All Building Permit applicants are required to submit Provincial Housing Target data. To support applicants, the following guidance outlines how to complete the required fields and provide the necessary information related to Provincial Housing Initiatives through the City’s Online Portal.
Why Providing the Right Information Matters
Accurate information from applicants helps the City of Maple Ridge to:
- Track progress toward meeting provincial housing targets
- Plan effectively for infrastructure, transportation, and community services
- Support a balanced housing supply for residents of all income levels
We collect and report housing unit data to the Province of British Columbia as part of the Housing Target Order requirements.
For more details, please refer to: Housing Target Order
Your cooperation supports responsible, sustainable housing growth in Maple Ridge.
Where: This field is applicable to Residential Building Permits.
What Is Legalization of an Existing Suite?
Legalization of an existing suite means you're applying for a building permit to make a secondary suite (like a basement suite) legal if it was built without a permit.
This process ensures the suite meets current requirements for fire safety, ventilation, plumbing, and more, making it safe and legal to rent out or use.
Example:
If you have a basement suite that was built without a permit, and you're now submitting a building permit application to bring it up to code, you're applying to legalize the existing suite.
Where: This section applies to both the New Home Residential Building Permit Application and the Demolition Permit Application forms. There are five fields within this section.
Why Are We Collecting This Information?
As part of the Provincial Housing Target Order, the City of Maple Ridge is collecting data on the types and sizes of residential units submitted through building and demolition permit applications.
This information helps us track local housing trends and ensures that Maple Ridge is contributing to provincial goals for a diverse and sufficient housing supply.
Units by Size Related Definitions:
"Units by size" refers to how many bedrooms there are in each dwelling unit. When filling out your application, please count and categorize the units based on the following definitions:
- Studio Unit
A self-contained unit with no separate bedroom. The sleeping area is combined with the living space and kitchen, with a separate bathroom. - One-Bedroom Unit
A unit with one private bedroom, a living area, kitchen, and bathroom. - Two-Bedroom Unit
A unit with two bedrooms, plus a living space, kitchen, and one or more bathrooms. - Three-Bedroom Unit
A unit with three bedrooms, typically designed for families, including shared living areas and one or more bathrooms. - Four-Bedroom Unit or More
A larger unit with four or more bedrooms, designed for extended families or group living. Includes multiple bathrooms and living spaces.
Important Points to Keep in Mind
- Only count rooms that meet the bedroom criteria (window, closet, and space for a bed). Don’t count rooms like dens, offices, or storage spaces as bedrooms. (A Den is a smaller room, often without a window or closet, typically used as an office or storage.)
- If you are applying for a New Detached Residential Dwelling with a Secondary Suite, make sure to report the units separately based on their bedroom count.:
Example:
For a new home with three bedrooms and a secondary suite with two bedrooms:
- In the field "Number of Three-Bedroom Units", enter one (1)
- In the field "Number of Two-Bedroom Units", enter one (1)
This correctly reflects that there are two separate units on the property.
Do not enter one (1) under "Four or More Bedroom Units", as that would incorrectly group both units into a single unit with five bedrooms.
Where: This section applies to both the New Home Residential Building Permit Applications and Demolition Permit Applications. There are 5 fields within this section.
Why Are We Collecting This Information?
To meet the requirements of the Provincial Housing Target Order, we collect information on the tenure of residential units proposed through both building permit and demolition permit applications.
This data helps us understand and track the types of housing being added or removed; whether units are intended for ownership or rental and supports planning for a diverse range of housing options to meet community needs.
Units by Tenure and Related Definitions:
"Tenure" refers to whether a housing unit is intended to be rented or owned, and the type of rental arrangement it falls under. This helps us track the supply of housing options available to residents across different income levels and living situations.
Types of Tenure
- Purpose-Built Rental Unit
A unit in a building that is designed and constructed for rental purposes. These are typically part of an apartment or rental complex and are professionally managed.
Example: A unit in a new 30-unit rental apartment building. - Secondary Suite
A self-contained rental unit located within a principal residence, such as a basement suite. It must have its own kitchen, bathroom, and entrance and be built with relevant building permits.
Example: A legal basement suite in a single-family home. - Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
Also referred to as a "Detached Garden Suite" (DGS), an ADU is an Accessory Residential Use within a self-contained dwelling unit located in a detached accessory building on the same lot as the primary residence.
Example: A detached garden suite (DGS) built in the backyard, separate from the main house. - Co-operative Housing (Co-op)
A unit within a housing co-operative where residents are members who manage the property collectively. Co-op housing is generally non-profit and often more affordable.
Example: A three-bedroom unit in a co-op housing community. - Owned Unit
A unit that is intended to be sold or owned by the occupant. This could include a variety of housing forms such as apartments, townhouses, or single-detached homes.
Example: A new townhouse that will be sold to individual buyers.
Where: This section applies to both the New Home Residential Building Permit Application and the Demolition Permit Application forms. There are three fields within this section.
Why Are We Collecting This Information?
As part of the Provincial Housing Target Order, the City of Maple Ridge collects information on the affordability level of rental units proposed through both building and demolition permit applications.
This helps the City and the Province ensure a range of rental options are available; especially for low- and moderate-income households.
Units by Rental Affordability and Related Definitions
Rental affordability refers to how rental rates compare to average market rents and whether the housing provides additional support services for residents.
Rental Affordability Categories
- Market Rental Units
Units rented at full market rates, with no income restrictions or affordability requirements.
Example: A one-bedroom unit rented at typical market rent in Maple Ridge. Detached garden suites and secondary suites are typically considered "rental" units, as they cannot be separately sold. - Below Market Rental Units
Units rented at or below 30% of the local Housing Income Limits (HILs) or similar. - Below Market Rental Units with On-Site Supports
A subset of below-market units. These are rented at the Income Assistance Shelter rate and include permanent on-site support for individuals transitioning out of homelessness (e.g., mental health support, addiction recovery, daily living assistance).
Example: A studio unit in a supportive housing project with on-site staff and wraparound services.
Important: These applications will require a housing agreement to be registered as part of the development process.
Example: A two-bedroom unit rented to a household earning below the HIL threshold, at a reduced monthly rent.
Important: The number of Below Market Units with On-site Support should be included within the total number of Below Market Units.
When to Provide Unit Information in Your Permit Application
To support the Provincial Housing Target Order, the City of Maple Ridge is required to report detailed information about all proposed and demolished housing units. This includes data on unit size, tenure, and rental affordability.
You must provide this information when applying for the following types of permits:
If you're applying for a permit to construct new residential units, including single-detached, multiplex buildings, or accessory dwellings; you must report:
- Units by Size (studio, one-bedroom, etc.)
- Units by Tenure (rental type or ownership)
- Units by Rental Affordability (market, below-market, etc.)
This applies to all residential and/or mixed-use applications with residential uses being proposed.
If you're submitting a revision form that changes:
- The number of units (e.g., changing a two-bedroom to a one-bedroom)
you must update the corresponding fields in your revision submission. This ensures that the City's housing data remains accurate and aligns with provincial reporting requirements.
When applying for a demolition permit for any residential building, you must report the number and type of existing units that will be removed, including:
- Units by Size (studio, one-bedroom, etc.)
- Units by Tenure (rental type or ownership)
- Units by Rental Affordability (market, below-market, etc.)
This allows the city to account for net new housing as required by the province.