RT-3A zoning in New Westminster: what can you build?
Queensborough Townhouse
On a standard lot with a rear lane, RT-3A allows up to 2 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (single detached house with secondary suite); about 4 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (townhouses); about 6 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (townhouses). 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 2 units | Single detached house with secondary suite | 2,818 sq ft |
| 50 × 122 ft6,100 sq ft | About 4 units | Townhouses | 5,490 sq ft |
| 66 × 122 ft8,052 sq ft | About 6 units | Townhouses | 7,246 sq ft |
Building options on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Option | Status | Units | Max floor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single detached house | Allowed | 1 | 2,818 sq ft |
| Single detached house with secondary suite | Allowed | 2 | 2,818 sq ft |
| TownhousesAfter the yards the buildable area is only 3.0 ft wide by 97.1 ft deep: too small. | Not allowed | – | - |
Size limits for single detached house with secondary suite on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Max floor area (FSR 0.70) | 2,818 sq ft | NW RT-2D s.414.17, 414.13 |
|---|---|---|
| Max height | 25.0 ft, about 2 storeys | NW RT-3A s.414 |
| Site coverage | 35% of site | NW RT-3A s.414 |
| Front setback | 10.0 ft | NW RT-3A s.414 |
| Side setback | 3.5 ft | NW RT-3A s.414 |
| Rear setback | 24.4 ft | NW RT-3A s.414 |
| 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 RT-3A zoning in New Westminster?
With a rear lane and outside a frequent-transit area, RT-3A allows up to 2 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (single detached house with secondary suite); about 4 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (townhouses); about 6 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (townhouses). 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 RT-3A 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-1RS-2RS-4NR-1NR-2RQ-1RT-ART-BRT-1RT-2DRT-2ERT-2FRT-3RT-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