BC Expands Housing Targets: Nearly 39,000 New Homes Announced Across the Province
The Province of British Columbia just announced a new round of municipal housing targets, adding nearly 39,000 homes across 10 communities as part of its ongoing effort to tackle the housing crisis.
In a release from the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs on Thursday, August 21, 2025, officials confirmed that this fourth group of municipalities will be required to deliver homes based on 75% of their estimated housing need. These five-year targets are part of the Province’s Housing Supply Act, which aims to increase the availability and affordability of housing in communities with the greatest demand.
“The Province has set new housing targets for a fourth group of municipalities, bringing thousands of new homes to communities throughout B.C.,” the Ministry stated. “More than 14,000 of these homes are below-market rentals.”
Source: Government of British Columbia – Housing Targets
Housing Targets by Municipality
Starting September 1, 2025, the following municipalities will have five-year housing targets:
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Burnaby – 10,240
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Coquitlam – 6,481
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Courtenay – 1,334
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Township of Langley – 6,596
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Langford – 2,993
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Penticton – 908
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Pitt Meadows – 727
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Richmond – 6,753
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Squamish – 1,069
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Vernon – 1,829
This totals 38,930 new homes, with a significant portion expected to be purpose-built rentals, below-market units, and housing with on-site supports.
Share of Homes by Municipality
Another way to look at the numbers is by each city’s share of the total 38,930 homes. Unsurprisingly, larger communities such as Burnaby and Richmond account for the biggest slices of the pie, while smaller markets like Penticton and Pitt Meadows have smaller but still important roles to play.
Why This Matters for Affordability
Housing affordability continues to be a major challenge across B.C., especially in high-demand regions like the Okanagan, Metro Vancouver, and the Fraser Valley. While construction costs and interest rates remain elevated, the Province’s housing targets are designed to ensure supply keeps pace with both population growth and migration trends.
For communities like Penticton (908 homes) and Vernon (1,829 homes), these targets represent meaningful shifts in smaller markets where limited supply has driven up prices. Meanwhile, larger urban centres like Burnaby and Richmond will see tens of thousands of units come online, reinforcing their roles as key housing hubs.
Local Leadership Already Emerging
The Province highlighted that several municipalities—such as Burnaby, Langford, and Penticton—are already taking proactive steps to meet their residents’ needs. These include updating zoning bylaws, fast-tracking approvals, and partnering with developers to accelerate construction.
Kelowna, while not part of this latest group, remains under its own set of housing targets announced earlier this year. With strong in-migration and continued development demand, the Central Okanagan is expected to play a major role in meeting provincial housing needs.
Federal & Provincial Partnerships
The Province has also confirmed it will use data from the housing-targets program to collaborate with the federal government on infrastructure and amenity investments. The goal is to ensure municipalities doing their part to increase housing supply are also supported with schools, healthcare, and transit upgrades.
Looking at the Bigger Picture
Since 2017, more than 93,250 homes have been delivered or are underway across B.C., with over 16,000 already completed in the first 30 communities targeted under this program.
The August 21 announcement builds on this momentum, expanding the scope of the Housing Supply Act and reinforcing the Province’s Homes for People action plan and historic $19 billion housing investment.
Final Thoughts
For buyers and renters across the province, these announcements represent cautious optimism. More supply—particularly below-market rentals—should help ease pressure in communities where affordability has felt out of reach.
For developers and homeowners, however, the challenge will be ensuring these targets translate into real projects that make financial sense in today’s construction environment.
One thing is clear: housing policy is no longer just about zoning—it’s about aligning municipal, provincial, and federal priorities to keep pace with demand.
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