The One-Unit Residential zone (RS-1) in North Vancouver (City)
- 175
- Lots
- 7,278 sq ft (676 m²)
- Middle lot size
- 175
- 3 units allowed
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.
What you can build in this zone
The One-Unit Residential zone's own section allows a house, a secondary suite and a coach house. Each one has a page of its own.
The rules in this zone
Distance from property lines
- Front
- 15 ft 1 in (4.6 m)
- Back
- 26 ft 3 in (8 m)
- Each side
- 3 ft 11 in (1.2 m)
On a corner lot, 10 ft (3.048 m) from the side street, or 0.2 times the lot width if that is less.
Lot coverage
| The house on its own | 30% |
| The house and a coach house together | 40% |
Height
The house can be at most 26 ft 3 in (8 m) to the top of the wall plate, and 33 ft 2 in (10.1 m) overall once the roof is counted.
A laneway home or coach house
Yes. This zone allows one coach house: a separate unit at the back of the lot, on top of the house at the front.
- 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.
- At most 22 ft (6.7 m) tall, measured from the average ground level along the rear lot line.
- It sits between 4 ft (1.22 m) and 10 ft (3.05 m) from the rear lot line, and at least 4 ft (1.22 m) from each side lot line.
- Its second storey can be at most 70% of the floor below it.
- How far it must sit from the house depends on how far the house sits from the rear lot line, from 10 ft (3.05 m) up to 20 ft (6.09 m).
- With a coach house, the floor space of the house and coach house together may rise to 0.5 times the lot area.
- 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
- The house must have at least 800 sq ft (74.32 m²) of floor space.
- The suite inside the house must be between 400 sq ft (37.16 m²) and 969 sq ft (90 m²), and at most 40% of the unit's floor space.
- The building must stay at least 26 ft 3 in (8 m) clear of the rear lot line, or 0.35 times the lot depth where that is greater.
- Paved areas, porches, decks and structures together may cover at most 20% of the lot.
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, RS-1 and RS-2 excerpt published by the City, sections 501, 506, 507 and 509, read on 2026-09-20.
Questions
How many units can I build in the One-Unit Residential zone?
It depends on the lot. Of the 175 lots in this zone, 175 allow 3 units. Look up your address to see your lot's number and the reason for it.
How much floor space can I build in the One-Unit Residential 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 2,615 sq ft (243 m²).
How close to the property line can I build in the One-Unit Residential zone?
Buildings must stay at least 15 ft 1 in (4.6 m) from the front property line, 26 ft 3 in (8 m) from the back one and 3 ft 11 in (1.2 m) from each side. On a corner lot, 10 ft (3.048 m) from the side street, or 0.2 times the lot width if that is less.
Can I build a laneway home or coach house in the One-Unit Residential zone?
Yes. This zone allows one coach house: a separate unit at the back of the lot, on top of the house at the front. 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. At most 22 ft (6.7 m) tall, measured from the average ground level along the rear lot line. It sits between 4 ft (1.22 m) and 10 ft (3.05 m) from the rear lot line, and at least 4 ft (1.22 m) from each side lot line. Its second storey can be at most 70% of the floor below it. How far it must sit from the house depends on how far the house sits from the rear lot line, from 10 ft (3.05 m) up to 20 ft (6.09 m). With a coach house, the floor space of the house and coach house together may rise to 0.5 times the lot area. 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, RS-1 and RS-2 excerpt published by the City, sections 501, 506, 507 and 509, 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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