Waterloo homeowners and builders now have a faster path to adding backyard suites or small apartments, after the city joined a federal program that offers pre-reviewed housing designs. The announcement came July 7, 2026, formalizing Waterloo as a Local Partner in the Housing Design Catalogue, an initiative led by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
The city has pre-reviewed four standardized designs that fit many residential areas: two accessory dwelling units and two fourplex layouts. Builders and residents can use these ready-made plans to skip much of the usual red tape, though the designs are not pre-approved and still require zoning and building code checks. According to the City of Waterloo, building permits for small residential projects using these designs are typically reviewed within 10 to 15 business days, including zoning checks.
Mayor Dorothy McCabe said the partnership helps tackle local housing pressures. “Waterloo is pleased to join the Housing Design Catalogue as a local partner and continues to support innovative solutions to help increase our housing supply,” McCabe said in the city’s July 7 announcement. “Using pre-approved designs and streamlining approvals reduces barriers for homeowners and builders while supporting the gentle density needed to create complete, affordable communities.”
The catalogue itself offers over 50 low-rise housing plans developed by regional architecture and engineering teams, all free to download. The full technical packages, which include architectural drawings and user guides, launched in October 2025. Waterloo’s participation builds on $22 million the city received in February 2024 through the Housing Accelerator Fund, which already allows up to four units as-of-right and up to four storeys in low-density neighbourhoods.
MP Bardish Chagger also welcomed the move. “Today, as partners, we’re building a stronger Canada. Looking around us, while there are a range of solutions being offered, the goal is the same: to increase construction of homes so that everyone in Canada has a place to live. This program provides Waterloo the opportunity to build faster, in the way that works for our community,” Chagger said, underscoring the federal push to double housing construction nationwide.
