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Moncton to MiramichiMunicipalitiesTimes and Transcript
Residents coming forward with plans for garden suite projects through town grant program
Published Mar 27, 2026 • Last updated 7 hours ago • 3 minute read
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Minh Phuc was one of the first participants to complete a project through the Town of Riverview’s incentive program for garden homes and in-law suites. Phuc constructed a detached garden home on his property and was able to rent it out. SUBMITTEDArticle content
The Town of Riverview says it is seeing new types of housing opportunities in the municipality thanks to a grant program for garden homes and in-law suites.
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Shanel Akerley, Riverview’s economic development manager, said in an interview the town, like much of New Brunswick, was seeing an increase of new residents during the COVID-19 pandemic as people moved to the province from other countries or parts of Canada.
According to figures provided by the town, an age-friendly community survey found that 83 per cent of Riverview seniors who responded want to stay in Riverview when they are ready to move, and 65 per cent were looking for apartments or townhouses.
The town’s housing needs survey found that 52 per cent of respondents considered the need for affordable housing to be critical, and 62 per cent believed the need for rental housing is “high or critical.”
“We saw a real shortage in housing, so we decided to launch this program,” she said, noting the grant program was launched in 2024 using funds from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Accelerator Fund.
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“We really wanted to encourage soft density in neighborhoods that could accommodate it without too much challenges at the traffic level not wanting to disrupt the character and overall look and feel of neighborhoods.”
The initiative provides homeowners the ability to access $15,000 for the creation of an accessory dwelling on their property containing an existing primary residence, in allowable residential zones.
When Minh Phuc, a Riverview resident, heard about the grant program, he was interested in building a detached garden home on his property to rent to a tenant.
“I find that Riverview is growing and we need more housing,” he said. “I have land that has enough space for me to build it.”
Minh Phuc said the town’s grant program helped him to add square footage to his garden home project. SUBMITTED
It took only a few months to build the 500 square foot garden home and Phuc said he already has been able to rent out the space.
Phuc found the application process for the grant was smooth and he was able to proceed through the design, permitting, construction and rental phases. The $15,000 incentive motivated him to expand his idea for the project.
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“Originally we were going smaller but with the program we can add more footage into the total house,” he said.
Akerley said the program has so far had 20 applicants. Two have completed their projects and have been paid out and one is under review.
She noted the committee reviewing the projects has seen plans for suites for aging family members, allowing seniors to stay with family instead of going to long-term care facilities, as well as housing for students.
“People are looking for diversified housing units, not only apartments or not only traditional single unit dwellings they’re looking for that range in between,” she said.
Those interested in applying for the grant can fill out an application on the Town of Riverview’s website and fill in some details about the project and construction costs. A committee reviews each application.
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Akerley said the grant program will be live for another year and the town is doing promotion to get the word out and encourage people to bring their projects forward.
City of Moncton spokesperson Aloma Jardine said in an email the city introduced an Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant Program in November 2023. The program, also funded by the CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund, provides grants of $10,000 per unit to incentivize new accessory dwelling units, such as basement apartments and garden suites.
The city initially allocating $300,000 to fund a total of 30 accessory dwelling units.
“Prior to the program’s introduction, the City of Moncton normally saw two to three applications each year to build accessory dwelling units,” said Jardine. “Within the first year of the housing accelerator fund program, applications were submitted for all 30 grants, prompting the City to allocate an additional $180,000 of funding for the program.”
To date, more than 40 accessory dwelling units have been approved under this grant program, said Jardine. Most of the additional funds have now been allocated and the program will end this November.
Julie Albert, spokesperson for the City of Dieppe, said in an email Dieppe does not have a grant program that is similar to Riverview’s, but the city modify its zoning bylaw at the end of last year to allow up to four dwellings on a single residential lot in certain zones.
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