C-3 zone in New Westminster: Community Commercial Districts (High Rise)

New Westminster, British ColumbiaDraft, not yet reviewedBylaw read 2026-11-07

In short

Large-site high-rise commercial and mixed use development including pedestrian-oriented commercial businesses and multi-family residential

Zone rules

Purpose	Large-site high-rise commercial and mixed use development including pedestrian-oriented commercial businesses and multi-family residential
Main uses	Animal grooming and daycare facilities Animal hospitals and veterinary clinics Antique stores, charity thrift stores, clothing consignment stores, second hand specialty stores, and used music store Art studios Banks Business and professional offices Restaurants (not drive-in or drive-through) Child care in a non-residential building or portion of a non-residential building Commercial school Funeral parlours Healthcare cluster uses Hotels Multiple dwelling Personal service establishments Printing and publishing Public assembly and entertainment use Public transportation depots Retail stores Single detached dwellings (to RS-1 or RS-2 standards) Small-scale production Taxi offices Video stores Residential uses are allowed only in the same building as a non-residential use, and not on the first storey or below.
Also allowed (secondary uses)	Accessory uses to permitted principal uses Accessory recycling return centre Home-based businesses
Maximum lot coverage	Residential portions of buildings: 40% of the site area
Maximum density	Floor space ratio 5.2; up to 70 units per net acre (.40 hectares), with increases for underground parking and for residential site coverage under 40%
Front setback	No front yard required; the part of a building over 30 feet (9.14 metres) high must be set back from the centre line of the fronting street at least 30% of the height of that portion
Rear setback	At least 10 feet (3.05 metres); where the site abuts a lot in an (R) District, 20% of the site depth, not more than 25 feet (7.62 metres) required; the part of a building over 30 feet (9.14 metres) high must be set back at least 40% of the height of that portion
Interior side setback	No side yard required, except where the site abuts a lot in an (R) District or is separated by a street or lane: at least 40% of the building height up to 40 feet (12.19 metres), plus 20% of the part over 40 feet; if a side yard is provided where not required, at least 10 feet (3.05 metres); the part of a building over 30 feet (9.14 metres) high must be set back at least 40% of the height of that portion
Other rules	Properties on the west side of Columbia Street East between Braid and Hospital Street may use C-2A instead; properties on the west side of Sixth Street between Queen's Avenue and Fifth Avenue may use C-3A instead Where buildings are more than one on a site, the distance between them must be at least 20 feet (6.10 metres) plus 20% of their combined heights In buildings with more than ten housing units, usable open space of at least 10% of the gross residential floor area Health-focused research and laboratory facilities (healthcare cluster uses) only in the Sapperton Special Employment Area

Source: Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (consolidated as of June 8, 2026), s. 514 (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 publishes the complete bylaw as a single PDF, consolidated as of June 8, 2026; it also publishes each part separately. The saved text includes the list of amendments and appendices. 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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