of the challenges of maintaining older rental stock and the possibility of tenant displacement through redevelopment.
To mitigate the financial and destabilizing impact of displacement, the City’s existing tenant relocation assistance policy includes requirements for early notification and communication, financial compensation, a relocation assistance plan that includes moving cost compensation, assistance finding comparable alternative housing options, provision of the services of a Tenant Relocation Coordinator and the right of first refusal for new rental units.
Tenant Relocation Assistance Policy
Manufactured Home Park Redevelopment Tenant Assistance Policy
Transitioning the Policy into a Bylaw
Redevelopment pressures are largely market-driven and affect privately owned properties. In anticipation of developments coming onstream in key growth areas of the City in the future, Council has directed the City to study the possibility of transitioning the existing Tenant Relocation Assistance Policy into a proposed Tenant Protection Bylaw to strengthen tenant protections, in the event that redevelopments of existing rental buildings occur.
The City of Maple Ridge is advancing work on a proposed Tenant Protection Bylaw and Development Permit Area aimed at strengthening protections for eligible tenants who may be displaced in the event of redevelopment. The work is anticipated to be before Council by Summer 2026.
The current Tenant Relocation Assistance Policy 6.32 does not apply when properties can be redevelopment without a rezoning or another discretionary approval and does not apply to stratified rental units sharing a common owner.
The proposed Tenant Protection Bylaw would replace Tenant Relocation Assistance Policy 6.32 and apply to all redevelopment of purpose-built (non-stratified) or stratified rental dwelling units located on a parcel of land where an owner owns seven or more dwelling units. Beyond the updated applicability, the proposed Tenant Protection Bylaw includes updated tenant protection measures, streamlined communication and reporting requirements, and enhanced enforceability.
Tenant Protection Bylaw Requirements:
In addition to the Tenant Protection Bylaw, an accompanying proposal for a new Tenant Protection Development Permit Area would enable the City to require a Tenant Protection Development Permit prior to a Demolition Permit to ensure specific conditions related to the compliance with the proposed bylaw are met prior to displacement of tenants. The Tenant Protection Development Permit Area would strengthen compliance oversight and reduce reliance on general bylaw enforcement.
Other Resources for Tenants:
The Residential Tenancy Branch – information, education, and dispute resolution services for landlords and tenants.
The Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre – free legal education and referral services for BC tenants
BC's Housing and Tenancy – current legal information and online services regarding residential tenancies.
PovNet – online tools and public access to legal information about poverty and related issues, including housing
Further Reading:
Council Report: An Update on Tenant Protections (March 4, 2025)
For additional information, contact Louisa-May Khoo, Community Planner, at LKhoo@MapleRidge.ca.