HAF - Year 2 Update

Delivering on Our Housing Momentum

Through two years of the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) program, the City of Bathurst has successfully completed all initiatives within its Action Plan — and has more than doubled its three-year housing target. Against a target of 170 permitted units over the three-year program period, the City has already permitted 382 new housing units.

That number is significant. It represents 382 new housing units being built for our community, compared to an average of roughly 21 per year in the five years prior to the HAF program.

Strong developer uptake of the City's grant funding policies, combined with the pace at which permits have been issued, demonstrates that Action Plan reforms are working to remove barriers, accelerate approvals, and support new housing development. Progress will continue to be tracked through 2026, with regular updates shared with residents and stakeholders.

Read the full Year 1 report ->

We were given a target to permit 170 new units over three years. Two years in, we're at 382. That's a credit to the developers who've stepped up — and a sign that our policy work is making it easier to build in Bathurst.

Chris Legacy, Director of Economic Development

Review of Zoning By-law for CMHC Housing Design Catalogue

In year 1, we tackled the seven initiatives outlined in the City's original HAF Action Plan. In Year 2, having received top-up funding through the HAF program, the City committed to an eighth initiative — a review of the Zoning By-law to align with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) new Housing Design Catalogue.

What is it

This new initiative saw us review and update of the City's Zoning By-law to align with CMHC's new Housing Design Catalogue, released in 2025. The amendments allow homeowners and developers in Bathurst to build directly from the catalogue's standardized designs — expanding low-density housing options that fit well within our existing neighbourhoods.

Why it's important

• Standardized designs reduce soft costs for homeowners and developers
• Helps expedite the permit approval process — pre-vetted designs mean less back-and-forth during a permit application review
• Supports innovative housing that Bathurst can build on — Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), fourplexes, sixplexes, and townhouses — and helps them fit well within existing neighbourhoods
• Keeps the City aligned with federal housing strategies and ready to make full use of national programs as they expand

What we're doing

The City's Planning Department and Economic Development team worked together to review the Zoning By-law and CMHC's Housing Design Catalogue to identify the changes needed to remove barriers for its use. The amendments were then advanced through the City's standard public process over a period of three months in late 2025.

With the by-law amendments now in effect, homeowners and developers in Bathurst can use CMHC's standardized designs as a starting point for new builds — including ADUs, fourplexes, sixplexes, and townhouses. Site-specific factors still apply during a permit review, but the zoning groundwork is done. It's a quiet kind of change with a meaningful impact: lower soft costs, smoother applications, and a faster path from idea to a finished home.

For step-by-step guidance on using the catalogue, visit the City's Standardized Housing Designs page ->

The road ahead

Bathurst's housing strategy is, above all, about people. We're working toward a future where every resident has access to safe, affordable, and well-designed housing — and where the city grows in a way that feels like Bathurst.

With years 1 & 2 of the HAF program behind us — and having completed all eight Action Plan initiatives — we continue to look forward. We'll continue tracking permitting progress through 2026 and sharing regular updates. The bigger goal is to make sure that our policy work completed under the HAF program keeps working for Bathurst for many years to come.

Together, we're building the future of housing in Bathurst.