Bucky Blog
The CMHC Design Catalogue is not a Construction Permit

The CMHC design catalogue is not a permit.
The Canadian housing market is stuck in a loop of high, unclear demand and low, confusing supply. In response, the CMHC (SCHL) released their housing design catalogue. The goal was clear: Help Canadians build homes faster and more efficiently by providing pre-approved plans.

But there is a clear disconnection between the PDFs and shovels going in the ground.
The catalogue is an excellent starting point; it provides people with a clear perspective on what the federal government is trying to push in each province. But that does not mean each municipality is completely on board. The catalogue introduces the aesthetic, but it fails to explain the context of how these homes actually get built.



