RM-1 zoning in Vancouver: what can you build?
Courtyard Townhouse / Duplex / House
On a standard lot with a rear lane, RM-1 allows up to 2 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (duplex); up to 2 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (duplex); about 4 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (multiple dwelling). These figures come from running BuildHere’s engine on each lot size with the 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 2 units | Duplex | 1,610 sq ft |
| 50 × 122 ft6,100 sq ft | Up to 2 units | Duplex | 2,440 sq ft |
| 66 × 122 ft8,052 sq ft | About 4 units | Multiple dwelling (townhouse) | 3,221 sq ft |
Building options on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Option | Status | Units | Max floor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple dwelling (townhouse)Site area 4,026 sq ft is below the 6,501 sq ft minimum. | Not allowed | – | - |
| Duplex | Allowed | 2 | 1,610 sq ft |
| Single detached house with secondary suite | Allowed | 2 | 1,610 sq ft |
| Single detached house | Allowed | 1 | 1,610 sq ft |
Size limits for duplex on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Max floor area (FSR 0.40) | 1,610 sq ft | RM-1 s.3.2.1.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Max height | 35.1 ft, 2 storeys | RM-1 s.3.1.2.3, 3.2.2.2 |
| Site coverage | 45% of site | RM-1 s.3.2.2.6 |
| Front setback | 10.2 ft | RM-1 s.3.2.2.3 |
| Side setback | 3.3 ft | RM-1 s.3.1.2.5(a), 3.2.2.4(a) |
| Rear setback | 2.0 ft | RM-1 s.3.1.2.6, 3.2.2.5 |
| Rough building footprint | up to 1,292 sq ft | Estimate, not a design |
| Parking stalls required | None | Parking By-law s.4.1.1, 4.1.3, 4.1.4 |
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 Vancouver.
Common questions
How many units can I build in RM-1 zoning in Vancouver?
With a rear lane and outside a frequent-transit area, RM-1 allows up to 2 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (duplex); up to 2 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (duplex); about 4 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (multiple dwelling). 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 RM-1 rules come from?
From Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575, RM-1 District Schedule, June 2026 consolidation (rules approved 2026-10-14). Preliminary screening only. Verify with the City of Vancouver.
Other Vancouver zones
R1-1RM-2RM-3RM-3ARM-4RM-7RM-7ARM-8RM-8ARM-9ARM-10RM-11RM-12RT-2RT-3RT-5RT-7RT-8RT-10RT-11R3-1R3-2R3-3R5-1R5-2R5-3R5-4FM-1FSDRA-1R4-1RM-5RM-5ARM-5BRM-5CRM-5DRM-6RM-9RM-9BRR-2ARR-2BRR-3ARR-3BRR-3CRT-1RT-4RT-4ART-9