In November 2025, the Province of British Columbia enacted Bill 25, new housing legislation that allows more property owners in the city to add more home (dwelling units) to their lots over time, including in the city’s heritage areas.

When someone constructs a new building or makes major changes to their property like adding another unit, they must get a permit from the City. The City uses a set of design guidelines to see whether a permit can be issued. Design guidelines are rules and recommendations that help shape how buildings look and function; they exist to help ensure that developments will fit into existing neighbourhoods.

What can design guidelines include?

This activity will ask you about priorities for design guidelines, so let's start by exploring what design guidelines can include. Click on the image below to explore different characteristics that cities can include in their design guidelines.

Right now, the City of North Vancouver is considering updates to allow more homes in our neighbourhoods, including heritage neighbourhoods. To make sure new developments fit in, we need to update our design guidelines. Heritage neighbourhoods are identified in our Official Community Plan and usually include homes that were built in the 1940s or earlier. When redevelopment happens in these areas, it's important that new properties feel like they fit in to the unique character of the heritage neighbourhood.

The City has to balance making space for new homes with retaining the most important heritage features. So, we must prioritize. Below, we want to know what you think is most important!

Let's begin.

Imagine you're walking through a neighbourhood with the heritage houses below. You can click on the images to see a bigger version.

Now, imagine a new house is being built in this neighbourhood. It will be built next to heritage houses like the ones above.