Burnaby will be the first city in the province to implement B.C.'s new rental zoning law.

In May, the B.C. government enacted legislation to give municipalities the power to zone properties for rental only developments. This enable municipalities to ensure existing rental properties cannot be redevelped for another use, such as high priced condos. The power is optional for local governments to use, and a city can't use the rental only clause to override existing strata rules that limit rentals in existing buildings.

Burnaby passed a motion asking staff to implement a rental zoning bylaw to ensure that all redevelopment of purpose built rental sites be required to include the replacement of the current number of units within the neighbourhood, and that they be rented at established, affordable rates, and be make available to current tenants.