Moncton is the latest city to allow up to four-unit housing in all of its residential zones.
Council voted 9-1 to approve the change following a public hearing on Tuesday night.
City staff said the change was required for the city to receive millions in federal housing funds.
Josh Davies, manager of long-range policy planning, said the goal is to help build up the housing supply by providing more flexibility.
“It is certainly not going to be the silver bullet, but in terms of figuring out how all areas of the city that are residentially zoned or have residential capacity, how they can contribute, we felt that this was one way that was appropriate,” Davies told council.
Davies said housing supply is limited in the city, which saw its population reach 97,500 people as of July 1, 2024.
Entry-level homes that cost around $165,000 in 2016 were going for more than $300,000 just five years later, he added.
Resident Patrick Pilon, 27, spoke in favour of the changes and said he hopes this will lead to more affordable housing in the city.
“There’s a lot of young people, a lot of people my age, who just simply cannot even consider buying a house and are being squeezed out with $2,000 rents,” said Pilon.
A number of residents spoke against the zoning change, raising concerns about parking, traffic and neighbourhood character.
Davies expects four-unit developments to be more prevalent in new and emerging residential areas.
“Developers who are putting in new streets, putting in new subdivisions, can set up their design, can set up their lot standards to meet this type of development,” he said.
“It’s not so easy to achieve within an existing residential neighbourhood.”
In existing neighbourhoods, Davies expects to see more additional dwelling units, such as basement apartments, building extensions and garden suites.
Building permits will continue to be required, and landowners must follow the building code and design standards.
Off-street parking will be required, except in certain areas of the city which are within 400 metres of certain transit routes.
