RT-1 zoning in Vancouver: what can you build?
Duplex / House (1-storey)
On a standard lot with a rear lane, RT-1 allows up to 2 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (single detached house with secondary suite); up to 2 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (single detached house with secondary suite). 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 | None outright | – | – |
| 50 × 122 ft6,100 sq ft | Up to 2 units | Single detached house with secondary suite | 2,527 sq ft |
| 66 × 122 ft8,052 sq ft | Up to 2 units | Single detached house with secondary suite | 3,535 sq ft |
Building options on a 50 × 122 ft lot
| Option | Status | Units | Max floor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| DuplexSite area 6,103 sq ft is below the 8,396 sq ft minimum for a duplex. The Director of Planning may decrease it if the existing lot is of lesser area on record. | Not allowed | – | - |
| Single detached house with secondary suite | Allowed | 2 | 2,527 sq ft |
| Single detached house | Allowed | 1 | 2,527 sq ft |
Size limits for single detached house with secondary suite on a 50 × 122 ft lot
| Max floor area (FSR 0.60) | 2,527 sq ft | RT-1 s.3.1.1.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Max height | 20.0 ft, 1 storeys | RT-1 s.3.1.2.2 |
| Site coverage | 45% of site | RT-1 s.3.1.2.6 |
| Front setback | 24.0 ft | RT-1 s.3.1.2.3 |
| Side setback | 4.9 ft | RT-1 s.3.1.2.4(a) |
| Rear setback | 35.1 ft | RT-1 s.3.1.2.5 |
| Rough building footprint | up to 2,530 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 RT-1 zoning in Vancouver?
With a rear lane and outside a frequent-transit area, RT-1 allows up to 2 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (single detached house with secondary suite); up to 2 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (single detached house with secondary suite). Smaller lots fall short of the zone's minimums. 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-1 rules come from?
From Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575, RT-1 District Schedule, May 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-1RM-5RM-5ARM-5BRM-5CRM-5DRM-6RM-9RM-9BRR-2ARR-2BRR-3ARR-3BRR-3CRT-4RT-4ART-9