Kitimat is a great place to live, and compared to many other communities in B.C. enjoys a lower cost of living. Kitimat is among the most affordable places to live in British Columbia.

Our community of nearly 9,000 residents has a wide mix of housing options including single-detached housing, duplexes, townhomes and apartment buildings.

Housing is of primary interest both for existing residents and for prospective newcomers. We are active in both staying informed on the local housing market and in being forward-thinking for our community's housing needs.

Kitimat Housing Facts

Twice a year, the District of Kitimat prepares a Kitimat Housing Fact Sheet.

This fact sheet compiles all available data for housing in Kitimat including:

  • Median house values.
  • Average rental prices.
  • Estimated vacancy.
  • Housing Affordability Indicators. (HAI)

Housing Data and Reports

The District of Kitimat is following the province’s legislative requirements for reporting on community housing needs.

In December 2024, we released the District of Kitimat Interim Housing Needs Report, addressing the community's future needs for housing both near-term and long-term.

The report is technical and considers a number of factors set out by the province. The estimated housing needs consider new housing units based on forecasted growth, as well as other factors such as unmet existing demand, changing preferences, shifting demographics, and the need for replacement of some of the existing housing stock in the coming years.

You can read our Interim Housing Needs Report as well as other housing reports here: Reports and Plans.

Housing Action Plan and Needs Assessment

The Housing Action Plan and Needs Assessment (HAPNA) was completed in 2020. It also fulfilled a legislated requirement to collect housing data for the community.

In addition to the data, the action plan provides a number of suggested actions to improve housing, enhance the experience of residents in the community whether renters or owners, and grow awareness of resources to better support those who live in the community.

Find our Housing Action Plan and Needs Assessment here.

A housing-focused OCP update

The District of Kitimat is committed to support housing through a housing-focused Official Community Plan update. You can learn more about our work to update the OCP on our Get Involved Kitimat page here.

Policies and Programs

Tenant Protection and Relocation Policy

The District of Kitimat's first line of defense for tenants in the community is the Tenancy Protection and Relocation Policy which provides tenants options if their purpose-built rental building is facing a rezoning or demolition.

What this policy requires is that for any purpose-built rental building with an application for rezoning or demolition, a Tenant Relocation Plan must be created for affected tenants before any application approval from the District. This plan must:

  • Include a set number of months notice to affected tenants.
  • Provide tenants with a financial compensation based on length of tenancy.
  • Include an offer of assistance for tenants to find new accommodations.
  • Provide to the District a Final Relocation Report prior to the issuance of a demolition permit.

This policy is designed to keep rental units from leaving the market and to protect local renters.

Learn more about this policy on our Bylaws and Policies page.

Affordable Housing Initiatives & Operational Fund

The District of Kitimat has an Affordable Housing Initiatives & Operational Fund, specifically designed to support the creation and operation of affordable housing in Kitimat. The Affordable Housing Initiatives & Operational Fund was established by Council in 2016 and at that time was known as the Affordable and/or Accessible Housing Fund. On November 20, 2023, the fund was amended by Council to add operational expenses as eligible in the fund.

The purpose of the AHIOF is to increase affordable housing opportunities in Kitimat including affordable ownership, rental and non-market housing units.

Learn more about this fund on our Applications, Licences, and Permits page.

Redevelopment of Manufactured Home Park Policy

The District of Kitimat's Redevelopment of Manufactured Home Park Policy protects residents by creating a process for developers to follow to reduce the impact on tenants for possible redevelopments of existing manufactured home parks.

The policy outlines the communications plan required to inform tenants of a plan for redevelopment as well as stipulates the requirement for a Relocation Assistance Plan from the developer that provides either a relocation for park residents or a compensation plan.

More information on this plan is available under the Policies section of our Bylaws page.

Strata Conversion Policy

The District's Strata Conversion Policy provides the process of evaluation for applications that seek to convert existing purpose-built rental buildings into strata title ownership.

The process provided in the policy covers a number of aspects relating to the conversion, but in terms of housing specifically, here is how this policy helps:

  • Council will only consider the conversion when rental vacancy, after the conversion, is greater than five per cent.
  • The applicant must show evidence that all existing tenants have been notified of the application, and that there is evidence that all tenants support the conversion.
  • The applicant will develop a relocation plan for tenants outlining options to either purchase or relocate.
  • Tenants will be offered a 90-day right of first refusal to purchase before a notice to vacate.

View the Strata Conversion Policy on our Bylaws and Policies page.

Tenant, Housing, and Provincial Supports

Tenants are supported through a number of programs available in locally and in B.C. including:

  • Kitimat Community Development Centre (Kitimat CDC) - The Kitimat CDC Homeless Prevention Program (HPP) and their Housing Resource Centre provides a space to access emergency food, talk through housing challenges, get help with transportation and other assistance. A separate program called Better At Home supports older adults to continue living independently in their own homes.
  • Tamitik Status of Women (TSW) - The TSW Homeless Prevention Program connects people who are homleless or at-risk of homelessness with income assistance and community-based support.
  • Kitimat Community Services Society (KCSS) - Providing services including one-time emergency financial assistance with evictions or hardship, and the Reaching Home program, an access point for low-income individuals experiencing a housing crisis, as well as homeless prevention and other supports.

You can also learn more about services and tenant rights with these resources:

BC Housing provides a number of programs which may help:

  • Rental Housing - BC Housing's Rental Housing page provides detailed information on how to search for an apply for subsidized housing, market rentals and housing co-operatives.
  • Rental Assistance - BC Housing's Rental Assistance program provides eligible low-income working families with monthly assistance on their rent.
  • Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) - Provides eligible seniors with monthly assistance with their rent payments.
  • Canada-BC Housing Benefit (CBCHB) - This program provides rental assistance for people who do not qualify for other rental assistance programs.
  • BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations (BC RAHA) - This program provides financial help in the form of rebates to eligible low-income households to complete home adaptations for independent living.