Maple Ridge, B.C., — May 26, 2026 — Maple Ridge Council has adopted the new Inclusive Housing Unit Mix Policy to help expand options for families, support multigenerational living, aging at home, and encourage more inclusive housing types in key growth areas of the community.
Maple Ridge continues to attract families because of its natural setting, schools, recreation opportunities, and relative affordability. However, rising housing costs and limited housing choices have put increasing pressure on local households.
“Council’s adoption of this policy is an important step towards making sure Maple Ridge remains a community where people can continue to live, grow, and thrive at every stage of life,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy. “Families, seniors, and multigenerational households need more housing options, and this policy gives people more choice as we build a community for all.”
The City’s Housing Needs Report identified a significant shortage of affordable family-sized housing, especially homes with three or more bedrooms. It found that many households cannot afford a ground-oriented home without spending more than 30 to 50 per cent of their income on housing, while recent development applications have increasingly focused on providing smaller studio and one-bedroom units.
Balancing Community Needs with Market Conditions
The Inclusive Housing Unit Mix Policy balances community needs with market flexibility by enabling a range of family-oriented unit-mix combinations to be provided in designated growth areas. It applies to new multi-unit residential and mixed-use developments that propose more than 20 dwelling units in the Town Centre and Lougheed Transit Corridor plan areas. The requirements of the Policy include:
- at least 40% of the total units being two-bedroom units or larger;
- all residential units in new apartment and mixed-use developments city-wide must be at least 33 square metres (350 sq. ft.) and meet BC Housing design guidelines for unit size and dimensions;
- at least 10% of total units being priority unit types, including any or a combination of:
- three-bedroom units or larger
- three-bedroom units with lock-off suites
- adaptable two-bedroom units or larger.
Affordable below-market housing, transitional housing, and special-needs housing are exempt from the unit-mix percentage requirements of the Policy.
“By encouraging more two- and three-bedroom homes in apartment and mixed-use developments, this policy helps create more housing choice in walkable, transit-supportive neighbourhoods,” said James Stiver, Director of Planning and Building. “It also helps address the growing need in the community for housing choice, and supports broader community goals around affordability, inclusivity, and complete communities.”
The new Inclusive Housing Unit Mix Policy supports the updated housing direction set out in Maple Ridge’s Official Community Plan Area Plan amendments, adopted in December 2025, and aligns with the findings of the Housing Needs Report and Housing Action Plan that identify family-sized housing and housing for seniors as priority needs over the next 20 years.
Next Steps
The Policy is now in effect. Development applications that have been considered by the Advisory Design Panel or where a rezoning bylaw has received first reading from Council on or before December 31, 2026, are exempt from the requirements of the Policy.
Staff will monitor implementation and adjust over time as needed to ensure that the policy remains effective and responsive to changing market conditions and community needs.
For more information about the Inclusive Housing Unit Mix Policy, visit MapleRidge.ca/InclusiveHousing.
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Media Contact
Pardeep Purewal, Senior Manager Corporate Communications and Public Engagement
T 604 466 4319 C 778 955 4249 E media@MapleRidge.ca