Journal
The Journal.
Plain-language guides to custom home building and renovation, plus multiplex development, zoning, and what BC's new housing rules mean for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley homeowners and investors.
Multiplex 101
Multiplex vs multi-family: what's the difference?
A multiplex and a multi-family building both add homes to a neighbourhood, but they sit on the land, and in the zoning code, very differently. Here's what actually separates the two.
Trent Praski · August 30, 2026 · 7 min read
Multiplex 101
What is a multiplex? Duplex, triplex, and fourplex explained
A multiplex is one building split into three to eight homes, each with its own front door. Here's how that differs from a duplex, a triplex, and the multi-family buildings people often confuse it with.
Trent Praski · August 30, 2026 · 8 min
Multiplex 101
How a strata council actually works in a small multiplex
In a strata with fewer than four lots, there's no election, every owner sits on the council automatically. That single rule shapes how fast a triplex or fourplex strata can move, and how much a disagreement can slow it down.
Trent Praski · August 30, 2026 · 7 min
Multiplex 101
Strata vs freehold multiplex ownership in Surrey
Surrey's houseplex program sets clear rules for lot width and lane access, but the city's public zoning pages stop short of naming a fee-simple option the way Burnaby's do. Here's what that means for a Surrey lot.
Trent Praski · August 30, 2026 · 8 min
Multiplex 101
Strata vs freehold multiplex ownership in Burnaby
Burnaby is the rare Metro Vancouver city that writes fee-simple rowhouse subdivision directly into its zoning bylaw. Here's what that option actually requires, and when strata is still the better fit.
Trent Praski · August 30, 2026 · 9 min
Multiplex 101
Strata vs freehold multiplex ownership, explained
Strata and freehold are two different ways to split ownership of a multiplex among several owners, and the choice changes who sits on the strata council, who pays for the roof, and what a lawyer registers at the land title office.
Trent Praski · August 30, 2026 · 12 min
Multiplex 101
Rezoning vs building under existing zoning: which path is yours?
One of the biggest changes from BC's housing rules is that many multiplexes no longer need a rezoning. Here is how to tell whether your project fits under existing zoning, and why that path is so much faster.
Trent Praski · July 23, 2026 · 7 min
Multiplex 101
What "missing middle" housing means for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley
"Missing middle" is the housing that sits between a single house and an apartment tower. Here's why Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley lost it for decades, and what it looks like coming back to ordinary lots.
Trent Praski · July 5, 2026 · 10 min
Multiplex 101
Multiplex, duplex, or townhouse: which fits your lot?
A duplex, a fourplex, and a row of townhomes can all be legal on the same lot. The right one depends on width, access, and how you plan to own and sell the homes, not on which sounds biggest.
Trent Praski · July 3, 2026 · 7 min
Multiplex 101
SSMUH explained: what Bill 44 means for your Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley lot
Bill 44 forced every Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley city to allow multiple homes on lots that used to permit one. Here's what the legislation actually requires, and where it stops short of a green light.
Trent Praski · June 29, 2026 · 10 min
Common questions
About the Journal
What topics does the Venture Pacific Journal cover?
The Venture Pacific Journal covers Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley multiplex development, specifically BC's Bill 44 / SSMUH rules, GP/LP partnership structure for homeowners and investors, feasibility reviews, city-by-city permitting guides (Vancouver R1-1, Burnaby SSMUH, Richmond RSM), construction timelines, financing, and missing-middle housing strategy.
What is SSMUH and how does it affect Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley homeowners?
Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) is the BC provincial policy, enacted under Bill 44 in 2023, that requires municipalities to allow three to six homes on most standard residential lots without a rezoning. Lots within 400 metres of a frequent transit stop can add a sixth unit. This affects most Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley homeowners, including those in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, and New Westminster, by dramatically expanding what they can build on land they already own.
What is a GP/LP partnership in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley multiplex development?
A GP/LP (General Partner / Limited Partner) partnership is a limited-partnership structure for real estate development. In a Venture Pacific arrangement, the homeowner contributes their land as equity and becomes a Limited Partner. Venture Pacific acts as General Partner, contributing capital, design, permitting, and construction management while carrying the construction risk. Proceeds are shared at project completion according to the partnership agreement.
How long does a Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley multiplex development take from lot to completion?
Most Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley SSMUH-compliant multiplex projects take 18 to 36 months from the start of the feasibility review to occupancy: six to twelve months for design and permitting, and twelve to eighteen months for construction. Projects requiring a rezoning or development variance permit take longer. Venture Pacific's Manchester Living project, for example, had its rezoning approved December 2023 and is expected to complete August 2026.
Does the Journal cover custom home building as well as multiplex development?
Yes. The Journal is organized into two sections: Build, covering custom homes, renovations, and construction contracts and costs, and Develop, covering multiplex development, SSMUH and Bill 44 zoning, GP/LP partnerships, and city-by-city permitting. Each post is tagged into one of these two sections so readers can filter to the topic that matches their project.
Can I get new Journal posts without checking the site?
Yes. The Journal publishes an RSS feed at venturepacific.ca/rss.xml that any feed reader can subscribe to. New posts on both the Build and Develop sides appear in the feed as soon as they go live, so a reader following BC housing policy or construction-cost updates does not need to check the page manually.
Are the Journal's zoning and permitting guides specific to one city?
No, they cover multiple Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley municipalities separately, because SSMUH rules differ by city. Vancouver's guide explains the R1-1 zone, Burnaby's covers its R1 SSMUH district, and Richmond's covers the RSM zone. A homeowner should read the guide for their specific municipality rather than assume the rules match a neighbouring city.
Who writes the Venture Pacific Journal?
Journal posts are written by Venture Pacific's own team members and credited by name on each post. Most bylines link to that person's team profile page. This keeps the byline tied to a real, identifiable person rather than an anonymous company account, so a reader can check who is behind the zoning, financing, or construction guidance in any given article.
Let's talk about your property
A conversation, not a commitment.
Whether you're curious about the multiplex value of your land or looking to partner on a missing-middle build, we're here to start the conversation.