St. John’s launches pre-approved housing designs to speed up homebuilding

The City of St. John’s has introduced a new housing design catalogue aimed at making home construction faster and more affordable.

The catalogue, developed by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, includes seven pre-designed housing options tailored for Newfoundland and Labrador. The designs range from backyard suites to multi-unit developments such as fourplexes, stacked townhouses and six-plexes.

City officials said the initiative is part of its Housing Accelerator Fund Plan and is intended to help address housing demand by simplifying the building process.

The plans were created by architecture and engineering professionals and are designed to meet local building codes, development regulations and construction practices, while reflecting regional architectural styles.

According to the city, the pre-approved designs are free to use and could help reduce both construction timelines and costs. The plans also emphasize accessibility, energy efficiency and climate resilience.

While the designs generally align with local requirements, property owners will still need to complete site-specific reviews as part of the application process. More complex modifications may also require additional review by a qualified professional.

Residents can access the designs through the CMHC website as part of broader efforts to expand housing options in St. John’s.