Maple Ridge Just Cut 6-8 Months Off Triplex Approvals—But Only on These Streets

Maple Ridge has officially launched a one-year Expedited Processing Program (EPP) that promises to slash development permit timelines for qualifying triplex and fourplex projects by an estimated six to eight months compared to standard applications. The pilot, announced September 4, 2026, applies only to properties designated Urban Residential in the city's Official Community Plan and located in select west Maple Ridge neighbourhoods where small-scale multi-unit housing is already permitted under provincial legislation. Applications must be submitted by qualified professionals—architects, building designers, or engineers—who certify compliance with all city requirements. Notably, any project requiring variances is automatically disqualified from the streamlined process.

This initiative sits within Maple Ridge's broader Housing Action Plan and its commitments under the federal Housing Accelerator Fund agreement with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The geographic restrictions are precise: properties in environmentally sensitive areas, provincially designated Transit-Oriented Areas, the Lougheed Transit Corridor, Town Centre, and Hammond area plans are all excluded from eligibility. Even within qualifying zones, some properties may face preconditions involving water, sewer, drainage, or road upgrades before redevelopment can proceed. City staff will report back to council after the one-year pilot with results and recommendations on continuation, modification, or expansion.