R1 zone in Burnaby: Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing District

Burnaby, British ColumbiaDraft, not yet reviewedBylaw read 2026-11-07

In short

Supports mostly ground-oriented housing (single-family, duplex, multiplex, rowhouse) with limited neighbourhood-serving commercial uses.

Zone rules

Purpose	Supports mostly ground-oriented housing (single-family, duplex, multiplex, rowhouse) with limited neighbourhood-serving commercial uses.
Main uses	Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing Rowhouse Dwellings Group Home Supportive Housing Child Care Facility
Also allowed (secondary uses)	Boarding Use Home-Based Child Care Facility Home Occupation Secondary Suites Short-Term Rental Urban Agriculture Other Accessory Buildings, Structures, and Uses These are listed as accessory uses.
Minimum lot area	281 m² for small-scale multi-unit housing (4 to 6 units); rowhouse lots have a maximum of 280 m² instead
Minimum lot width	Rowhouse: interior lot 5 m (6.2 m for end unit lots); corner lot with flanking street 8 m; corner lot with flanking lane 6.2 m. Small-scale multi-unit: 10 m
Maximum lot coverage	Rowhouse 55%; 1 to 2 units 30% on lots over 567 m² and 40% on lots under 567 m²; 3 to 4 units 40%; 5 to 6 units (Frequent Transit Network Area only) 45%
Maximum density	Rowhouse: 1 to 3 dwelling units; small-scale multi-unit: 1 to 2, 3 to 4, or 5 to 6 units (5 to 6 only in the Frequent Transit Network Area); counts include secondary suites
Maximum height	Front principal buildings: 10 m sloping roof or 9.5 m flat roof; 3 storeys (rowhouse), 2.5 storeys (1 to 2 units), 3 storeys (3 to 6 units). Rear principal buildings: 7.5 m sloping roof or 7.0 m flat roof; 2 storeys
Maximum height, accessory buildings	4.0 m and 1 storey
Front setback	Rowhouse 3.0 m; small-scale multi-unit 4.0 m
Rear setback	Principal 3.0 m; accessory 1.5 m (interior rear yard); lane yard 1.5 m
Interior side setback	1.2 m (0 m where there is a party wall between rowhouse units)
Street side setback	Rowhouse 3.0 m (street yard); small-scale multi-unit flanking 3.0 m
Accessory building setbacks	Interior rear yard 1.5 m; lane yard 1.5 m; interior side yard 1.2 m; street yard as for all buildings
Other rules	Minimum permeable surfaces: rowhouse 30%, 1 to 2 units 40%, 3 to 4 units 40%, 5 to 6 units 30% Lots with 1 to 3 dwelling units need at least 1 unit with 3 or more bedrooms; lots with 4 to 6 units need at least 2 Child care facility limited to 25 children and must be on a corner lot Each primary dwelling unit needs an outdoor amenity space at least 2.0 m wide and 10.0 m² in area

Source: Zoning Bylaw 2026 (Bylaw No. 14815), consolidated version without schedules, s. 1.1 (read 2026-11-07)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply, and a lot can have site-specific rules. The City says the online version is an unofficial consolidation of Bylaw No. 14815, provided for the public's convenience. Schedules I-III (development permit area guidelines) are separate PDFs not included in the saved text. Zone pages are taken from the bylaw text by a research agent and have not yet been reviewed by a person: confirm with the bylaw before you rely on them. How answers are checked.

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