Residential building permits in Chilliwack were on a two-year downward trend by the end of 2023, according to Fourth Quarter Reports from City of Chilliwack.
But the city totals do not take into account the phenomenal growth that was taking place on adjacent First Nations land.
New residential building permits totalled 573 units in 2023, compared to 793 in 2022, and 930 units in 2021, according to the Chilliwack data from the city’s online Fourth Quarter Reports.
The breakdown of housing types related to the 573 permits is: 178 single family homes, 1 duplex, 45 townhouses, and 350 apartments.
Although it wasn’t reflected in the city’s 2023 building-permit stats, “there was a comparable rate of residential construction occurring on First Nations land” that year, which added to Chilliwack’s overall growth with neighbours, according to the details in the report.
“According to the development cost charges (DCCs) for 2023, approximately 530 new residential units (single detached, townhouses, and apartments) were constructed on First Nations land. The majority of the growth and development was on Tzeachten and Skowkale First Nations land as well on Shxwhá:y Village land.”
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