How much does it cost to build a multiplex in Vancouver?

What we found

We read every multiplex building permit Vancouver issued up to October 2, 2026. Here’s what they show:

• $421,000

  Is the median construction value per multiplex home on Vancouver permits. The middle half run from $350,000 to $500,000.

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• $900,000

  Is the median value written on the permit for a two-home multiplex building. A one-home back building is $365,000.

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• $130,500

  In city and regional charges on a Vancouver fourplex on a 33 ft lot, at July 2026 rates.

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• 70%

  Of a Vancouver fourplex’s charges go to Metro Vancouver and TransLink. They charge for every home.

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• +$23,000

  More in regional charges for the same fourplex when Metro Vancouver’s new rates start on January 1, 2027.

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What is a multiplex?

A multiplex is three to six homes on one lot, and in Vancouver you can sell each home on its own. Or you can keep up to eight homes as rentals instead. Most are split into a front building and a back building, with a courtyard between them. See how many multiplexes Vancouver has approved.

A standard 33 by 122 ft lot can hold three or four homes. It gets 1.00 FSR, which means the floor area can match the lot area: about 4,026 sq ft in total.

What does the building itself cost?

Every permit lists a construction value, which is the owner’s or builder’s estimate when they apply. For a multiplex, the City usually issues one permit for each building, so we divided each building’s value by the number of homes in it.

The median is $421,000 per home. That’s close to a duplex half, at $450,000. But multiplex homes are usually smaller, so each square foot costs a bit more to build.

Treat permit values as a floor, not a quote. Nobody rounds them up, because the permit fee is based on them. For new houses, the finished building was later assessed at 1.65 times its permit value. See what a house costs to build.

Rules checked: September 2026. Sources: City of Vancouver Open Data: Issued building permits (January 2017 to October 2, 2026). Bylaws change, so we confirm every figure against your specific lot during feasibility.

What a fourplex costs, line by line

Here’s a fourplex on a 33 by 122 ft lot (374 m²), built to the full 1.00 FSR:

That’s about $430,000 to $630,000 per home. Permit fees come on top, and the City sets them from the value of the work.

Where do the charges go?

A fourplex pays about $130,500 in charges, and most of it doesn’t go to the City. Metro Vancouver and TransLink charge for every home on the lot. So a duplex pays their charges twice, while a fourplex pays them four times.

For the same lot, a duplex pays about $70,800, plus about $6,500 in amenity charges. See the duplex charges, line by line.

Rules checked: September 2026. Sources: City of Vancouver Development Cost Levies Bulletin (amended August 25, 2026), City of Vancouver Amenity Cost Charges Bulletin, Metro Vancouver: Liquid waste development cost charges (rates from July 24, 2026 and January 1, 2027), Metro Vancouver: Regional water development cost charge, Metro Vancouver: Regional parkland acquisition development cost charge, TransLink: Development cost charges (2026 rates). Bylaws change, so we confirm every figure against your specific lot during feasibility.

What makes a multiplex cost more or less?

• Number of homes. Each home needs a kitchen, bathrooms, its own meter and fire walls. Three bigger homes can cost less than four smaller ones
• Stacked or side by side. Homes stacked on top of each other need extra fire and sound floors, and more stairs
• Basement. Digging, shoring and waterproofing add a lot. A basement still counts as floor area
• Parking. Vancouver multiplexes average less than one space per home. Fewer spaces leave more room for homes
• Services. Four homes may need a bigger water line, sewer connection and electrical service
• Finishes. The part you control most. Simple finishes repeated four times save real money

How do you pay for it?

Most owners use a construction loan, where the bank pays out in stages as the building goes up. Your lot usually counts as your down payment.

If you plan to rent all the homes, two programs can help. A building with at least four rental homes may get all its GST back through the federal rental rebate. CMHC’s MLI Select loan program starts at five rental homes. Check both with your accountant and lender before you design.

What about selling the homes?

To sell each home, you need a strata plan that gives each home its own title. With four homes or fewer, you don’t need a disclosure statement. With five or more, you do, and that adds legal work and time before you can sell.

That’s one reason many owners stop at four homes. See duplex vs triplex vs multiplex to compare the options on one lot.

How long does it take?

A multiplex permit took a median of 192 days in 2026, which is longer than a duplex at 130 days. See every step from lot check to keys. Building takes longer than a duplex too, because there are usually two buildings and more homes to finish.