The Housing Supply Growth Target measures the number of dwelling units permitted through approval of building permits. The table below outlines progress on the Housing Supply Growth Target to date (as of January 31st, 2026).

Goals and Objectives: This initiative modifies and add provisions in the City’s Zoning Bylaw affecting development regulations to encourage increased housing supply and missing middle developments within the city.  The City committed to Zoning Bylaw changes, including allowing more units per lot, modifying provisions related to building height, amenity space and site coverage in order to enable the additional units, adding provisions related to short-term rentals and affordable housing and modifying provisions related to garden, living and manufactured units. The initiative will also modify provisions related to permitted uses, density, and building heights to encourage high-density mixed-use developments within urban centres identified in the Official Community Plan.

Status: Ongoing

Actions:

• Immediate Housing Related Zoning Amendments
  In April 2024, Council adopted Bylaw 2024-16, a bylaw to amend the Zoning Bylaw to enable a wider range of opportunities for residential development within the City’s neighbourhoods. This included permitting up to four units per lot on all urban residential lots, and modifying development regulations for urban residential lots to enable increased density. More information on these changes can be found in the City’s Guide for Developing Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing.
• Zoning Bylaw Rewrite
  The City is currently rewriting its Zoning Bylaw and proposed Bylaw 2025-37 is currently going through the Council bylaw adoption process. Changes related to this initiative that are proposed in the Bylaw include:
  • offering new zoning benefits for qualifying affordable housing developments.
  • new regulations for short-term rentals;
  • reducing minimum parking requirements in the downtown and nearby neighbourhoods, and in neighbourhood shopping areas, to encourage housing development and more compact transit and pedestrian oriented commercial development;
  • allowing taller buildings in residential and commercial zones (exact height increase depends on the zone); and
  • increasing maximum site coverages and reducing front setbacks in some residential zones where two or more homes are provided.

More information on the Zoning Bylaw Rewrite and details on the changes proposed can be found on the Engage Whitehorse page.

Goals and Objectives: The initiative intended to develop a program that enhances the permitting application process and encourages the construction of missing middle housing and greater housing density before the finalization of the zoning changes outlined in initiative 1. The program will encourage applications through reduced permit, zoning amendment and/or utility fees, and through prioritizing and tailoring applications for qualifying developments that are restricted by the existing zoning bylaws. To achieve these objectives, additional consultants and/or staff will be required in the planning, permitting and engineering departments. The additional personnel will implement and manage the program. They will serve as the main points of contact within the City for applicants of qualifying developments and assist with updating, improving and managing current approvals processes, programs, incentives and communications. Although additional personnel will prioritize qualifying developments, they will not exclusively process these applications.

Status: Complete

Actions:

• Staff Hiring
  The City has hired additional staff across planning, permitting and engineering departments to increase administrative efficiency in the permitting and approvals process.
• Missing Middle Housing Incentives
  Missing Middle Housing Incentives were added to the City’s Housing Development Incentives. Eligible projects can recieve a grant equal to $5,000 per dwelling unit or equal to the value of the Development Fees and DCCs, whichever is less, up to a maximum of $20,000 per property.  There is $100,000 in total funding, available on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted or January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

Goals and Objectives: This initiative intended to analyze and revise an existing incentive program for housing development on applicable residential and commercial land to require, among other potential criteria, minimum housing density, diversity and/or affordable units. The incentive program would also seek to encourage (either through incentives or disincentives) the redevelopment of underutilized and vacant lots. The initiative involves implementing the necessary program and developing design criteria for incentive approvals. Cost estimates relate to consultation, analysis and program development by a consultant.

Status: Complete

Actions:

• Updated Housing Development Incentives Policy
  In 2023, the City engaged with a consultant to provide recommendations to update the Housing Development Incentives Policy. In 2024, the Policy was updated to focus incentives on Rental and Supprotive Housing projects and Non-Profit and Non-Governmental Organization housing projects.
  • Rental and Supportive Housing Development Incentive: Reduction of Development Cost Charges to $0 and a 10-year Unit Grant, with a total maximum value of $60,000 annually and $500,000 total
  • Non-Profit or Non-Governmental Organization Incentive: Development Cost Charge reduction to $0 and a grant equal to the cost of development fees (maximum of $60,000);
  • Cash Grant Incentive: Council may consider a cash grant for an amount it deems necessary to support major projects (10 or more units) by Non-Profit or Non-Governmental Organizations.
• Vacant and Unoccupied Buildings Bylaw and Incentive
  In 2024, the City also introduced a Vacant and Unoccupied Buildings Bylaw, requiring annual building permits and progressive fees for unoccupied and vacant buildings within the city. A Temporary Tipping Fee Incentive was added to the Housing Development Incentives Policy, to encourage the demolition of vacant/abandoned buildings and redevelopment of additional residential units. The tipping fee incentive provides a grant equal to 75 per cent of the value of the tipping fees associated with the building demolition.  More information about Vacant and Unoccupied Building Permits can be found on the City’s Vacant and Unoccupied Building Permit page.

Goals and Objectives: This initiative intended to integrate new permitting software to better manage the existing permit volume and to prepare for continued increases in the volume of permit applications. The software will enable a streamlined development approvals process that is more consistent and predictable than the current ‘paper and emails’ method. This software will improve developers’ confidence in the development approvals process and will reduce inefficiencies that slow down development. It will reduce risk to the City by enabling staff to better manage and track the review process, identify choke points and reduce silos, set targets and evaluate performance, and maintain high-quality digital records. It will reduce risk to residents by ensuring that developments conform to current standards. Applicants will be able to engage in the process online and track the status of their applications.

Status: Complete 

Actions: 

• E-Permitting
  In April 2025 the City launched City Works, an e-permitting system for development and building permits. The digital platform allows applicants to:
  • Apply for building and development permits online, no in-person visits required;
  • Know the status of an application at any time;
  • Submit documents and request inspections online at any time;
  • Save time and receive approval more quickly.

• Digitize Records
  The City has digitized existing hard copies of development permitting materials, allowing easier review for officials.

Goals and Objectives: This initiative will aims to review the City’s current mitigation and adaptation priorities, targets and progress, and develop a range of options for enhancing the City’s mitigation and adaptation efforts. It will, among others, outline how the City, its citizens, assets and partners can be more resilient and prepared for the impacts of climate change. Actions to prepare and respond to the impacts of these risks will be consolidated into the strategy that includes ongoing evaluation and analysis to stay proactive. Among these actions, it is proposed to collect LiDAR/GIS data to incorporate floodplain, steep slopes, riparian and wildfire mapping into the Zoning Bylaw where appropriate. This information would assist with protecting City infrastructure and planning for future development and infrastructure needs.

Status: Ongoing

Actions:

• Climate Action Plan
  In September 2025, the City adopted a 2025-30 Climate Action Plan. To develop a strategy for coordinating climate mitigation and adaptation throughout the City’s short- and long-term planning.
• Incorperate in Zoning Bylaw Rewrite and bylaw adoption
  Incorporation of the climate-related policies into the Zoning Bylaw, including supporting increased densities and complete communities, is awaiting the adoption of a new Zoning Bylaw. Details of the status of the new Zoning Bylaw can be found under Initiative 1.

Goals and Objectives: Undertake a Housing Needs Assessment that describes the current and future housing needs of the community.

Status: Complete

Actions:

• Housing Needs Assessment
  The City engaged City Spaces Consulting Ltd. to complete a Housing Needs Assessment for Whitehorse, which was completed in January 2026.