City Council identified the provision of attainable and accessible housing across the entire housing spectrum as a priority this term. This includes proactively planning for deliberate growth while focusing on an inclusive, healthy, safe and desirable place to live. Use this page as a central resource for information on the work focused on delivering this priority.
Areas of Focus
- Support the provision of attainable and accessible housing across the entire housing spectrum, considering opportunities to leverage City owned assets
- Growth includes ensuring supports and services for Penticton's vulnerable populations, including youth, seniors and unhoused residents
- Committed to minimizing environmental impacts of new development and adapting to climate change in our community
The City of Penticton is highlighting significant progress on housing since 2023, reflecting a shift from a traditionally regulatory role to becoming an active partner and enabler in delivering new homes.
From regulator to partner
The City has deliberately moved beyond a regulation only approach, recognizing that addressing housing supply, affordability and homelessness require coordinated action with local organizations, alongside provincial and federal partners.Major policy reforms and faster approvals
Since 2023, Council has implemented wide ranging changes to modernize housing policy and regulations. Of the 18 recommendations from the Official Community Plan Housing Task Force, 15 have now been implemented.The City has also adapted recent provincial housing legislation to Penticton’s local context in order to support increased housing supply, while streamlining development approval processes to reduce timelines and improve certainty for applicants.
Design guidelines have been simplified, additional minor variance decisions have been delegated to staff, and development processes updated to better support infill, rental and mixed use housing.
Increasing housing supply
These changes are translating into tangible housing outcomes. Between 2023 and 2025, construction began on approximately 950 new homes — an average of about 316 homes per year.This level of activity aligns with the needs identified in the City’s most recent housing needs reports and represents strong early progress toward meeting Penticton’s provincially mandated housing targets. Most new developments are multifamily apartments, providing housing desirable for many young professionals, workers, and seniors. These projects represent major investments in key areas of Penticton, including the downtown, North Gateway, and near Okanagan College.
Strategic use of City-owned land
The City is taking a more active role in advancing housing by strategically using City owned land, particularly for below market and non profit housing projects.Several sites are being prepared or positioned for residential development, including a 60-unit apartment on City-owned land at 995 Eckhardt Ave W funded through the BC Builds program and geared towards workers. The City continues to pursue partnerships with provincial and federal governments to secure funding and advance other projects.
Partnerships are key
Partnerships remain central to addressing housing supply and affordability. The City continues to work with the development industry to identify opportunities for ongoing process improvements, while collaborating with non profit housing providers through initiatives such as the Social Housing and Infrastructure Plan and pre development funding for new projects.The City also continues to advocate to provincial and federal governments for increased investment in housing in Penticton, recognizing that senior government support is critical to meeting local needs.
Looking ahead
Current economic conditions have made it challenging for some private developments to move forward to construction. Continued collaboration and investment from all levels of government will be required to deliver non market housing, support affordability and provide the infrastructure needed to accommodate growth.While significant progress has been made, the City emphasizes that municipal action alone cannot address the full scale of the housing challenges facing the community.
Key facts
• Approximately 950 new homes began construction between 2023 and 2025.
• 15 of 18 Official Community Plan Housing Task Force recommendations have been implemented.
• Housing supply is trending toward meeting provincially mandated targets.
• Penticton’s rental vacancy rate increased from 1.2 per cent in 2024 to 2.6 per cent in 2025 — the first time it has exceeded two per cent since 2013.Developed in collaboration with the not-for-profit housing sector and 100 More Homes Penticton partners to provide strategic direction in determining and achieving a range of non-market housing goals for the City, the Social Housing and Infrastructure Plan (SHIP) identifies tangible housing opportunities and the necessary social infrastructure that should be considered as new social housing projects advance.
The SHIP uses a ‘prevention-focused’ approach to building non-market housing in Penticton that helps proactively prevent residents falling into homelessness by uniting partners, land and funding for a range of non-market housing opportunities. The SHIP includes three city-owned sites for senior, youth and workforce housing options, as well as an additional 12 opportunity sites from community partners to be further explored.
At their Regular meeting of June 24, 2025, Council supported staff's recommendation to explore creating a tenant protection bylaw that would require developers to submit a tenant relocation plan to the City outlining how they will support tenants needing to move out of a rental unit due to redevelopment. Many cities in BC require similar tenant protections during redevelopment and the City is exploring what a made-in-Penticton approach could include.
The goal of this bylaw would be to support compassionate redevelopment of older buildings while helping prevent the displacement of affected tenants. The City will engage with the development industry and tenant groups to gather feedback before further consideration. Updates will be shared here as they become available.
Council approved an action plan that lays out seven initiatives that could see the addition of more than 400 housing units over three years on top of normal construction. The action plan is part of an application to the federal government’s $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund that could see Penticton eligible for up to $10 million in grants to support development. The seven initiatives are:
• Creation of a residential team to direct policy changes
• Utilizing City land and new civic facilities
• Accelerate new neighbourhood growth
• Parking requirement reduction pilot
• Pre-approved ‘missing middle’ plans
• Remove/revise density and height restrictions
• Pre-zone strategic areasCouncil created a Task Force on Housing to review the housing policies in the Official Community Plan and make recommendations to meet the demand for housing in the city. After considering current growth trends, housing needs and consultation with residents, the task Force has provided 18 recommendations grouped into the categories of housing policy, future land use designations, growth areas and other housing actions. The recommendations were presented to Council at their regular meeting on December 12, 2023.
The City recently conducted the 2023 Housing Needs Assessment to understand the need for housing in the community and guide the work of the Task Force. The assessment showed that between 2016 to 2021, Penticton’s annual growth rate was high at 1.9%. If this trend continues, the City may have around 20,000 additional residents and 9,200 additional households by 2046.
The City has completed an Interim Housing Needs Report to meet provincial requirements. This report follows the standardized provincial method for projecting future housing needs. Based on the report findings, the City will need to add almost 6,300 new units, or on average 315 new units per year, to meet future needs. This report supplements the more detailed 2023 Housing Needs Assessment.
The City is actively supporting the construction of new residential homes while this work proceeds. See the Penticton is Growing page to learn more about current developments underway including everything from rental housing and condo units to single-family homes.
2026-03-09 City of Penticton reflects on major housing progress since 2023
2025-04-01 City of Penticton making process on housing solutions
2025-01-17 Strong year for housing, more growth planned
2024-10-15 Public safety and housing focus of draft 2025 budget
2024-10-10 Council Open House focuses on public safety, housing, budget
2024-09-16 Share your thoughts on 955 Timmins OCP Amendment proposal
2024-09-12 More housing projects moving ahead
2024-06-20 Housing changes set Penticton in new direction
2024-05-31 Feedback sought for El Rancho OCP Amendment proposal
2024-05-17 Changes to OCP, zoning bylaw designed for smart growth
2024-03-06 Mark your calendars for Council-hosted Open House
2024-03-04 Plans for more housing construction continue
2024-03-04 You're invited to help shape the future of housing in Penticton
2024-03-01 Rezoning for major housing development is coming
2024-03 -01 Pilot project aims to speed up affordable housing
2023-12-08 OCP Housing Task Force recommendations provide future blueprint
2023-10-04 First steps towards Government Street housing project approved
2023-09-21 Thousands of new homes coming, more needed
2023-09-13 Bring your lawn chair and learn about the future of housing in your neighbourhood
2023-07-28 Seven initiatives to develop more housing
2023-06-27 Council to consider OCP change for housing, medical office development
2023-02-24 Council to consider first four select committees
Involving the Community
With big changes mandated by the Province, and recommendations from Council’s OCP Housing Task Force, Penticton’s Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw are being updated – this is your opportunity to help shape how Penticton grows going forward. 10 events were held in various neighbourhoods throughout March and April, which started with a staff presentation customized for each area and attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and share feedback.
Results from the engagement period are now available for your review at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca
In fall 2023, the Province passed a number of housing policy changes
that affect communities across BC, including Penticton. The City is in
the process of amending its Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw
to implement the Provincial requirements and the local OCP Housing
Task Force recommendations.18 recommendations were developed by the OCP Housing Task
Force, taking into account the experience of its members, public
engagement feedback and information shared by City staff and
other meeting presenters. These recommendations were
presented to and endorsed by Council at their Regular meeting
of December 12, 2023
BC Housing Initiative
As a partner of the 100 More Homes Collaborative, we are supporting the advancement of Penticton’s leadership with the North America-wide Built for Zero initiative, and in local partnership with HelpSeeker Technologies. In addition to our work with community partners, we have established opportunities to increase affordable housing stock, including adopting policies within the Official Community Plan (OCP) to support these efforts.
Policies that will achieve this goal include:
- Working with partners such as BC Housing and non-market and market developers.
- Maximizing the housing potential of existing land.
- Supporting innovative models of affordable housing, such as modular, adaptive re-use and through technical and regulatory support.
- Continuing the efficient processing of residential development and building permits.
A focus on creating more attainable and accessible housing saw Penticton have a strong year in 2024, with more than 600 units receiving development permit approval. Further work on the remaining Official Community Plan Housing Task Force recommendations is planned for 2025. This includes various ways for the City to support more affordable housing.
Council has initiated the Social Housing & Infrastructure Plan, which will work with local partners to not only identify land amongst partners and funding opportunities, but be a guide for future social housing needs and a roadmap for how to get there.
The City completed a Housing Needs Assessment, released in July 2023, which showed that between 2016 and 2021, Penticton’s annual growth rate was high, at 1.9%. If this trend continues, the City will have 20,000 additional residents by 2046, putting the population above 56,000. To meet this population projection, the City will need to add 240-380 new residential units every year.
Rental housing developments
Many new and existing rental options exist for single working individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. This includes BC Housing’s The Rise Nanaimo Building, which offers 56 units of affordable housing, for people between the ages of 20 to 45. BC Housing also provides rental supplements and other housing supports for those meeting low income thresholds. Contact BC Housing for more information and to learn more about the various options.
The Penticton and District and Society for Community Living operates the Backstreet Apartments, which are newly constructed bachelor, one- and two-bedroom units downtown as well as many other residential units through the community.
BC Housing is also creating a new rental housing project at 603 Main Street, with 28 homes for families, in partnership with M'Akola Housing Society.
Further development projects are currently at the planning or permitting stages.
Reports & Plans
Our Official Community Plan includes a goal to “increase housing affordability across the housing spectrum from subsidized, social housing to home-ownership options.”
Policies that will achieve this goal include:
- Working with partners such as BC Housing and non-market and market developers.
- Maximizing the housing potential of existing land.
- Supporting innovative models of affordable housing, such as modular, adaptive re-use and through technical and regulatory support.
- Continuing the efficient processing of residential development and building permits.
- Monitoring the vacation rental program to ensure short-term rentals are not having an adverse effect on rental housing.
A report of Penticton's social services with HelpSeeker Technologies and 100 More Homes Penticton gives a comprehensive review of the community's social infrastructure, particularly those services related to housing and homelessness.
The report of three supportive housing facilities highlights the challenges faced by Penticton:
- The need for full 24/7 wraparound services at existing supportive housing facilities
- The need for more effective and accessible treatment and recovery options
- The need for an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team in Penticton
Containing many anecdotes and personal stories of lived experience, as well as survey and other data, the No Where Home report outlines the unique challenges of youth faced with homelessness in Penticton. The report outlines the methodology for its creation, partners involved and includes 10 recommendations / objectives for improvement, including:
1. Meaningfully engaging youth voice (decision making, development of solutions) 2. Creating and maintaining a strong, community leadership structure 3. Implementing effective prevention strategies 4. Creating a continuum of housing options for youth 5. Increasing intra-partner collaboration 6. Educating and enhancing awareness 7. Implementing evidence-based and trauma informed practices 8. Increasing access to a range of services and supports 9. Increasing support for families with at-risk youth 10. Using data and evaluation to inform our decisions
On March 2, 2021, Penticton City Council asked the Safety and Security Advisory Committee to develop shelter and supportive housing location selection guidelines. The Committee discussed the guidelines over three meetings, and made a recommendation to Penticton City Council to adopt the guidelines. On May 18, 2021, Council adopted the guidelines based on the Committee’s recommendation. If you have questions about the guidelines, please contact Social Development.