Staff Report: Interim Housing Target Order Progress Report: September 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The purpose of this report is for Council to receive the interim Housing Target Progress Report for the period of September 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026 (Attachment A) in accordance with the City of Langford’s legislative reporting requirements under the Housing Supply Act.

BACKGROUND:

The Province of British Columbia identified the City of Langford as one of 40 municipalities with the highest housing need and projected population growth in the Housing Supply Regulation. As a result, the Minister of Housing issued a Housing Target Order (HTO) for Langford as part of the fourth cohort of municipalities to receive such as Order on August 18, 2025. The HTO went into effect on September 1, 2025, and mandates a five-year target of 2,993 net new completed housing units. The annual cumulative number of net new housing units is to be measured as follows:

Reporting Period Table

Year 1 is further broken down into two six-month interim reporting periods. This report contains the data for the first interim reporting period of September 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026, which Council must receive within 45 days of the end of the period. The HTO is appended to this report as Attachment B.

COMMENTARY:

The interim Housing Target Progress Report for the period of September 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026, has been prepared (Attachment A) to fulfill the City of Langford’s legislative reporting requirements under the Housing Supply Act.

Once submitted, the Housing Targets Branch will assess progress against the performance indicators in Schedule B of the HTO. Failure to meet targets or demonstrate satisfactory progress may result in compliance action by the Minister of Housing.

Net New Unit Completions and Approvals

The following data reflects the first six months of the five-year HTO, detailing new housing completions, demolitions, and the resulting net new units. Additionally, rezoning, development permit, and building permit approvals provide insight into future housing supply and potential growth for upcoming reporting periods.

Net New Units

Net new housing units completed between September 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026, are shown below. The total is calculated by subtracting demolitions from the occupancy permits issued during the prescribed period.

Approved Housing Development Applications

The number of approved rezoning applications, development permits, and building permits issued during the reporting period offers a preview of housing units in the development approval pipeline. While these approvals do not immediately count toward completions, they indicate upcoming supply that will contribute to future housing target progress reports. 189 units have been approved across 39 separate building permits during the interim reporting period. It is difficult to predict how many of these will receive occupancy permits throughout the next reporting period. A total of 444 units are authorized within the seven residential Development Permit applications approved during the reporting period.

As part of the HTO, the Province also included guidelines pertaining to the unit size breakdown, tenure, and affordability of the five-year total target. These guidelines include the following metrics in relation to the total target of 2,993 dwelling units:

• Unit size breakdown: 68% studio/one bedroom; 18% two-bedroom; 14% three or more bedroom
• Unit tenure: 92% rental; 8% ownership
• Rental affordability:
  • Below market (including supportive housing): 35% of total units; 38% of rental units
  • Market: 58% of total units; 63% of rental units

The City doesn’t currently track unit size or tenure; however, will be exploring adding this data as staff proceed with software updates in the coming year.

Council may wish to note that the City does not currently have any non-profit affordable housing buildings under construction or in the approval process at the present time. The City had committed to a partnership with M’Akola Housing Society to construct a mixed-use building on City property, with 40 affordable housing units and 73 childcare spaces. M’Akola had anticipated funding from the Indigenous Housing Fund for the affordable housing component of this project, while the City received funding approval from the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund for the childcare component. However, M’Akola and the City have recently been informed by BC Housing that funding through the Indigenous Housing Fund is no longer available. With this news, the City anticipates a reconfigured project that will maintain the committed childcare construction timelines and meet other community needs.

More broadly, and in the context of the 2026 Budget announcement that the Community Housing Fund has been suspended, it’s unlikely that any significant progress can be made towards the affordable housing component of the guideline without Provincial assistance in the foreseeable future.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

There are no known financial implications with this report.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS:

As noted, legislation requires municipalities that have an HTO to submit progress reports to the Minister of Housing for review. These reports are required annually, plus this interim 6-month report, over the 5-year term of the HTO. Each report must be received publicly by Council resolution within 45-days of the reporting period’s end, submitted to the Minister of Housing, and posted on the City of Langford’s website.

Should the City fail to comply with the legislative requirement to meet their targets or demonstrate satisfactory progress, compliance action by the Minister of Housing may result.

OPTIONS:

Option 1

THAT Council:

1. Receive the Interim Housing Target Progress Report: September 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026, attached as Appendix A to the staff report dated March 16, 2026; and

2. Direct staff to post the report to the City’s website and submit a copy to the Minister of Housing together with this resolution, all in accordance with the Housing Supply Act.

OR Option 2

THAT Council take no action at this time with respect to the Interim Housing Target Progress Report: September 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026.

SUBMITTED BY:

Matt Notley, Planner II, Community Planning and Development

Concurrence: Leah Stohmann, RPP, MCIP, Director of Community Planning and Development
Concurrence: Melisa Miles, Manager of Legislative Services
Concurrence: Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development
Concurrence: Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works
Concurrence: Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance
Concurrence: Marie Watmough, Director of Legislative & Protective Services
Concurrence: Braden Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer

Attachments:
Attachment A – Interim Housing Target Progress Report: September 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026
Attachment B – City of Langford Housing Target Order