Council asks staff to study charge for infill projects as school district updates plan
New Westminster council has asked city staff to examine whether school site acquisition charges (SSAC) should apply to smaller infill housing projects after the school district presented its 2026–2027 eligible school sites proposal and an updated long-range facilities plan.
The request came at the city’s July meeting, when councillors received the school district report and approved a motion directing staff to explore applying SSAC to infill projects enabled by recent provincial changes. The move targets growth created by new provincial legislation that allows greater density on single-family lots.
The report to council noted the current interpretation of the Local Government Act has meant SSACs historically were not applied to developments that create fewer than four dwelling units. It also flagged a specific ask from district staff: to consider applying the charges to housing built under the new infill rules so that growth contributes to the cost of land for new school sites.
“To date, in alignment with the Local Government Act, school site acquisition charges have not been applied to small-scale development of four units or less,”
City staff will now look at whether and how the charges could be collected on projects created under the provincial reforms, which include the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) changes and New Westminster’s recently adopted Infill Housing Program.
Those provincial actions have expanded allowable density on many single-detached lots. The report to council cited specific forms that the Infill Housing Program permits on eligible lots: secondary suites, laneway and carriage houses, triplexes, quadplexes and multiplexes, allowing up to six units depending on the property.
Legislative context and what the city is being asked to consider
Under the Local Government Act, SSACs are collected by local governments and transferred to school boards to support the acquisition of land for new or expanded school sites. The legislation also contains an exemption for very small developments.
| Policy / Program | What it does |
|---|---|
| SSMUH | Required some municipalities to pre-zone single-dwelling properties to allow a minimum of three to six units, depending on lot size and transit proximity. |
| Infill Housing Program (New Westminster) | Permits up to six infill units on many single-detached and duplex properties—forms include suites, laneway/carriage houses, triplexes, quadplexes and multiplexes. |
The school district’s long-range facilities plan identifies eligible sites for potential new or expanded schools in the 2026–2027 window. School districts rely on a mix of funding sources to purchase land, and SSACs are one tool intended to ensure development pay a share of the cost associated with new school sites.
- Council received the school district’s 2026–2027 eligible school sites proposal and updated facilities plan.
- Council approved a staff review of applying SSACs to infill housing permitted by recent provincial legislation.
- The Local Government Act currently exempts developments creating fewer than four units from SSACs.
Supporters of extending SSACs to infill projects argue it aligns the cost of new infrastructure and services with the growth that creates demand for them. Opponents in other jurisdictions have raised concerns that new levies could dampen the affordability goals of infill policies by increasing development costs on small-scale projects.
City staff will assess the legal framework under the Local Government Act and the practical implications of applying the charge to projects enabled by the Infill Housing Program. The work will involve examining whether the legislation allows a different interpretation or approach for projects that, while small in unit count, are a direct outcome of the province’s push for modest densification on single-family lots.
For New Westminster residents, the issue ties together several pressures: accommodating growth, preserving neighbourhood character, meeting school capacity needs and balancing the costs of public infrastructure with housing affordability goals. How the city proceeds could influence both how infill development is funded and how school district land acquisition is resourced as population patterns shift.
Staff will return with details to council once they have completed the review and identified possible options and implications for local policy and finances.
