Coquitlam · Empty homes
Coquitlam does NOT currently have a municipal Empty Homes Tax (unlike Vancouver). However, the BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax does apply to Coquitlam property. Here is the verified read on what does and does not apply.
Quick Answer
What should you know about Empty Homes Tax Coquitlam?
Coquitlam does NOT currently have a municipal Empty Homes Tax (unlike Vancouver). However, the BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax does apply to Coquitlam property. Here is the verified read on what does and does not apply. Craig Johnston, Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, 2022–2025 and 47+ year Tri-Cities resident, can walk you through the local context. Free Strategy Call ends with a written one-page plan in 24 hours.
Empty homes · Coquitlam
Confusion is common: Vancouver has both a municipal Empty Homes Tax AND the provincial BC Speculation Tax. Coquitlam has only the provincial BC Speculation Tax. Here are the rules.
The Vancouver EHT is a City of Vancouver bylaw and applies only to properties within Vancouver city limits. Coquitlam is a separate municipality and is not subject to the Vancouver EHT.
Coquitlam is within the specified taxable regions for the provincial SVT. All Coquitlam property owners must declare annually. 0.5% rate for Canadian citizens/PR; 2% for foreign.
1% federal tax on vacant or underused residential properties owned by non-resident, non-Canadian individuals or specific Canadian corporations and trusts. Most individual Canadian Coquitlam owners are excluded from UHT obligation but should confirm.
As of 2026, Coquitlam has not enacted a municipal Empty Homes Tax. The City of Coquitlam may introduce one in the future. Confirm the current status with the City of Coquitlam.
BC SVT and federal UHT both require annual declarations regardless of whether tax is owed. Missing declarations = automatic tax.
Craig Johnston is a 47-year Coquitlam resident and licensed REALTOR® at The MACNABS, Royal LePage Elite West. Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, 2022–2025. Talk through your specific situation — no pressure, no obligation.
This one causes real confusion, so let's be precise. The tax people call the “Empty Homes Tax” is a City of Vancouver measure — and it does not apply in Coquitlam.
The key point
Vancouver's Empty Homes Tax (its Vacancy Tax) applies to properties within the City of Vancouver's boundaries. Coquitlam has no equivalent municipal empty-homes tax of its own.
What does apply
Coquitlam owners instead fall under British Columbia's Speculation and Vacancy Tax, a provincial program covering much of Metro Vancouver, with its own annual declaration and exemptions.
Also possible
Certain owners — often non-residents or some corporations — may also face the federal Underused Housing Tax. Whether it touches you depends on ownership type, not on the city.
The common thread
Across these programs, the recurring theme is a required annual declaration. Owner-occupiers are typically exempt, but only if they file; the paperwork, not the tax, is what trips people up.
Buying here
When you buy in Coquitlam, clarify the provincial declaration status for the purchase year so nothing lands on your desk unexpectedly after you move in.
For you
The practical lesson is to aim at the correct program: provincial SVT (and possibly federal UHT) for Coquitlam, not Vancouver's municipal tax. Confirm specifics with the relevant authority or a tax advisor.
Rules and thresholds for each of these programs are set by different levels of government and can change, so verify the current requirements for your own property before relying on any summary.
Craig can help you keep the Vancouver, provincial and federal programs straight during a Coquitlam transaction and connect you with a tax professional for the details that matter to you.
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No — Coquitlam does not currently have a municipal Empty Homes Tax. The Vancouver EHT (1-3% depending on year) applies only to properties within Vancouver city limits, not Coquitlam.
Possible. Several BC municipalities have considered following Vancouver's model. Confirm with the City of Coquitlam for current policy.
BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax (provincial), and federal Underused Housing Tax for specific non-resident owners.
BC SVT: 0.5% of assessed value annually for Canadian citizens/PR; 2% for foreign owners. On a $1.5M Coquitlam home: $7,500-$30,000 annually.
Generally no — most Canadian individuals are exempt from UHT obligation. The tax targets non-resident, non-Canadian owners and specific corporate/trust structures. Confirm with a tax accountant.
Major-renovation exemptions may apply under BC SVT rules if construction is progressing. Annual declaration is still required to claim the exemption.
Both BC SVT and federal UHT may apply to second homes if not rented long-term. Some exemptions exist for specific situations; confirm with a tax accountant.
Online through the BC government Speculation and Vacancy Tax portal. Declaration window typically opens in February each year. Each property owner declares for each property separately.
Yes — failure to declare results in automatic tax at the higher rate. Late declarations may be accepted with penalty fees and interest.
Right now, no — Coquitlam does not have a municipal EHT. But you should plan for the BC SVT (annual declaration even if exempt) and confirm whether the federal UHT applies to you.