The Ground-Oriented Residential 1 zone in North Vancouver (City)
- 3
- Lots
- 33,560 sq ft (3,118 m²)
- Middle lot size
- 1
- 13 units allowed
- 1
- 15 units allowed
- 1
- 132 units allowed
- 2 storeys
- Height
Low-rise ground-oriented units, with one unit allowed for every 2,225 sq ft (206.7 m²) of lot.
What you can build in this zone
The Ground-Oriented Residential 1 zone's own section allows a house, a secondary suite, a coach house and a duplex. Each one has a page of its own.
The rules in this zone
Distance from property lines
- Front
- 20 ft (6.096 m)
- Back
- 20 ft (6.096 m)
- Each side
- 20 ft (6.096 m)
20 ft (6.096 m) from every lot line, including a side street.
Lot coverage
| Any lot | 35% |
Height
Up to 2 storeys.
At most 25 ft (7.62 m) tall.
A laneway home or coach house
Yes, with a single house: one coach house at the back of the lot.
- Only with a single house, one coach house per lot, and the owner has to live on the property.
- It cannot be sold on its own, because it cannot be stratified.
- At most 1,000 sq ft (92.9 m²) of floor space and 22 ft (6.7 m) tall.
- It needs a development permit and a building permit, applied for at the same time.
From City of North Vancouver, Coach House permit page, read on 2026-09-20.
Other rules
- Every unit must have at least 400 sq ft (37.16 m²) of floor space.
What these words mean
- Lot coverage
- Lot coverage is the share of the lot that buildings may sit on, seen from above.
- Setbacks
- The distances a building must keep from each property line.
From Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700, consolidated to March 2, 2026 (Part 1), sections 503, 510 and 511, read on 2026-09-20.
Questions
How many units can I build in the Ground-Oriented Residential 1 zone?
It depends on the lot. Of the 3 lots in this zone, 1 allow 13 units, 1 allow 15 and 1 allow 132. Look up your address to see your lot's number and the reason for it.
How much floor space can I build in the Ground-Oriented Residential 1 zone?
Floor space is the total area of every floor of every building on the lot, added together. Cities limit it as a multiple of the lot area; that multiple is called the floor space ratio. In this zone the limit is 0.49 times the lot area. On a 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) lot, 0.49 times is 2,637 sq ft (245 m²).
How close to the property line can I build in the Ground-Oriented Residential 1 zone?
Buildings must stay at least 20 ft (6.096 m) from the front property line, 20 ft (6.096 m) from the back one and 20 ft (6.096 m) from each side. 20 ft (6.096 m) from every lot line, including a side street.
How tall can I build in the Ground-Oriented Residential 1 zone?
Up to 2 storeys. At most 25 ft (7.62 m) tall.
Can I build a laneway home or coach house in the Ground-Oriented Residential 1 zone?
Yes, with a single house: one coach house at the back of the lot. Only with a single house, one coach house per lot, and the owner has to live on the property. It cannot be sold on its own, because it cannot be stratified. At most 1,000 sq ft (92.9 m²) of floor space and 22 ft (6.7 m) tall. It needs a development permit and a building permit, applied for at the same time.
Where do these figures come from?
Lot counts come from the City of North Vancouver's public map, downloaded on September 19, 2026. The rules come from Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700, consolidated to March 2, 2026 (Part 1), sections 503, 510 and 511, read on 2026-09-20. Confirm the rules for your lot with the city before you pay for a design.
Does this mean the city will approve my project?
This page shows what the zoning bylaw allows on paper. A real project also needs a building permit, the city reviews each design against more rules than the ones shown here, and your lot may carry limits the city's map does not show. Confirm the rules with the city's planning staff before you pay for a design.
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