R3 zoning in Surrey: what can you build?
Urban Residential
On a standard lot with a rear lane, R3 allows up to 4 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (duplex with a suite in each unit); up to 4 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (houseplex, 4 units); up to 4 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (houseplex, 4 units). These figures come from running BuildHere’s engine on each lot size with the Surrey 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 4 units | Duplex with a suite in each unit | 4,026 sq ft |
| 50 × 122 ft6,100 sq ft | Up to 4 units | Houseplex, 4 units | 6,071 sq ft |
| 66 × 122 ft8,052 sq ft | Up to 4 units | Houseplex, 4 units | 6,458 sq ft |
Building options on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Option | Status | Units | Max floor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single detached house | Allowed | 1 | 2,415 sq ft |
| Single detached house with secondary suite | Allowed | 2 | 2,415 sq ft |
| House with secondary suite and coach house | Allowed | 3 | 3,223 sq ft |
| House with secondary suite, coach house and garden suite | Allowed | 4 | 3,224 sq ft |
| Duplex | Allowed | 2 | 4,026 sq ft |
| Duplex with a suite in each unit | Allowed | 4 | 4,026 sq ft |
| Houseplex, 3 units | Allowed | 3 | 4,026 sq ft |
| Houseplex, 4 units | Allowed | 4 | 4,026 sq ft |
Size limits for duplex with a suite in each unit on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Max floor area (FSR 1.00) | 4,026 sq ft | Surrey R3 s.D.2, E.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Max height | 32.8 ft, about 3 storeys | Surrey R3 s.D to G |
| Site coverage | 50% of site | Surrey R3 s.D to G |
| Front setback | 19.7 ft | Surrey R3 s.D to G |
| Side setback | 3.9 ft | Surrey R3 s.D to G |
| Rear setback | 24.6 ft | Surrey R3 s.D to G |
| Rough building footprint | up to 1,948 sq ft | Estimate, not a design |
| Parking stalls required | 4 stalls (minimum) | Surrey R3 s.H.1 and Part 5 Table D.1 |
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 Surrey.
Common questions
How many units can I build in R3 zoning in Surrey?
With a rear lane and outside a frequent-transit area, R3 allows up to 4 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (duplex with a suite in each unit); up to 4 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (houseplex, 4 units); up to 4 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (houseplex, 4 units). 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 R3 rules come from?
From City of Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000: Parts 12 (RA), 13 (R1), 14 (R2), 15 (R3), 16 (R4), 17 (R5), 17A (R5-S), 18 (R6) and the small-scale multi-unit housing provisions, Schedules E and F, Consolidated to 21 September 2026 (By-law 22120) consolidation (rules approved 2026-10-19). Preliminary screening only. Verify with the City of Surrey.