Apartment building in North Vancouver
- 332
- Lots where it is allowed
- 4
- Zones
- 255
- Lots of 6,997 sq ft (650 m²) or more
- 13,216 sq ft (1,228 m²)
- Middle lot size
- 176
- Most in Lower Lonsdale
332 lots in the City of North Vancouver sit in a zone whose rules allow an apartment building. Those 4 zones are Mid Rise (MID), Medium Density Apartment Residential (RM-1), Medium Density Apartment Residential 2 (RM-2) and High Density Apartment Residential (RH-1).
The bylaw does not use the everyday word. It calls this Apartment Residential Use, and each zone's own section either permits that use or leaves it out. The counts on this page follow those sections, one zone at a time.
The middle lot among them is 13,216 sq ft (1,228 m²). They run from 2,287 sq ft (212 m²) to 91,766 sq ft (8,525 m²).
Where the zoning allows one
Each zone below lists Apartment Residential Use in its own section of the City of North Vancouver's zoning bylaw. A zone left off this list does not allow an apartment building, whatever a neighbouring lot has on it already: a building put up under older rules can stay, and that does not make the same thing allowed today.
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Mid Rise (MID) 14 lots, section 585(1)
The City's zone for apartment buildings of up to six storeys, near the City centre and along main transit routes.
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Medium Density Apartment Residential (RM-1) 282 lots, section 504(4)
The City's three-storey apartment zone. Section 504 permits apartment buildings, rental apartment buildings, ground-oriented apartments, duplexes and houses.
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Medium Density Apartment Residential 2 (RM-2) 12 lots, Figure 572-1, principal use 4
Townhouses and apartment buildings in areas the City's plan marks Residential Level 5, with floor space up to 1.6 times the lot.
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High Density Apartment Residential (RH-1) 24 lots, section 504(4)
The City's high-rise apartment zone. Section 504 permits apartment buildings, rental apartment buildings, ground-oriented apartments, duplexes and houses.
How big a lot it needs
A lot needs at least 6,997 sq ft (650 m²) for any lot. 255 of the 332 lots that allow an apartment building reach that size.
The lot also needs at least 59 ft 1 in (18 m) along the street. The city's records here hold each lot's area but not the length of its street frontage, so that part is left uncounted and the city can confirm it.
The rules that come with it
The figures below are the ones that decide what fits. Each zone's own page carries the rest, including how the floor space changes with the land use category the city's plan gives a lot.
Mid Rise (MID)
- Height: up to 6 storeys.
- Floor space: up to 2.6 times the lot area, so 13,993 sq ft (1,300 m²) on a 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) lot.
- Lot coverage: buildings may sit on up to 60% of the lot.
- Distance from the property lines: 9 ft 10 in (3 m) at the front, 19 ft 8 in (6 m) at the back and 13 ft 1 in (4 m) at each side.
- No unit may be smaller than 398 sq ft (37 m²).
Medium Density Apartment Residential (RM-1)
- Height: up to 3 storeys, 42 ft 8 in.
- Floor space: up to 1.0 times the lot area, so 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) on a 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) lot.
- Lot coverage: buildings may sit on up to 50% of the lot.
- Distance from the property lines: 20 ft (6.096 m) at the front, 20 ft (6.096 m) at the back and 15 ft (4.57 m) at each side.
- Floor space can rise to 1.6 times the lot area with adaptable design under section 423.
Medium Density Apartment Residential 2 (RM-2)
- Height: up to 49 ft 3 in building envelope.
- Floor space: up to 0.5 times the lot area, so 2,691 sq ft (250 m²) on a 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) lot.
- Lot coverage: buildings may sit on up to 60% of the lot.
- Distance from the property lines: 9 ft 10 in (3 m) at the front, 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) at the back and 7 ft 10 in (2.4 m) at each side.
- Floor space can rise to 1.6 times the lot area with an amenity contribution, a special setback dedication and a high energy step (Passive House or the BC Energy Step Code), sections 411 and 418 to 421.
- Permits: development permit and building permit.
High Density Apartment Residential (RH-1)
- Height: up to 100 ft.
- Floor space: up to 1.2 times the lot area, so 6,458 sq ft (600 m²) on a 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) lot.
- Lot coverage: buildings may sit on up to 50% of the lot.
- Distance from the property lines: 25 ft (7.62 m) at the front, 25 ft (7.62 m) at the back and 25 ft (7.62 m) at each side.
- Floor space can rise to 2.6 times the lot area with adaptable design under section 423.
Where they are in the city
The 332 lots that allow an apartment building sit across 4 of the neighbourhoods the City of North Vancouver maps. Lower Lonsdale holds the most, 176 of them, which is 53%.
- Lower Lonsdale 176
- Central Lonsdale 149
- Moodyville 5
- Mahon 2
Lots where the zoning allows one
24 of the 332 lots, taken across the city. Each address opens that lot's own page, with its zone, its size, the number of units allowed and the full breakdown. To check one address, use the box at the foot of this page.
- 105 E 27th St Zone RM-1 · 13,643 sq ft
- 121 W 20th St Zone RM-1 · 18,965 sq ft
- 126 E 12th St Zone RM-1 · 30,732 sq ft
- 135 E 20th St Zone RM-1 · 9,120 sq ft
- 144 W 20th St Zone RM-1 · 17,584 sq ft
- 155 E 18th St Zone RM-1 · 21,594 sq ft
- 206 E 15th St Zone RM-1 · 14,166 sq ft
- 228 E 15th St Zone RM-1 · 7,444 sq ft
- 1144 St. Georges Ave Zone RM-1 · 15,475 sq ft
- 1550 Chesterfield Ave Zone RM-1 · 14,401 sq ft
- 2357 Lonsdale Ave Zone RM-1 · 8,292 sq ft
- 110 E Keith Rd Zone RH-1 · 20,968 sq ft
- 130 W 5th St Zone RM-1 · 27,979 sq ft
- 141 E 6th St Zone RM-1 · 27,965 sq ft
- 152 E 3rd St Zone RM-1 · 3,720 sq ft
- 170 E 4th St Zone RM-1 · 27,990 sq ft
- 215 St. Andrews Ave Zone RM-1 · 23,876 sq ft
- 251 W 4th St Zone RM-1 · 23,978 sq ft
- 306 W 1st St Zone RM-1 · 17,984 sq ft
- 317 W 4th St Zone RM-1 · 2,999 sq ft
- 330 W 2nd St Zone RM-1 · 15,011 sq ft
- 369 W 4th St Zone RM-1 · 8,389 sq ft
- 433 E 3rd St Zone RM-2 · 10,937 sq ft
- 644 E Victoria Park Ave Zone RH-1 · 6,973 sq ft
Every kind of property North Vancouver (City) allows , each with the zones that allow it and the sections of the bylaw behind them.
Questions
Can I build an apartment building in North Vancouver?
On 332 lots, yes, because their zoning allows it. That is 5% of the 6,781 lots the City of North Vancouver records. Whether your own lot is one of them depends on its zone, so look the address up.
Which zones allow an apartment building in North Vancouver?
Mid Rise (MID), under section 585(1), Medium Density Apartment Residential (RM-1), under section 504(4), Medium Density Apartment Residential 2 (RM-2), under Figure 572-1, principal use 4 and High Density Apartment Residential (RH-1), under section 504(4). Each zone's page lists its own height, floor space and setback figures.
What does the zoning bylaw call an apartment building?
Apartment Residential Use. The bylaw uses its own names for kinds of housing, and a zone allows only the ones its section lists, so the name matters when you read the bylaw yourself.
How big does the lot have to be for an apartment building in North Vancouver?
At least 6,997 sq ft (650 m²) for any lot. 255 lots in a zone that allows an apartment building reach that size. The bylaw also sets a shortest street frontage, which the city's records here do not carry, so the city confirms that part.
How tall can an apartment building be in North Vancouver?
It depends on the zone: MID up to 6 storeys, RM-1 up to 3 storeys, 42 ft 8 in, RM-2 up to 49 ft 3 in building envelope and RH-1 up to 100 ft.
Which parts of North Vancouver have the most lots where an apartment building is allowed?
Lower Lonsdale with 176, Central Lonsdale with 149 and Moodyville with 5. Every neighbourhood with lots that allow it is listed on this page, each linking to its own page.
Where do these figures come from?
Every count on this page is worked out from the City of North Vancouver's own lot, zoning and land use records, downloaded on September 19, 2026, and every rule is quoted from the section of the zoning bylaw named beside it. Nothing here is an estimate. The city decides what it will approve, so treat this as a starting point and confirm with the city before you design.
More about building in North Vancouver (City)
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