{"title":"RM-5A zone in New Westminster: Multiple Dwelling Districts (Medium Rise)","code":"RM-5A","slug":"rm-5a","name":"Multiple Dwelling Districts (Medium Rise)","group":"Residential","section":"451","site_specific_zone":false,"summary":"Apartment development, with an opportunity for increased density if amenity conditions are met","fields":{"purpose":{"value":"Apartment development, with an opportunity for increased density if amenity conditions are met","quotes":["The intent of this district is to allow apartment development with an opportunity for","increased density upon amenity provision conditions being met."]},"primary_uses":{"value":["Single detached dwellings (to RS-1 standards)","Duplex dwellings (to RT-1 standards)","Apartment buildings and multiple dwellings of not more than four storeys","Public utilities"],"note":"Detached accessory dwelling units are allowed only on lots designated (RD) or (RGO) in the Official Community Plan.","quotes":["Single detached dwellings to RS-1 district standards","Duplex dwellings to (RT-1) District standards","Apartment buildings and multiple dwellings of not more than four storeys","Public utilities"]},"secondary_uses":{"value":["Child care in accordance with Section 170.13","Home based businesses","Accessory buildings and uses"],"quotes":["Child care in accordance with Section 170.13 of this Bylaw","Home based businesses","Accessory buildings and uses provided that all accessory buildings:"]},"max_parcel_coverage":{"value":"50% of the site area for principal buildings; no limit if bonus density is used","quotes":["All principal buildings in total shall not cover more than 50 percent (50%) of the site area.","there shall be no limit on site coverage."]},"max_density":{"value":"70 housing units per net acre (172.97 per net hectare), or a floor space ratio of 1.6 (may increase to 1.8 if amenity conditions in S. 190.49 are met)","quotes":["Housing units: 70 per net acre (172.97 per net hectare); or","A floor space ratio of 1.6 provided that the density may be increased to a maximum","floor space ratio of 1.8 pursuant to the satisfaction of the amenity conditions set out","in S. 190.49."]},"max_height":{"value":"Apartment building or multiple dwelling: four storeys or 50 feet (15.24 metres), whichever is less; 45 feet (13.72 metres) if bonus density is used","quotes":["The maximum height of an apartment building or multiple dwelling shall be four storeys or","50 feet (15.24 metres), whichever is the lesser.","the height of a building shall not exceed 45 feet (13.72 metres);"]},"max_height_accessory":{"value":"1 storey, 15 feet (4.57 metres) measured from the finished floor of the building","quotes":["a height of 15 feet (4.57 metres) measured from the"]},"setback_front":{"value":"At least 25 feet (7.62 metres) deep; at least 20 feet (6.10 metres) if bonus density is used","quotes":["A front yard shall be provided of not less than 25 feet (7.62 metres) in depth.","a front yard shall be provided of not less than 20 feet (6.10 metres) in depth;"]},"setback_rear":{"value":"20% of the site depth, not more than 20 feet (6.10 metres) required; at least 20 feet (6.10 metres) if bonus density is used","quotes":["A rear yard shall be provided of not less than twenty percent (20%) of the depth of the site","but need not exceed 20 feet (6.10 metres).","a rear yard shall be provided of not less than 20 feet (6.10 metres) in depth;"]},"setback_side_interior":{"value":"Where the side yard does not adjoin a street: the street side yard rule less 8 feet (2.44 metres)","quotes":["Where the side yard does not adjoin a street, the side yard shall be as in a)","less 8 feet (2.44 metres)"]},"setback_side_exterior":{"value":"Where the side yard adjoins a street: 8 feet (2.44 metres) plus 50% of the height of the highest principal building, not more than 20 feet (6.10 metres) required; at least 20 feet (6.10 metres) if bonus density is used","quotes":["Where the side yard adjoins a street, the side yard shall be not less than 8 feet (2.44","metres) plus an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the height of the highest","principal building, but need not exceed 20 feet (6.10 metres);","adjoining a street must not be less than 20 feet (6.10 metres);"]},"accessory_setbacks":{"value":"Not in the required front yard; at least 5 feet (1.52 metres) from the rear or side site line","quotes":["be located in the required front yard;","5 feet (1.52 metres) from the rear or side site line"]},"other":{"value":["Usable open space of at least 10% of the gross residential floor area","Accessory buildings: no more than 10% of the site area","Bays of windows or balconies may extend up to 4 feet (1.22 metres) into yards, up to 35% of the facade width","Where a building is over 40 feet (12.19 metres) high, its width above that height is limited to 15% of the site perimeter"],"quotes":["Usable open space shall be provided of not less than ten percent (10%) of the gross","shall not occupy more than ten percent (10%) of the site area;","bays of windows or","balconies shall be permitted to be located up to a maximum of 4 feet (1.22 metres) into the","not to exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the","boundary, shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the total length of the perimeter of the","Where the height of the building exceeds 40 feet (12.19 metres), the maximum horizontal"]}},"bylaw":{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (consolidated as of June 8, 2026)","url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Complete_Zoning_Bylaw_No._6680_2001___As_of_June_8_2026(1).pdf","accessed":"2026-11-07","note":"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."},"source_url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Complete_Zoning_Bylaw_No._6680_2001___As_of_June_8_2026(1).pdf#page=250","place":{"path":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/zoning/rm-5a/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/zoning/rm-5a.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/zoning/rm-5a.json","index":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/zoning/index.json"}}