Although housing challenges have been a national concern for several years, Jasper has faced the impacts of a housing shortage for a significantly longer period, affecting both its economic vitality and social well-being. Factors that have contributed to the housing crisis in Jasper can be attributed to its unique status as a tourist town within a national park and include limited land availability, seasonal population fluctuations, reliance on tourism, and development requirements. Addressing these challenges will require innovative, out-of-the-box solutions. 

Housing Action Plan (HAP) 

To respond to the severe housing shortage, the Municipality of Jasper developed a Housing Action Plan (HAP). The HAP includes six federally funded and two internally supported initiatives. All initiatives are designed to be feasible, actionable, and respond to community needs. 

Key Housing Initiatives  

The following initiatives will help add housing for residents in the short term and will lead to permanent, systemic changes that allow housing challenges to be addressed in the long term. Full details of each action can be found in the Housing Action Plan.  

1: Land Use Policy Review 

Review Jasper’s zoning and land use rules, with the goal of removing barriers to higher-density housing and speeding up the development of new units.  

Achievements: 

• Collaborated with Parks Canada on changes to the Jasper Land Use Policy to reduce barriers to housing development. These changes were approved and became effective October 28, 2024.    
• Invited Jasperites between April-June 2025 to help create town values and advise on pathways to increase residential density. Being clear on our values helped us choose the land use policy tools to welcome more homes in Jasper and was a first step in creating a new town plan for Jasper in 2026-2027. Workshop information, What We Heard reports, FAQs, and Land Use Policy updates can be found on the project’s Engage Jasper – Town Values and Residential Density page.  
• Collaborated with Parks Canada on changes to the Jasper Land Use Policy to support increasing housing development. These updates are a result of the 2025 community engagement and include new policies for accessory buildings, garage and garden suites, apartment buildings, multi-unit dwellings, bike parking, and secondary suites. These changes were approved and became effective February 9, 2026.   

2: Parking Policy Review 

Review Jasper’s parking policy with the goal of incentivizing housing development. 

Achievements:  

• Collaborated with Parks Canada on changes to the Jasper Land Use Policy to reduce the required number of parking stalls on residential lots. These changes were approved and became effective October 28, 2024. 
• Invited Jasperites between April-June 2025 to help create town values and advise on pathways to increase residential density. Being clear on our values helped us choose the land use policy tools to welcome more homes in Jasper and was a first step in creating a new town plan for Jasper in 2026-2027. Workshop information, What We Heard reports, FAQs, and Land Use Policy updates can be found on the project’s Engage Jasper – Town Values and Residential Density page.  
• Collaborated with Parks Canada on changes to the Jasper Land Use Policy to change parking requirements. These updates are a result of the 2025 community engagement and include new policies for minimum bike parking requirements and design standards for multi-unit dwellings and apartment buildings, and criteria for evaluating requests for reduced parking for larger-scale residential projects. These changes were approved and became effective February 9, 2026. 

3: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Incentive Program 

Create a program to encourage homeowners to develop long-term rental suites, like basement apartments or garage units, with financial and planning support. 

Achievements: 

• Created an ADU Incentive Program, providing grants to residents to help cover some of the costs involved in developing long-term rental housing units. See the ADU Incentive Program page for details and to apply for funding. 
• Began accepting ADU Incentive Program applications in April 2025, with the expectation of creating 30 additional units over a three-year period. As of early July 2026, 79 applications had been received and processed, and applicants who had completed their builds had begun receiving grant funding.  
• Developing a pre-approved catalogue of multi-unit and accessory dwelling unit designs for use by residents. 

4: Permit Process Streamlining 

Explore new electronic systems to make permit approvals faster, simpler, and more transparent for when the land use authority is transferred to the Municipality.  

Achievements: 

• Supported Parks Canada to streamline their permitting process and create a new online e-permitting portal.  
• Completed work on an e-permitting system to receive development applications once the Municipality has received planning and development authority from Parks Canada.   

5: Financial Tools to Support Housing Projects 

Explore financial incentives—such as reducing fees and municipal taxes—for developers building affordable or priority housing types. 

Achievements: 

• Developed Policy #F-115: Financial Tools to Incentivize Housing Policy to reduce barriers to development and construction, to increase residential density, and to encourage a more diverse and sustainable housing supply. Council adopted the policy on September 16, 2025.  
• Developed an Affordable Housing Property Tax Grant Program to allow for municipal tax relief to providers of below-market housing. Council approved the program on July 7, 2026.  

6: Municipal Housing Acquisition Strategy 

Develop a formal plan to guide the purchase and use of land and buildings for community housing, ensuring transparency and responsible spending. 

Achievements:  

• Created a Land and Asset Acquisition Framework for use by the Municipality and Jasper Municipal Housing Corporation for strategic planning and project assessment.  

7: Ongoing Housing Needs Assessments 

Continue to collect data on housing demands, population growth, and affordability to inform decisions.  

Achievements: 

• Continue to collaborate with community organizations and stakeholders to assess changing housing needs.  
• The next full assessment is scheduled for completion by May 31, 2027. 

8: Community Engagement 

Continue to engage residents on how the Town of Jasper will grow and develop. We recognize that community input is critical, especially for the new town plan. We want to hear from residents about ideas for growth, density, parking, and more. 

Achievements: 

• Invited Jasperites from April-June 2025 to give input on town values to support the early stages of the new town plan. Residents were engaged through in-person and online workshops as well as through an online survey. The Recovery Advisory Committee and Municipal staff were given the opportunity to participate in in-person workshops. All Jasperites were welcome to learn about and provide feedback on the final stage of the project at in-person and online open houses, through an online survey, and during the Community Summer Celebration. For full details of the engagement, results, and the What We Heard Report, visit Engage Jasper – Town Values and Residential Density. 

9: Housing-aligned Transportation Initiatives 

Develop programs to invest in public and active transportation that support parking reform and increased housing density.  

Achievements:  

• Completed review of existing Municipal plans to inform initiative development.  

Stay Involved 

Jasper’s housing crisis is a serious issue, but steps are being taken to fix it. With leadership from the Municipality, support from the community, and help from the provincial and federal governments, we are working toward a future with more affordable, fair, and lasting housing solutions. 

Subscribe to updates, explore open consultations, and learn more at Engage Jasper. 

Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) 

The Government of Canada has made funding available to local governments to encourage more housing development. Funding recipients must agree to remove barriers to housing development, expand housing options, and support accelerated housing development. The Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) is managed by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CHMC).  

The Municipality of Jasper’s Housing Action Plan met the criteria for HAF funding and outlines how this funding will be used to support new homes and improve development. As of March 2026, the Government of Canada has supported the Municipality with $10.9 million in HAF funding.   

This funding will help us put bold, practical ideas into action and ensure more Jasperites have access to safe, affordable housing.