RS-3 zoning in White Rock: what can you build?
Small Lot, Hillside SSMUH Residential
On a standard lot with a rear lane, RS-3 allows up to 4 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (house-plex); up to 4 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (house-plex); up to 4 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (house-plex). These figures come from running BuildHere’s engine on each lot size with the White Rock 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 | House-plex (4 units) | 4,630 sq ft |
| 50 × 122 ft6,100 sq ft | Up to 4 units | House-plex (4 units) | 7,015 sq ft |
| 66 × 122 ft8,052 sq ft | Up to 4 units | House-plex (4 units) | 9,260 sq ft |
Building options on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Option | Status | Units | Max floor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-unit residential | Allowed | 1 | 4,227 sq ft |
| One-unit residential with a secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit | Allowed | 2 | 4,227 sq ft |
| House-plex (2 units) | Allowed | 2 | 4,227 sq ft |
| House-plex (3 units) | Allowed | 3 | 4,630 sq ft |
| House-plex (4 units) | Allowed | 4 | 4,630 sq ft |
Size limits for house-plex on a 33 × 122 ft lot
| Max floor area (FSR 1.15) | 4,630 sq ft | WR RS-3 s.6.3.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Max height | 25.3 ft, about 2.5 storeys | WR RS-3 s.6 |
| Site coverage | 50% of site | WR RS-3 s.6 |
| Front setback | 14.8 ft | WR RS-3 s.6 |
| Side setback | 3.9 ft | WR RS-3 s.6 |
| Rear setback | 14.8 ft | WR RS-3 s.6 |
| Rough building footprint | up to 2,013 sq ft | Estimate, not a design |
| Parking stalls required | 4 stalls (minimum) | WR s.4.14.1 |
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 White Rock.
Common questions
How many units can I build in RS-3 zoning in White Rock?
With a rear lane and outside a frequent-transit area, RS-3 allows up to 4 units on a 33 × 122 ft lot (house-plex); up to 4 units on a 50 × 122 ft lot (house-plex); up to 4 units on a 66 × 122 ft lot (house-plex). 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 RS-3 rules come from?
From City of White Rock Zoning Bylaw, 2024, No. 2506, consolidated as of June 2026: s.4.14 Off-Street Parking Requirements, s.4.10 and 4.11 floor area, s.6.1 to 6.11 (RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RI-1, RE-1, RE-2, RM-1 to RM-4 zones), Consolidated for convenience, June 2026 consolidation (rules approved 2026-10-20). Preliminary screening only. Verify with the City of White Rock.