RM5 zoning in West Vancouver: what can you build?
Multiple Dwelling 5
On a standard lot with a rear lane, RM5 allows about 3 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (townhouses); about 5 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (apartment); about 8 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (apartment). These figures come from running BuildHere’s engine on each lot size with the West 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 | About 3 units | Townhouses | 3,623 sq ft |
| 50 × 122 ft6,100 sq ft | About 5 units | Apartment | 5,075 sq ft |
| 66 × 122 ft8,052 sq ft | About 8 units | Apartment | 8,052 sq ft |
Building options on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Option | Status | Units | Max floor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| ApartmentAfter the yards the buildable area is only 3.6 ft wide by 82.7 ft deep: too small. | Not allowed | – | - |
| Townhouses | Allowed | About 3 | 3,623 sq ft |
Size limits for townhouses on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Max floor area (FSR 0.90) | 3,623 sq ft | WV RM5 s.305.05(2) |
|---|---|---|
| Max height | 29.9 ft, about 2 storeys | WV RM5 s.305 |
| Site coverage | 60% of site | WV RM5 s.305 |
| Front setback | 19.7 ft | WV RM5 s.305 |
| Side setback | 4.9 ft | WV RM5 s.305 |
| Rear setback | 19.7 ft | WV RM5 s.305 |
| Rough building footprint | up to 1,916 sq ft | Estimate, not a design |
| Parking stalls required | 4 stalls (minimum) | WV s.141, 144 |
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 West Vancouver.
Common questions
How many units can I build in RM5 zoning in West Vancouver?
With a rear lane and outside a frequent-transit area, RM5 allows about 3 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (townhouses); about 5 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (apartment); about 8 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (apartment). 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 RM5 rules come from?
From District of West Vancouver Zoning Bylaw No. 4662, 2010: Section 200 (RS1 to RS10, RS2-UL, RS3-UL, RS8-UL, RS10-UL), Section 250 (RD1 to RD3, small-scale multi-unit housing, Bylaw 5351), Section 260 (RG-1A to RG-3) and Section 300 (RM1 to RM5), Section PDFs published on westvancouver.ca, with amendments to Bylaw 5351 (2024); the list of amendments is dated April 2026 consolidation (rules approved 2026-10-19). Preliminary screening only. Verify with the District of West Vancouver.
Other West Vancouver zones
RS1RS2RS3RS4RS5RS6RS7RS8RS9RS10RS2-ULRS3-ULRS8-ULRS10-ULRD1RD2RD3RG-1ARG-1BRG-2RG-3RM1RM2RM3RM4