CNV plans to reduce parking for affordable housing projects

The City of North Vancouver is proposing a new policy to reduce off-street parking requirements for affordable housing developments. Doing so, CNV says, will lower construction costs and accelerate timelines. According to a staff report, the policy would allow non-profit developers and government agencies to provide 0.3 parking spaces per unit—half the current requirement of 0.6 spaces—while still meeting standards for visitor, accessible, and bicycle parking.

Staff noted that off-street parking can cost between $50,000 and $120,000 per stall to build, accounting for up to 20% of a project’s budget. In affordable housing projects, those costs can make developments financially unviable or erode affordability gains. Over the past five years, one-third of development applications in the City have included requests for parking variances.

Affordable housing projects, in particular, have sought substantial reductions. Staff found that existing minimums often exceed actual parking demand, especially in lower-income and rental-focused developments, where residents are less likely to own vehicles. “Parking requirements result in increased costs passed onto residents,” the report states.

Staff say the recommendation stems from a comprehensive parking review supported by federal funding. In 2024, the City received money from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund to examine how reducing parking minimums could help unlock affordable housing. Approximately $48,000 from the grant was spent on research and analysis to inform the policy proposal.

 CNV staff emphasized that the proposal does not eliminate parking entirely but offers flexibility to affordable housing providers, especially on constrained or expensive sites. Council is expected to consider the recommendation at an upcoming meeting today.