Metro Vancouver zoning guide
What you can build on a residential lot depends on the province’s small-scale multi-unit housing rules and on your city’s zoning bylaw. This guide covers 325 residential zones in 14 municipalities, with the units, floor area and building options each one allows on standard lot sizes.
Choose a city
| Municipality | Zones covered | Most units on a 33 × 122 ft lot |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 49 | Up to 6 |
| Burnaby | 8 | Up to 11 |
| Coquitlam | 23 | Up to 4 |
| New Westminster | 43 | Up to 6 |
| Port Coquitlam | 11 | Up to 5 |
| West Vancouver | 26 | Up to 4 |
| Surrey | 19 | Up to 4 |
| Maple Ridge | 18 | Up to 3 |
| District of North Vancouver | 28 | Up to 3 |
| Port Moody | 20 | Up to 6 |
| Delta | 25 | Up to 7 |
| City of Langley | 7 | Up to 7 |
| White Rock | 15 | Up to 7 |
| Township of Langley | 33 | Up to 4 |
Lots with a rear lane, outside frequent-transit areas. Apartment zones that need a bigger site show their results on larger lots on each city’s page.
Your lot will differ.
Frontage, depth, lane access, corner lots and frequent-transit areas all change the answer. Search your address for a report on the real lot.
BC’s multiplex rules (SSMUH) in brief
What is SSMUH?
Small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH) is BC’s 2023 housing law requiring municipalities to allow more homes on lots zoned for single-family houses and duplexes: secondary suites or laneway homes almost everywhere, three or four units on most urban lots, and up to six units on larger lots close to frequent bus service.
How many units does SSMUH allow on my lot?
In urban areas, municipalities must allow at least three units on single-family and duplex lots of 280 m² (about 3,014 sq ft) or less, and four units on larger lots. Lots over 280 m² near a frequent bus stop must allow six. Each city sets the details, such as floor area, height and parking, in its zoning bylaw.
Does every lot get the SSMUH minimum?
Not always. Some lots are exempt (for example, outside urban containment boundaries or in hazard areas), and a city’s floor area, setback and parking limits can make the full unit count hard to fit on a small or narrow lot. BuildHere applies those limits to your actual lot.