VICTORIA, Oct. 31, 2026: BC's incoming Conservative government says it will scrap the provincial housing targets set under Bill 43 and change Bill 44, the 2023 law that makes cities allow suites, laneway homes and three- to six-unit multiplexes on most single-family lots. Nothing has changed yet. No bill has been tabled, and every current zoning rule in BC still applies.
What has BC's new government said about Bill 44 and Bill 43?
BC's premier-designate has signalled that the Bill 43 targets will go and Bill 44 will change, possibly be repealed. Details are open. On the record:
- Lorne Doerkson, asked about Bill 44 by Saanich mayor-elect Rishi Sharma at a pre-election photo op in Sidney: "I think we will look at repealing it" (CHEK News, Oct. 30).
- Daily Hive reports that Doerkson has committed to removing the Bill 43 targets. It also reports he has indicated Bill 44 would "at minimum" be amended to give municipalities more control. A party spokesperson told the outlet: "Local governments aren't a branch office of Victoria" (Daily Hive, Oct. 30).
- The written platform names neither bill. It promises to "give local governments a say in deciding where density goes" and to hold cities to "locally developed Official Community Plans that carry appropriate density targets" (platform, Oct. 16).
For the wider picture, see what a Conservative majority means for BC landlords and tenants. A recent parallel: Calgary has already repealed its own blanket rezoning.
What does Bill 44 require in BC today?
Bill 44 sets minimums a city's zoning must allow on single-family and duplex lots; it doesn't require anyone to build. Under the Province's small-scale multi-unit housing rules:
| Lot and location | Minimum the zoning must allow |
|---|---|
| Single-family lots across BC, where the higher minimums below don't apply | A secondary suite and/or a detached accessory unit (e.g. a laneway home) |
| Lots of 280 m² or less, in an urban containment boundary or a municipality over 5,000 people | 3 units |
| Lots over 280 m², same areas | 4 units |
| Lots over 280 m² near a frequent bus stop (a bus every 15 minutes on average at set times) | 6 units |
Cities had to update bylaws by June 30, 2024, with a second round under Bill 25 (2025) due June 30, 2026.
What it means for landlords
A BC landlord already renting a legal suite or laneway home has little to worry about. Even if a city later rezoned, the Local Government Act lets a lawful existing use carry on as a "non-conforming use."
That protection has two limits:
- Six months: it ends if the use stops for six continuous months. Whether an empty suite between tenants counts is a question for a lawyer.
- Legal suites only: a suite built without permits has no protection at all.
Tenancies stay under the Residential Tenancy Act, which zoning doesn't change (see ending a tenancy in BC).
What it means for small investors planning a suite, laneway home or multiplex
Your city's current bylaw still decides what you can build in BC. A provincial repeal would remove the mandate but not rezone any lot; each council would have to amend its own bylaw.
Councils already differ: Saanich's mayor-elect wants Bill 44 removed, while Victoria's mayor says the city "will stay the course until council directs otherwise" (CHEK News).
Unsettled: whether a new law would protect applications already in progress, and how far along a project must be. Get a municipal lawyer's view before assuming either way.
What it means for tenants
Nothing changes for BC tenants today. The platform says nothing about rent control or the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB), and the 2027 rent increase limit of 2.2% is already set.
The longer-run question is supply if cities regain control, and opinions split. Former housing minister Ravi Kahlon called a rollback "a movie we've already seen" (Daily Hive). The Conservatives argue that density should be a decision of "local government and local residents, not bureaucrats in Victoria." Your rights as a tenant are covered in our BC tenant resource center.
What to do now
- Don't change plans on an announcement. Your city's current zoning bylaw is the rule that applies.
- Mid-permit? Keep moving and ask a municipal lawyer whether a future change could reach your application.
- Renting out a legal suite? Keep permits and records together; get advice before a long vacancy. Strata owners should also read renting out a strata unit in BC.
- Tenants: nothing in your lease or your rights changes.
- Watch for a bill. We'll update this when one is tabled.
Keep your BC rental paperwork in order
Whatever happens to Bill 44, your tenancy runs on the RTA.
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