The Ground Oriented zone in North Vancouver (City)
- 4,877
- Lots
- 6,750 sq ft (627 m²)
- Middle lot size
- 4,222
- 4 units allowed
- 599
- 6 units allowed
- 55
- 3 units allowed
- 3 storeys
- Height
- 0.5 per unit
- Parking
The City's zone for low-density housing, from a single house up to a small multiplex of 3 to 6 units. It replaced most of the City's single-family and duplex zoning in December 2025.
What you can build in this zone
The Ground Oriented zone's own section allows a house, a duplex, a triplex, a fourplex and a sixplex. Each one has a page of its own.
The rules in this zone
Distance from property lines
- Front
- 9 ft 10 in (3 m)
- Back
- 4 ft 11 in (1.5 m)
- Each side
- 3 ft 11 in (1.2 m)
On a corner lot, 9 ft 10 in (3 m) from the side street, or 0.2 times the lot width if that is less.
Lot coverage
| 1 unit | 30% |
| 2 units | 35% |
| 3 or 4 units | 40% |
| 5 or 6 units | 45% |
Permeable area
| 1 unit | 50% |
| 2 units | 45% |
| 3 or 4 units | 35% |
| 5 or 6 units | 30% |
Landscaped area
| 1 unit | 35% |
| 2 units | 30% |
| 3 or 4 units | 20% |
| 5 or 6 units | 15% |
Height
Up to 3 storeys.
Any part of a building within 16 ft 5 in (5 m) of the rear lot line can be at most 23 ft (7 m) tall.
From the lowest floor to the highest ceiling above it can be at most 32 ft 10 in (10 m).
Parking
At least 0.5 spaces for each unit.
A laneway home or coach house
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.
From City of North Vancouver, Coach House permit page, read on 2026-09-20.
Other rules
- Every unit must have at least 538 sq ft (50 m²) of floor space inside.
- Every unit must be reachable from the street by a lit path at least 3 ft 3 in (1 m) wide.
- No side of a building can be longer than 68 ft 11 in (21 m).
- Two buildings with units on the same lot must be at least 23 ft (7 m) apart.
- A lot with 3 or more units needs an enclosed space for garbage, organics and recycling.
What these words mean
- Lot coverage
- Lot coverage is the share of the lot that buildings may sit on, seen from above.
- Permeable area
- Permeable area is the share of the lot that must let rain soak into the ground, such as soil, grass or gravel with no slab under it.
- Landscaped area
- Landscaped area is the share of the lot that must be planted, with soil, trees and shrubs.
- Setbacks
- The distances a building must keep from each property line.
From Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700, Amendment Bylaw, 2025, No. 9137, Part 5B, sections 573 to 583, read on 2026-09-18.
Questions
How many units can I build in the Ground Oriented zone?
It depends on the lot. Of the 4,877 lots in this zone, 55 allow 3 units, 4,222 allow 4 and 599 allow 6. 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 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 0.85 or 1.0 times the lot area, depending on the lot's land use category. On a 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) lot, 0.85 times is 4,575 sq ft (425 m²).
How close to the property line can I build in the Ground Oriented zone?
Buildings must stay at least 9 ft 10 in (3 m) from the front property line, 4 ft 11 in (1.5 m) from the back one and 3 ft 11 in (1.2 m) from each side. On a corner lot, 9 ft 10 in (3 m) from the side street, or 0.2 times the lot width if that is less.
How tall can I build in the Ground Oriented zone?
Up to 3 storeys. Any part of a building within 16 ft 5 in (5 m) of the rear lot line can be at most 23 ft (7 m) tall. From the lowest floor to the highest ceiling above it can be at most 32 ft 10 in (10 m).
Can I build a laneway home or coach house in the Ground Oriented zone?
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.
How much parking does the Ground Oriented zone need?
At least 0.5 parking spaces for each unit. Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700, Amendment Bylaw, 2025, No. 9137, Part 5B, sections 573 to 583, sets how a part space is rounded.
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, Amendment Bylaw, 2025, No. 9137, Part 5B, sections 573 to 583, read on 2026-09-18. 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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