RS-1 zoning in New Westminster: what can you build?
Single Detached Residential
On a standard lot with a rear lane, RS-1 allows up to 3 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (house with secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling unit); up to 3 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (house with secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling unit); up to 3 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (house with secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling unit). These figures come from running BuildHere’s engine on each lot size with the New Westminster 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 | House with secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling unit (laneway or carriage house) | 2,415 sq ft |
| 50 × 122 ft6,100 sq ft | Up to 3 units | House with secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling unit (laneway or carriage house) | 3,660 sq ft |
| 66 × 122 ft8,052 sq ft | Up to 3 units | House with secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling unit (laneway or carriage house) | 4,831 sq ft |
Building options on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Option | Status | Units | Max floor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single detached house | Allowed | 1 | 2,013 sq ft |
| Single detached house with secondary suite | Allowed | 2 | 2,013 sq ft |
| House with secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling unit (laneway or carriage house) | Allowed | 3 | 2,415 sq ft |
Size limits for house with secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling unit on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Max floor area (FSR 0.60) | 2,415 sq ft | NW RS-1 s.310.11 |
|---|---|---|
| Max height | 35.0 ft, about 2 storeys | NW RS-1 s.310 |
| Site coverage | 35% of site | NW RS-1 s.310 |
| Front setback | 19.0 ft | NW RS-1 s.310 |
| Side setback | 4.0 ft | NW RS-1 s.310 |
| Rear setback | 24.4 ft | NW RS-1 s.310 |
| Rough building footprint | up to 1,410 sq ft | Estimate, not a design |
| Parking stalls required | 2 stalls (minimum) | NW s.140.9 |
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 New Westminster.
Common questions
How many units can I build in RS-1 zoning in New Westminster?
With a rear lane and outside a frequent-transit area, RS-1 allows up to 3 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (house with secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling unit); up to 3 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (house with secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling unit); up to 3 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (house with secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling unit). 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 RS-1 rules come from?
From City of New Westminster Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001: Section 310 (RS-1), 311 (RS-2), 313 (RS-4), 320 (NR-1), 321 (NR-2), 330 (RQ-1), 401 (RGO-A), 402 (RGO-B), 405 (RT-A), 430 (RM-2); Section 340 (RT-1), 406 (RT-B), 414 (RT-2D), 415 (RT-2E), 416 (RT-2F), 417 (RT-3), 418 (RT-3A), 419 (RT-3B), Consolidation as of June 8, 2026 (section footers: RS-1 2025-05-05; RGO 2026-02-23; RM-2 2022-02-28); RT-1 2020-06-22, RT-2D to RT-3B 2024-04-08 to 2025-05-05 consolidation (rules approved 2026-10-19). Preliminary screening only. Verify with the City of New Westminster.
Other New Westminster zones
RGO-ARGO-BRS-2RS-4NR-1NR-2RQ-1RT-ART-BRT-1RT-2DRT-2ERT-2FRT-3RT-3ART-3BRM-2RS-5RS-6NR-5RQ-5RT-2RT-2ART-2BRT-2CRM-1RM-1ARM-1BRM-2ARM-4RM-5RM-5ARM-6RM-6ARM-6BRMW-2RMW-2ARMW-3RMW-3ARMW-3BRM-6CRW-1