The Two-Unit Residential zone in North Vancouver (City)
- 144
- Lots
- 6,026 sq ft (560 m²)
- Middle lot size
- 89
- 4 units allowed
- 52
- 6 units allowed
- 3
- 3 units allowed
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.
What you can build in this zone
The Two-Unit Residential 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
- 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
| Any lot | 35% |
Height
The building 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, with a single house: one coach house at the back. With a duplex, the extra units are suites inside the building instead.
- 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
- The zone's own text allows a duplex with one suite in each half, four units in all. Where the City's small-scale housing map lists a different number for a lot, that number is shown.
- A suite inside a unit must be between 400 sq ft (37.16 m²) and 969 sq ft (90 m²), and at most 40% of that 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.
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 502, 507 and 509A, read on 2026-09-20.
Questions
How many units can I build in the Two-Unit Residential zone?
It depends on the lot. Of the 144 lots in this zone, 3 allow 3 units, 89 allow 4 and 52 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 Two-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 0.5 times the lot area. On a 5,382 sq ft (500 m²) lot, 0.5 times is 2,691 sq ft (250 m²).
How close to the property line can I build in the Two-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 Two-Unit Residential zone?
Yes, with a single house: one coach house at the back. With a duplex, the extra units are suites inside the building instead. 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 502, 507 and 509A, 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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