RSEW zoning in the District of North Vancouver: what can you build?
RSEW
On a standard lot with a rear lane, RSEW allows up to 3 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (single detached house with secondary suite and coach house); up to 3 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (single detached house with secondary suite and coach house); up to 3 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (single detached house with secondary suite and coach house). These figures come from running BuildHere’s engine on each lot size with the District of North Vancouver rules for this zone.
Most units by lot size
| Lot (with lane) | Most units | Building form | Max floor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33 × 122 ft4,026 sq ft | Up to 3 units | Single detached house with secondary suite and coach house | 1,759 sq ft |
| 50 × 122 ft6,100 sq ft | Up to 3 units | Single detached house with secondary suite and coach house | 2,484 sq ft |
| 66 × 122 ft8,052 sq ft | Up to 3 units | Single detached house with secondary suite and coach house | 3,168 sq ft |
Building options on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Option | Status | Units | Max floor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single detached house | Allowed | 1 | 1,759 sq ft |
| Single detached house with secondary suite | Allowed | 2 | 1,759 sq ft |
| Single detached house with secondary suite and coach house | Allowed | 3 | 1,759 sq ft |
Size limits for single detached house with secondary suite and coach house on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Max floor area (FSR 0.44) | 1,759 sq ft | DNV RSEW s.513.1(c), Table 513.2 |
|---|---|---|
| Max height | 28.0 ft, about 2 storeys | DNV RSEW s.513.1(a), Table 513.1 |
| Site coverage | 45% of site | DNV RSEW s.513.1(c), Table 513.2 |
| Front setback | 25.0 ft | DNV RSEW s.513.1(c), Table 513.2 |
| Side setback | 8.0 ft | DNV RSEW s.513.1(c), Table 513.2 |
| Rear setback | 25.0 ft | DNV RSEW s.513.1(c), Table 513.2 |
| Laneway house floor area | 587 sq ft, outside the house FSR | Zoning By-law s.11.3.8.2 |
| Laneway house height | 22.0 ft, 2 storeys | Zoning By-law s.11.3.8.4 |
| Rough building footprint | up to 1,109 sq ft | Estimate, not a design |
| Parking stalls required | 3 stalls (minimum) | DNV s.1001 Residential (1) to (3) |
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 in the District of North Vancouver.
Common questions
How many units can I build in RSEW zoning in the District of North Vancouver?
With a rear lane and outside a frequent-transit area, RSEW allows up to 3 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (single detached house with secondary suite and coach house); up to 3 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (single detached house with secondary suite and coach house); up to 3 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (single detached house with secondary suite and coach house). Your own lot's frontage, depth and location change the result.
What is FSR?
Floor space ratio (FSR) is a building’s total floor area divided by the lot area. An FSR of 1.0 on a 4,026 sq ft lot allows about 4,026 sq ft of floor area across all storeys. Some bylaws, such as Burnaby’s R1, set no FSR at all; there BuildHere shows an effective FSR worked out from the height, setback and lot coverage limits.
Where do these RSEW rules come from?
From District of North Vancouver Zoning Bylaw 3210, Part 5: Sections 505 to 516 (single-family neighbourhood zones); secondary suites and coach houses from Sections 501 and 502.4 to 502.5, July 2026 consolidation (rules approved 2026-10-15). Preliminary screening only. Verify with the District of North Vancouver.
Other District of North Vancouver zones
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