City will forge ahead with standardized housing design

Now, city staff are looking at the next phase of implementation: creating standardized housing designs that could help reduce costs, shorten approval timelines and make multi-unit housing projects more accessible for smaller builders and homeowners.

According to Small Housing BC, standardized housing designs have emerged as an important tool for accelerating housing delivery. The organization notes that pre-reviewed housing plans can be reused on future projects because they have already been assessed for compliance with zoning and building regulations.

That approach can significantly reduce the time spent on design and permitting, while also providing greater certainty for builders and homeowners. It can also reduce municipal review workloads and speed up the delivery of small-scale multi-unit housing projects without compromising building quality or regulatory oversight.

Megan Hickey, the City of Prince George’s Long Range Planner, told council that the concept is already being used in several communities throughout British Columbia.

“We’ve looked at several municipalities and what they have done in preparation for what we are doing,” said Hickey. “Standardized development is not new to B.C. municipalities but Bill 44 has really accelerated that.”

The city’s proposal involves developing a catalogue of pre-approved housing plans that builders, property owners and small developers could access when planning new projects.

“The idea is to have a catalogue,” explained Hickey. “The City would have a catalogue of standardized designs through an RFP process. And those, say, four designs would go into a catalogue. You don’t have to be a large developer [to use the catalogue]. You can be an average person to access this catalogue.”

Under the concept presented to council, the city would seek proposals through a request-for-proposals process and select a number of building designs tailored to Prince George’s housing needs and local character.

Those plans would then be available for reuse, eliminating the need for applicants to start from scratch when designing a compliant project.

Supporters of the approach say it could help make development more predictable and affordable, particularly for smaller-scale builders who may not have the resources of larger development companies.

Tamara White, Co-Executive Lead on the project, said permitting challenges have been consistently identified as a barrier to housing development.

White noted that the proposed framework would look at a combination of standardized designs and streamlined approval processes, while also considering designs approved through programs such as those supported by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

The overall objective is to reduce uncertainty and simplify the development process.

Council discussion focused in part on who would benefit most from the program.

Councillor Cori Ramsay noted that Prince George has already met the housing targets set by the Province and asked whether the standardized designs are intended primarily for developers or individual landowners.

White said the concept is expected to have the greatest impact on smaller builders.

“It’s more likely to inspire small builders,” she said, adding that the catalogue would help “de-risk” housing projects by providing proven designs and a clearer path through municipal approvals.

For homeowners and smaller developers, the availability of standardized plans could eliminate some of the complexity and cost associated with hiring architects and navigating regulatory requirements.

For the city, the program could help reduce staff workload by limiting the number of unique designs requiring full review.

While council supported moving forward, city officials emphasized that the initiative will not be implemented all at once.

Instead, the process will be introduced in phases, allowing the municipality to gradually work toward the larger goal of a comprehensive catalogue and more streamlined permitting system.

Council approved administration proceeding with the initial stages of the project, which include developing housing designs that reflect Prince George’s unique context and identifying opportunities to simplify approvals for this type of housing.

The phased approach is intended to break the project into manageable steps while providing the city with flexibility to adapt and refine the program as it evolves.

The effort represents another step in Prince George’s response to the Province’s housing strategy and reflects the broader shift occurring in communities across British Columbia as municipalities look for new ways to increase housing options and accelerate development.

If successful, the catalogue could make it easier for residents, property owners and small builders to add housing in established neighbourhoods, helping meet growing demand while reducing some of the time and uncertainty traditionally associated with residential construction projects.

For Prince George, the goal is not only to comply with provincial legislation but also to create a locally tailored approach that can support housing growth while maintaining efficient municipal processes for years to come.

by Cheryl Jahn

City will forge ahead with standardized housing design

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