Coach house in North Vancouver

419
Lots where it is allowed: 9
Zones: 6,985 sq ft (649 m²)
Middle lot size: 161
Most in Grand Boulevard

419 lots in the City of North Vancouver sit in a zone whose rules allow a coach house. Those 9 zones are One-Unit Residential (RS-1), One-Unit Residential (RS-2), Two-Unit Residential (RT-1), Ground-Oriented Residential 1 (RG-1), Ground-Oriented Residential 2 (RG-2), Ground Oriented Residential 2A (RG-2A), Ground-Oriented Residential 3 (RG-3), Ground-Oriented Residential 4 (RG-4) and Medium Density Apartment Residential 2 (RM-2).

The bylaw does not use the everyday word. It calls this Accessory Coach House 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 6,985 sq ft (649 m²). They run from 2,029 sq ft (189 m²) to 294,480 sq ft (27,358 m²).

Look up your own lot

Where the zoning allows one

Each zone below lists Accessory Coach House Use in its own section of the City of North Vancouver's zoning bylaw. A zone left off this list does not allow a coach house, 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.

One-Unit Residential (RS-1) 175 lots, section 501(1)(g)

The City's one-unit residential zone. It allows one house, a suite inside that house, and one coach house at the back of the lot. Most lots in this zone became Ground Oriented in December 2025; these are the ones the change left out.
One-Unit Residential (RS-2) 2 lots, section 501(1)(g)

The City's one-unit residential zone. It allows one house, a suite inside that house, and one coach house at the back of the lot.
Two-Unit Residential (RT-1) 144 lots, section 502(1)(g)

The City's duplex zone: one building with two units, or a single house. Each duplex unit may hold a suite, and a house may add a suite and a coach house.
Ground-Oriented Residential 1 (RG-1) 3 lots, section 503(1)(g)

Low-rise ground-oriented units, with one unit allowed for every 2,225 sq ft (206.7 m²) of lot.
Ground-Oriented Residential 2 (RG-2) 2 lots, Figure 562-1, with a one-unit house

Townhouses, small rental apartment buildings, duplexes and houses, with floor space up to 0.75 times the lot.
Ground Oriented Residential 2A (RG-2A) 2 lots, Figure 562A-1, with a one-unit house

Townhouses, small rental apartment buildings, duplexes and houses, with floor space up to 0.75 times the lot and a lower height than RG-2.
Ground-Oriented Residential 3 (RG-3) 76 lots, Figure 563-1, with a one-unit house

The City's townhouse zone: townhouses, small rental apartment buildings, duplexes and houses, in areas the City's plan marks Residential Level 4A.
Ground-Oriented Residential 4 (RG-4) 3 lots, Figure 564-1, with a one-unit house

Townhouses, small rental apartment buildings, duplexes and houses, in areas the City's plan marks Residential Level 4B.
Medium Density Apartment Residential 2 (RM-2) 12 lots, Figure 572-1, with a one-unit house

Townhouses and apartment buildings in areas the City's plan marks Residential Level 5, with floor space up to 1.6 times the lot.

How big a lot it needs

The bylaw sets no smallest lot for a coach house. What fits still depends on the lot: the floor space, the lot coverage and the distances from the property lines below all scale with the lot's own size.

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.

One-Unit Residential (RS-1)

Height: up to 26 ft 3 in to the top of the wall, 33 ft 2 in with the roof.
Floor space: up to 0.49 times the lot area, so 2,615 sq ft (243 m²) on a 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) lot.
Lot coverage: buildings may sit on up to 40% of the lot.
Distance from the property lines: 15 ft 1 in (4.6 m) at the front, 26 ft 3 in (8 m) at the back and 3 ft 11 in (1.2 m) at each side.
Permits: development permit and building permit, for a coach house.
It goes with a single house, so a lot with a duplex on it cannot have one.
The owner has to live on the property, and it cannot be sold on its own, because it cannot be stratified.

One-Unit Residential (RS-2)

Height: up to 26 ft 3 in to the top of the wall, 33 ft 2 in with the roof.
Floor space: up to 0.49 times the lot area, so 2,615 sq ft (243 m²) on a 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) lot.
Lot coverage: buildings may sit on up to 40% of the lot.
Distance from the property lines: 15 ft 1 in (4.6 m) at the front, 26 ft 3 in (8 m) at the back and 3 ft 11 in (1.2 m) at each side.
Permits: development permit and building permit, for a coach house.
It goes with a single house, so a lot with a duplex on it cannot have one.
The owner has to live on the property, and it cannot be sold on its own, because it cannot be stratified.

Two-Unit Residential (RT-1)

Height: up to 26 ft 3 in to the top of the wall, 33 ft 2 in with the roof.
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 35% of the lot.
Distance from the property lines: 15 ft 1 in (4.6 m) at the front, 26 ft 3 in (8 m) at the back and 3 ft 11 in (1.2 m) at each side.
It goes with a single house, so a lot with a duplex on it cannot have one.
The owner has to live on the property, and it cannot be sold on its own, because it cannot be stratified.

Ground-Oriented Residential 1 (RG-1)

Height: up to 2 storeys, 25 ft.
Floor space: up to 0.49 times the lot area, so 2,637 sq ft (245 m²) on a 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) lot.
Lot coverage: buildings may sit on up to 35% 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 20 ft (6.096 m) at each side.
It goes with a single house, so a lot with a duplex on it cannot have one.
The owner has to live on the property, and it cannot be sold on its own, because it cannot be stratified.

Ground-Oriented Residential 2 (RG-2)

Height: up to 39 ft 4 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 50% 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 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) at each side.
Floor space can rise to 0.75 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.
It goes with a single house, so a lot with a duplex on it cannot have one.
The owner has to live on the property, and it cannot be sold on its own, because it cannot be stratified.

Ground Oriented Residential 2A (RG-2A)

Height: up to 27 ft building envelope.
Floor space: up to 0.75 times the lot area, so 4,036 sq ft (375 m²) on a 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) lot.
Lot coverage: buildings may sit on up to 40% 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 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) at each side.
Permits: development permit and building permit.
It goes with a single house, so a lot with a duplex on it cannot have one.
The owner has to live on the property, and it cannot be sold on its own, because it cannot be stratified.

Ground-Oriented Residential 3 (RG-3)

Height: up to 39 ft 4 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 1.0 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.
It goes with a single house, so a lot with a duplex on it cannot have one.
The owner has to live on the property, and it cannot be sold on its own, because it cannot be stratified.

Ground-Oriented Residential 4 (RG-4)

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 1.25 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.
It goes with a single house, so a lot with a duplex on it cannot have one.
The owner has to live on the property, and it cannot be sold on its own, because it cannot be stratified.

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.
It goes with a single house, so a lot with a duplex on it cannot have one.
The owner has to live on the property, and it cannot be sold on its own, because it cannot be stratified.

Where a back unit comes another way

The zones above are the ones whose section names this use. One other zone reaches the same building a different way, so a lot there can still have a separate unit at the back without the use appearing in any list.

Ground Oriented (GO): Yes. A separate unit at the back of the lot is one of the units this zone already allows, so it counts towards the lot's number of units rather than being an extra.
It has to stand at least 23 ft (7 m) from the building at the front, because two buildings with units on one lot must be that far apart.
Within 16 ft 5 in (5 m) of the rear lot line it can be at most 23 ft (7 m) tall, lower than the 3 storeys allowed further into the lot.
It shares the lot's floor space, lot coverage and parking figures with the building at the front, rather than adding to them.
The City's separate coach house permit route is for properties outside this zone.

Where they are in the city

The 419 lots that allow a coach house sit across 7 of the neighbourhoods the City of North Vancouver maps. Grand Boulevard holds the most, 161 of them, which is 38%.

Lots where the zoning allows one

24 of the 419 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.

Rufus Dr Zone RS-1 · 147,787 sq ft · 3 units
222 E 10th St Zone RT-1 · 4,612 sq ft · 4 units
246 E 10th St Zone RT-1 · 4,610 sq ft · 4 units
324 E 10th St Zone RT-1 · 7,342 sq ft · 4 units
939 Ridgeway Ave Zone RT-1 · 6,030 sq ft · 4 units
455 E 19th St Zone RS-1 · 6,751 sq ft · 3 units
538 E 18th St Zone RS-1 · 6,048 sq ft · 3 units
760 Grand Blvd Zone RS-1 · 6,016 sq ft · 3 units
936 Grand Blvd Zone RS-1 · 7,277 sq ft · 3 units
1105 Grand Blvd Zone RS-1 · 11,989 sq ft · 3 units
1236 Grand Blvd Zone RS-1 · 7,270 sq ft · 3 units
1508 Grand Blvd Zone RS-1 · 7,281 sq ft · 3 units
1644 Grand Blvd Zone RS-1 · 7,273 sq ft · 3 units
1828 Grand Blvd Zone RS-1 · 7,267 sq ft · 3 units
202 W 4th St Zone RG-2A · 9,817 sq ft
227 E 4th St Zone RT-1 · 6,039 sq ft · 6 units
238 E 4th St Zone RT-1 · 3,502 sq ft · 6 units
257 E 5th St Zone RT-1 · 6,999 sq ft · 4 units
338 St. Georges Ave Zone RT-1 · 6,049 sq ft · 6 units
422 E 1st St Zone RG-3 · 5,995 sq ft
439 E 2nd St Zone RG-3 · 3,953 sq ft
457 E 1st St Zone RG-3 · 6,990 sq ft
341 W 19th St Zone RS-1 · 5,587 sq ft · 3 units
612 E 3rd St Zone RG-3 · 6,845 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 a coach house in North Vancouver?

On 419 lots, yes, because their zoning allows it. That is 6% 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 a coach house in North Vancouver?

One-Unit Residential (RS-1), under section 501(1)(g), One-Unit Residential (RS-2), under section 501(1)(g), Two-Unit Residential (RT-1), under section 502(1)(g), Ground-Oriented Residential 1 (RG-1), under section 503(1)(g), Ground-Oriented Residential 2 (RG-2), under Figure 562-1, with a one-unit house, Ground Oriented Residential 2A (RG-2A), under Figure 562A-1, with a one-unit house, Ground-Oriented Residential 3 (RG-3), under Figure 563-1, with a one-unit house, Ground-Oriented Residential 4 (RG-4), under Figure 564-1, with a one-unit house and Medium Density Apartment Residential 2 (RM-2), under Figure 572-1, with a one-unit house. Each zone's page lists its own height, floor space and setback figures.

What does the zoning bylaw call a coach house?

Accessory Coach House 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 tall can a coach house be in North Vancouver?

It depends on the zone: RS-1 up to 26 ft 3 in to the top of the wall, 33 ft 2 in with the roof, RS-2 up to 26 ft 3 in to the top of the wall, 33 ft 2 in with the roof, RT-1 up to 26 ft 3 in to the top of the wall, 33 ft 2 in with the roof, RG-1 up to 2 storeys, 25 ft, RG-2 up to 39 ft 4 in building envelope, RG-2A up to 27 ft building envelope, RG-3 up to 39 ft 4 in building envelope, RG-4 up to 49 ft 3 in building envelope and RM-2 up to 49 ft 3 in building envelope.

Which parts of North Vancouver have the most lots where a coach house is allowed?

Grand Boulevard with 161, Lower Lonsdale with 145 and Central Lonsdale with 77. 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.

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Where this came from

Lot outlines, addresses, areas, zones and land use categories for the City of North Vancouver come from the City of North Vancouver's public map , downloaded on September 19, 2026. Lot, zoning and overlay information comes from the City of North Vancouver's public mapping service. The City makes no guarantee about the accuracy or completeness of that information. Check anything that matters with the City before you spend money on it.

The rules for the Ground Oriented and Mid Rise zones come from Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700, Amendment Bylaw, 2025, No. 9137 , read on 2026-09-18.

The rules for the One-Unit Residential and One-Unit Residential zones come from Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700, RS-1 and RS-2 excerpt published by the City , read on 2026-09-20.

The rules for the Two-Unit Residential and Ground-Oriented Residential 1 and Ground-Oriented Residential 2 and Ground Oriented Residential 2A and Ground-Oriented Residential 3 and Ground-Oriented Residential 4 and Medium Density Apartment Residential and Medium Density Apartment Residential 2 and High Density Apartment Residential zones come from Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700, consolidated to March 2, 2026 (Part 1) , read on 2026-09-20.

This lookup is published by RealDream Contracting, a renovation contractor in North Vancouver, independently of the city. If something here is wrong, tell us and we will check it against the city's records.