PITT MEADOWS, B.C. -  The City of Pitt Meadows has been issued a provincial housing target requiring the construction of 727 new housing units in the community over the next five years. As part of the recent consultation process with the Government of British Columbia’s Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, the City requested that the Province reconsider and reduce this target to better reflect Pitt Meadows’ unique local conditions.

“We share the Province’s concerns about the need for more affordable housing,” says Mayor Nicole MacDonald. “However, we raised serious and well-founded objections to the scale of this target given the unique constraints facing Pitt Meadows. It is disappointing that our request to reconsider and work together with the Province on a more appropriate, realistic target was not accepted. While we are disappointed that our concerns were not considered, we remain committed to working with the Province and enabling more housing in Pitt Meadows.”

The City’s concerns stem in part from the provincial methodology for determining the target, which does not account for the City’s distinct characteristics. In particular, Pitt Meadows has a limited land base for new housing developments, as nearly 80 per cent of the city is within the Provincial Agricultural Land Reserve. The provincial methodology also overlooked other important local factors—such as floodplain restrictions, high groundwater, limited transit access, frequent rail blockages and federal airport zoning regulations that limit building heights—all of which pose significant barriers to adding new housing.

Before the Province introduced its housing targets, Pitt Meadows was already actively advancing local housing solutions. This included adopting a new Official Community Plan in 2022 focused on building a compact, complete community, and partnering with Metro Vancouver Housing on Heron’s Nest, a 115-unit non-market rental housing development now under construction. The City donated land, waived fees and sped up the approval process to support this project.

Since the launch of the Province’s Homes for People Action Plan, the City has reallocated resources and met all new housing-related legislative requirements. This included implementing small-scale multi-unit housing zoning, designating transit-oriented areas and becoming one of the first municipalities in B.C. to adopt an Amenity Cost Charge Bylaw to provide more cost certainty for developers.

“Our staff have worked hard to meet provincial requirements and proactively support housing solutions,” says Chief Administrative Officer Mark Roberts. “That said, as a local government, we face significant constraints. We can set policy, enable zoning and process development applications—but housing development ultimately depends on the private and non-profit sectors to deliver housing units. Housing targets are problematic because they overlook that reality, along with external factors, local constraints and market conditions.”

The City will continue to inform residents about its progress on housing initiatives and advocate for realistic solutions that reflect the unique conditions and capacity of Pitt Meadows.

Backgrounder

• The Housing Targets Program was introduced by the Province in 2023, and is intended to help increase housing supply in communities across B.C. The program gives the Province authority to set housing targets for municipalities, and to monitor municipal actions and progress toward meeting those targets. The program is being implemented by the Province in a phased approach, with groups of 10 municipalities being issued Housing Target Orders. The City of Pitt Meadows is in the fourth group of municipalities that have been issued a Housing Target Order.
   
• Municipalities subject to an order are required to report regularly on their progress and ensure their policies and procedures align with the goal of enabling more housing. If a municipality does not make sufficient progress, the Province may take further action, such as appointing an advisor or amending local bylaws to address perceived regulatory barriers to housing development.
   
• Read the official news release from the Province that lists Pitt Meadows as part of the fourth group of communities given housing targets: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025HMA0046-000507.
   
• Read the official news release (issued August 21, 2025) from the Province’s Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025HMA0065-000778.

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For more information please contact:
Tia O’Grady
Manager of Communications and Civic Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows

media@pittmeadows.ca