Montreal backs federal Housing Design Catalogue, with 50-plus pre-approved low-rise plans free to use

The Government of Canada and the City of Montreal announced on October 28 that Montreal supports the Quebec plans in the federal Housing Design Catalogue. The catalogue offers a library of more than 50 pre-approved low-rise housing designs, free to use for all Canadians, aimed at accelerating so-called gentle density housing.

What was announced

Caroline Desrochers, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, and Caroline Braun, Head of Housing and Urban Planning with the City of Montreal's Executive Committee, announced the decision. The city said it is working with its boroughs to incorporate the standardized designs into land-use regulations, to streamline residential projects, reduce construction costs and speed up municipal permitting.

What the catalogue contains

The designs were developed by regional architecture and engineering teams and take different building requirements across Canada into account. The Quebec designs were developed by KANVA Architecture, based in Montreal. The federal government presents the catalogue as part of a broader set of measures to double the rate of housing construction, restore affordability and reduce homelessness.

What happens next

How quickly the pre-approved designs reach real projects will depend on the city's work with boroughs to align local rules. Ottawa says local governments are key to unlocking the catalogue's potential, because standardized designs only take effect once they pass through local land-use and permitting steps.