Townhouse in North Vancouver
- 95
- Lots where it is allowed
- 5
- Zones
- 87
- Lots of 5,813 sq ft (540 m²) or more
- 5,997 sq ft (557 m²)
- Middle lot size
- 70
- Most in Lower Lonsdale
95 lots in the City of North Vancouver sit in a zone whose rules allow a townhouse. Those 5 zones are 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 Townhouse 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 5,997 sq ft (557 m²). They run from 2,029 sq ft (189 m²) to 81,539 sq ft (7,575 m²).
Where the zoning allows one
Each zone below lists Townhouse Residential Use in its own section of the City of North Vancouver's zoning bylaw. A zone left off this list does not allow a townhouse, 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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Ground-Oriented Residential 2 (RG-2) 2 lots, Figure 562-1, principal use 3
Townhouses, small rental apartment buildings, duplexes and houses, with floor space up to 0.75 times the lot.
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Ground Oriented Residential 2A (RG-2A) 2 lots, Figure 562A-1, principal use 3
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.
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Ground-Oriented Residential 3 (RG-3) 76 lots, Figure 563-1, principal use 3
The City's townhouse zone: townhouses, small rental apartment buildings, duplexes and houses, in areas the City's plan marks Residential Level 4A.
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Ground-Oriented Residential 4 (RG-4) 3 lots, Figure 564-1, principal use 3
Townhouses, small rental apartment buildings, duplexes and houses, in areas the City's plan marks Residential Level 4B.
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Medium Density Apartment Residential 2 (RM-2) 12 lots, Figure 572-1, principal use 3
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
A lot needs at least 3,875 sq ft (360 m²) for a lot that already existed on May 30, 2016. 92 of the 95 lots that allow a townhouse reach that size.
A lot needs at least 5,813 sq ft (540 m²) for any other lot. 87 of the 95 lots that allow a townhouse reach that size.
The lot also needs at least 32 ft 10 in (10 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Where they are in the city
The 95 lots that allow a townhouse sit across 3 of the neighbourhoods the City of North Vancouver maps. Lower Lonsdale holds the most, 70 of them, which is 74%.
- Lower Lonsdale 70
- Moodyville 24
- Central Lonsdale 1
Lots where the zoning allows one
24 of the 95 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.
- 220 E 11th St Zone RG-2A · 35,501 sq ft
- 109 St. Davids Ave Zone RG-3 · 5,223 sq ft
- 230 St. Patricks Ave Zone RM-2 · 5,947 sq ft
- 407 E 1st St Zone RG-3 · 6,988 sq ft
- 412 E 2nd St Zone RG-3 · 5,968 sq ft
- 416 E 2nd St Zone RG-3 · 5,968 sq ft
- 420 E 2nd St Zone RG-3 · 5,968 sq ft
- 423 E 3rd St Zone RM-2 · 5,968 sq ft
- 427 E 2nd St Zone RG-3 · 5,992 sq ft
- 433 E 1st St Zone RG-3 · 6,990 sq ft
- 436 E 2nd St Zone RG-3 · 5,968 sq ft
- 442 E 1st St Zone RG-3 · 5,991 sq ft
- 444 E 2nd St Zone RG-3 · 2,029 sq ft
- 447 E 2nd St Zone RG-3 · 5,989 sq ft
- 453 E 2nd St Zone RG-3 · 5,988 sq ft
- 462 E 1st St Zone RG-3 · 5,988 sq ft
- 467 E 1st St Zone RG-3 · 6,987 sq ft
- 476 E 1st St Zone RG-3 · 5,985 sq ft
- 237 Ridgeway Ave Zone RM-2 · 18,144 sq ft
- 528 E 2nd St Zone RG-4 · 81,539 sq ft
- 612 E 3rd St Zone RG-3 · 6,845 sq ft
- 648 E 3rd St Zone RG-3 · 6,841 sq ft
- 658 E 3rd St Zone RG-3 · 6,841 sq ft
- 744 E 3rd St Zone RG-3 · 3,411 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 townhouse in North Vancouver?
On 95 lots, yes, because their zoning allows it. That is 1% 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 townhouse in North Vancouver?
Ground-Oriented Residential 2 (RG-2), under Figure 562-1, principal use 3, Ground Oriented Residential 2A (RG-2A), under Figure 562A-1, principal use 3, Ground-Oriented Residential 3 (RG-3), under Figure 563-1, principal use 3, Ground-Oriented Residential 4 (RG-4), under Figure 564-1, principal use 3 and Medium Density Apartment Residential 2 (RM-2), under Figure 572-1, principal use 3. Each zone's page lists its own height, floor space and setback figures.
What does the zoning bylaw call a townhouse?
Townhouse 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 a townhouse in North Vancouver?
At least 5,813 sq ft (540 m²) for any other lot. 87 lots in a zone that allows a townhouse 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 a townhouse be in North Vancouver?
It depends on the zone: 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 townhouse is allowed?
Lower Lonsdale with 70, Moodyville with 24 and Central Lonsdale with 1. 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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