Text Amendment - Housing

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This planning application is now complete.


The federal government created the $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund to spur municipalities to help foster more housing. On March 14, 2024, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) announced that the City has been allocated over $10.4 million in federal funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund to stimulate housing growth.

CMHC’s Housing Accelerator Fund helps increase housing supply by removing barriers. The purpose of the funding is to contribute to housing solutions such as capacity-building, amending the City’s Development Regulations to promote densification, and improving internal processes and policies that accelerate the development of diverse housing types throughout St. John’s. The proposed text amendment will help achieve these goals. The proposed changes to the Development Regulations generally include:

  • Remove the Pocket Neighbourhood (PN) Zone and add Pocket Neighbourhood as a Discretionary Use to the Residential 2 (R2), Residential 3 (R3), Residential Downtown (RD), and Residential Mixed (RM) Zones. Set use standards for Pocket Neighbourhoods in each zone.
  • Add Triplex as a Permitted Use to the R2 Zone, R3 Zone, RD Zone, RM Zone, Apartment 1 (A1) Zone and Apartment 2 (A2) Zone. Set use standards in each zone.
  • Add Four-Plex as a Permitted Use to the R2 Zone, RD Zone, RM Zone and A1 Zone. Add Four-Plex on a Corner Lot as a Permitted Use to the Residential 1 (R1) Zone. Add Four-Plex use standards to each zone.
  • Add Tiny Home Dwelling to R2 Zone and RM Zone and set use standards.
  • Allow Backyard Suites (a dwelling unit in the backyard of a residential lot) in various residential zones. A Backyard Suite will require a minimum of one parking space.
  • Allow two Subsidiary Dwelling Units in Single Detached Dwellings, and one Subsidiary Dwelling Unit in Semi-Detached Dwellings or Townhouses.
  • Create a new Cluster Development use to allow multiple buildings (Townhouse, Triplex, Four-Plex or Apartment Building) on one lot and set use standards in each zone. Cluster Development will be added to any zones that permit Apartment Building.
  • Move Apartment Building, maximum 6 dwelling units, from a Discretionary Use to a Permitted Use in the R2, R3, RD and RM Zones.
  • Increase the maximum building height for:
    1. Single Detached Dwellings from 8m to 9m
    2. Semi-detached Dwellings and Four-Plexes from 8m to 10m.
    3. Apartment Buildings from 12m to 14m in the A1 Zone and from 40m to 52m in the Apartment 3 (A3) Zone.

The full amendment is also available for review.

Review the materials on this page and ask a question or provide your feedback.

Return to Planning St. John's main page.


The federal government created the $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund to spur municipalities to help foster more housing. On March 14, 2024, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) announced that the City has been allocated over $10.4 million in federal funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund to stimulate housing growth.

CMHC’s Housing Accelerator Fund helps increase housing supply by removing barriers. The purpose of the funding is to contribute to housing solutions such as capacity-building, amending the City’s Development Regulations to promote densification, and improving internal processes and policies that accelerate the development of diverse housing types throughout St. John’s. The proposed text amendment will help achieve these goals. The proposed changes to the Development Regulations generally include:

  • Remove the Pocket Neighbourhood (PN) Zone and add Pocket Neighbourhood as a Discretionary Use to the Residential 2 (R2), Residential 3 (R3), Residential Downtown (RD), and Residential Mixed (RM) Zones. Set use standards for Pocket Neighbourhoods in each zone.
  • Add Triplex as a Permitted Use to the R2 Zone, R3 Zone, RD Zone, RM Zone, Apartment 1 (A1) Zone and Apartment 2 (A2) Zone. Set use standards in each zone.
  • Add Four-Plex as a Permitted Use to the R2 Zone, RD Zone, RM Zone and A1 Zone. Add Four-Plex on a Corner Lot as a Permitted Use to the Residential 1 (R1) Zone. Add Four-Plex use standards to each zone.
  • Add Tiny Home Dwelling to R2 Zone and RM Zone and set use standards.
  • Allow Backyard Suites (a dwelling unit in the backyard of a residential lot) in various residential zones. A Backyard Suite will require a minimum of one parking space.
  • Allow two Subsidiary Dwelling Units in Single Detached Dwellings, and one Subsidiary Dwelling Unit in Semi-Detached Dwellings or Townhouses.
  • Create a new Cluster Development use to allow multiple buildings (Townhouse, Triplex, Four-Plex or Apartment Building) on one lot and set use standards in each zone. Cluster Development will be added to any zones that permit Apartment Building.
  • Move Apartment Building, maximum 6 dwelling units, from a Discretionary Use to a Permitted Use in the R2, R3, RD and RM Zones.
  • Increase the maximum building height for:
    1. Single Detached Dwellings from 8m to 9m
    2. Semi-detached Dwellings and Four-Plexes from 8m to 10m.
    3. Apartment Buildings from 12m to 14m in the A1 Zone and from 40m to 52m in the Apartment 3 (A3) Zone.

The full amendment is also available for review.

Review the materials on this page and ask a question or provide your feedback.

Return to Planning St. John's main page.

This planning application is now complete.

Please use this space to ask questions regarding this application and we will provide an answer. All questions will be posted as submitted. Some questions may require coordination with internal departments and additional time may be needed to post a response. 

The Q & A section will remain open while the application is active. 

If you prefer to provide comments or questions using mail or email, please do so to the Office of the City Clerk, including your name and address, e-mail cityclerk@stjohns.ca or write to P.O. Box 908, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5M2. Be sure to include the name of the application in your submission. 


  • Share Is there any funding available for outside of the city of St.John’s as in Conception Bay on Facebook Share Is there any funding available for outside of the city of St.John’s as in Conception Bay on Twitter Share Is there any funding available for outside of the city of St.John’s as in Conception Bay on Linkedin Email Is there any funding available for outside of the city of St.John’s as in Conception Bay link

    Is there any funding available for outside of the city of St.John’s as in Conception Bay

    Aiden asked 4 months ago

    Thank you for your question. The City's programs are only available for properties within the City of St. John's. Other municipalities may also have funding programs. It is recommended to contact the municipality in question.

  • Share Where can I find a map indicating zones? on Facebook Share Where can I find a map indicating zones? on Twitter Share Where can I find a map indicating zones? on Linkedin Email Where can I find a map indicating zones? link

    Where can I find a map indicating zones?

    Justin Power asked 7 months ago

    Thank you for your question. Zones can be found on the City's mapcentre. 

  • Share Not knowing the correct terminology you state above will have to attend ,think you are making mistakes on Facebook Share Not knowing the correct terminology you state above will have to attend ,think you are making mistakes on Twitter Share Not knowing the correct terminology you state above will have to attend ,think you are making mistakes on Linkedin Email Not knowing the correct terminology you state above will have to attend ,think you are making mistakes link

    Not knowing the correct terminology you state above will have to attend ,think you are making mistakes

    Gerard Healey asked 7 months ago

    Thank you for your feedback. 

  • Share Very welcome changes, absolutely everything here is great to see. Get building. on Facebook Share Very welcome changes, absolutely everything here is great to see. Get building. on Twitter Share Very welcome changes, absolutely everything here is great to see. Get building. on Linkedin Email Very welcome changes, absolutely everything here is great to see. Get building. link

    Very welcome changes, absolutely everything here is great to see. Get building.

    Jelliott asked 7 months ago

    Thank you for your feedback. 

  • Share Hi I live in zones RR1-RUL-Open space. Am I permitted to add 1 or more residential structures for family and/or non family members? on Facebook Share Hi I live in zones RR1-RUL-Open space. Am I permitted to add 1 or more residential structures for family and/or non family members? on Twitter Share Hi I live in zones RR1-RUL-Open space. Am I permitted to add 1 or more residential structures for family and/or non family members? on Linkedin Email Hi I live in zones RR1-RUL-Open space. Am I permitted to add 1 or more residential structures for family and/or non family members? link

    Hi I live in zones RR1-RUL-Open space. Am I permitted to add 1 or more residential structures for family and/or non family members?

    llda asked 5 months ago

    Thank you for your question. Within the Residential Rural Infill (RRI) Zone area of your property, a Subsidiary Dwelling Unit or Backyard Suite can be permitted. 

  • Share How do you get the grant? on Facebook Share How do you get the grant? on Twitter Share How do you get the grant? on Linkedin Email How do you get the grant? link

    How do you get the grant?

    Brad Lush asked 4 months ago

    Thank you for your question. Information about the City's Incentives & Grants can be found on the City's webpage. 

  • Share Hi, I would like to know if we are eligible to have the one time grant for a small house on our backyard Thank you on Facebook Share Hi, I would like to know if we are eligible to have the one time grant for a small house on our backyard Thank you on Twitter Share Hi, I would like to know if we are eligible to have the one time grant for a small house on our backyard Thank you on Linkedin Email Hi, I would like to know if we are eligible to have the one time grant for a small house on our backyard Thank you link

    Hi, I would like to know if we are eligible to have the one time grant for a small house on our backyard Thank you

    Aaron asked 4 months ago

    Thank you for your question. Information about the Incentives & Grants can be found on the City's webpage. 

  • Share Allowing 2 subsidiary dwelling units in a signal detached dwelling means you can have a regular home and have two basement apartments ? and would this be available to homes in an R1 zone? on Facebook Share Allowing 2 subsidiary dwelling units in a signal detached dwelling means you can have a regular home and have two basement apartments ? and would this be available to homes in an R1 zone? on Twitter Share Allowing 2 subsidiary dwelling units in a signal detached dwelling means you can have a regular home and have two basement apartments ? and would this be available to homes in an R1 zone? on Linkedin Email Allowing 2 subsidiary dwelling units in a signal detached dwelling means you can have a regular home and have two basement apartments ? and would this be available to homes in an R1 zone? link

    Allowing 2 subsidiary dwelling units in a signal detached dwelling means you can have a regular home and have two basement apartments ? and would this be available to homes in an R1 zone?

    norman1 asked 7 months ago

    Thank you for your questions. Yes that is correct, it is proposed that Single Detached Dwellings throughout the City will be permitted to have two Subsidiary Apartments. They could be located in the basement, or could also be developed as a side or rear extension. They will be permitted in the R1 Zone and other residential zones within the City. 

  • Share Are you planning on using passive building techniques moving forward on Facebook Share Are you planning on using passive building techniques moving forward on Twitter Share Are you planning on using passive building techniques moving forward on Linkedin Email Are you planning on using passive building techniques moving forward link

    Are you planning on using passive building techniques moving forward

    Thinlizzy asked 7 months ago

    Thank you for your question. Passive building techniques would not be regulated under the Development Regulations, so no changes are proposed at this time. Developments would have to meet the National Building Code and passive building techniques may be considered. 

  • Share Why has the city not abolished parking minimums? on Facebook Share Why has the city not abolished parking minimums? on Twitter Share Why has the city not abolished parking minimums? on Linkedin Email Why has the city not abolished parking minimums? link

    Why has the city not abolished parking minimums?

    Noah asked 7 months ago

    Thank you for your question. The City is not proposing to remove parking minimums at this time, but we will take your comment into consideration.