✍️ By Debbie Balfour | WBN News | June 25, 2025 | Click HERE for your FREE Subscription to WBN News and/or to be a Contributor.

Fraser Valley’s once-quiet suburban zones are turning into some of BC’s most lucrative development frontiers. A seismic shift is underway in the region's development scene—and savvy investors are jumping in early. With BC’s Bill 16, Bill 44, and Bill 47, the zoning playbook is being rewritten. These legislative changes are not just policy tweaks—they’re opening the floodgates for infill housing, density boosts, and transit-driven growth.

Bill 16 gives municipalities legal power to require inclusionary zoning—meaning new developments must include affordable housing. To sweeten the deal, density bonuses can be granted, allowing developers to build more units than typically allowed. It’s a game-changer for cities like Langley, Surrey, Mission, and Chilliwack, which are now aligning their zoning codes to attract development that fits this model.

Bill 47 mandates Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) within 800 meters of rapid transit stations and 400 meters of bus exchanges. That translates into fewer parking requirements, higher building heights, and expedited approvals in designated areas—hot news for anyone holding parcels near SkyTrain stations or key transit hubs.

Bill 44 (formerly referred to indirectly) unlocks Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) across nearly 90% of BC municipalities, now allowing up to triplexes and fourplexes on formerly single-family lots. Many Fraser Valley towns are implementing these changes quickly. What does this mean? Massive infill potential and a rush of small multi-unit developments.

Smart developers are assembling land near transit and rezoning for higher density while incorporating affordable units to benefit from density bonuses. Investors are jumping on formerly overlooked lots, turning underutilized land into cash-flowing small multiplexes.

This zoning evolution is more than policy—it’s a strategy goldmine. Those who move quickly stand to gain the most.

The time to act is now. Fraser Valley’s new rules aren’t a barrier—they’re a blueprint for bold opportunity.

Debbie Balfour | Real Estate Investing Success Coach + Podcast Host
📍 Website: www.DebbieBalfour.com
📧 Email: Debbie@DebbieBalfour.com
🔗 LinkedIn: Debbie Balfour
▶️ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@DebbieBalfour

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TAGS: #Fraser Valley RealEstate #Transit Oriented Development #Infill Opportunities #Inclusionary Zoning #Multiplex Housing #WBN News Langley #WBN News Abbotsford #Debbie Balfour

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