---
title: "RS-1 zone in New Westminster: Single Detached Residential Districts"
place: New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/new-westminster
zone: RS-1
bylaw: Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (consolidated as of June 8, 2026)
bylaw_read: 2026-11-07
review: draft
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/zoning/rs-1/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/zoning/rs-1.json"
---

# RS-1 zone in New Westminster: Single Detached Residential Districts

Single detached dwellings, secondary suites, and laneway or carriage houses in residential neighbourhoods.

## Zone rules

- **Purpose:** Single detached dwellings, secondary suites, and laneway or carriage houses in residential neighbourhoods.
- **Main uses:** Single Detached Dwellings; Accommodation for youth in foster care and transitioning from foster care; Public utilities; Women’s transition houses
- **Also allowed (secondary uses):** Uses accessory to any permitted principal use; Detached accessory dwelling units; Home based business; Secondary suites; Keeping of up to two lodgers or boarders or four foster children in a dwelling unit, or up to eight child care children on a site
- **Minimum lot area:** 557.40 m² (6,000 square feet)
- **Minimum lot width:** Frontage of not less than 10% of the site perimeter
- **Maximum lot coverage:** 35%
- **Maximum density:** One principal dwelling unit per site, plus a secondary suite and one detached accessory dwelling unit; floor space ratio of the principal building not more than 0.5
- **Maximum height:** 7.62 m (25 feet); 8.84 m (29 feet) for a principal building meeting Energy Step Code Step 5 or a Passive House; peak height 10.67 m (35 ft) from height datum
- **Maximum height, accessory buildings:** Detached accessory dwelling unit building: 7 m (22.97 feet) from the base height plane. Other detached accessory buildings: one storey, 4.57 m (15 feet) for a peaked roof, 3.6 m (12 feet) for a roof pitch of 4:12 or less
- **Front setback:** 5.79 m (19 feet), 20% of the depth of the site, or the average front setback of existing principal buildings on either side, whichever is less
- **Rear setback:** 7.62 m (25 feet) or 20% of the depth of the site, whichever is less
- **Interior side setback:** Lots with frontage over 12.19 m (40 feet): 10% of lot width on each side, or 1.52 m (5 ft), whichever is less. Lots with frontage of 12.19 m (40 ft) or less: at least 1.22 m (4 ft)
- **Accessory building setbacks:** Detached accessory buildings without a dwelling unit: not in the required front yard; 1.52 m (5 feet) from any rear or side site line bounded by a street; swimming pools 1.52 m (5 feet) from side and rear site lines; 4.57 m (15 feet) from the corner at a street and lane; garage or carport 6.71 m (22 feet) less lane width from the lane
- **Other rules:** Detached accessory area is limited to 10% of the site area; A detached accessory dwelling unit building may not exceed 89 m² (958 square feet) of detached accessory area; Floor space ratio may be increased by 0.01, 0.03 or 0.05 for Energy Step Code Step 3, 4 or 5 (or Passive House); Attached accessory structures may not exceed 10% of the site area

## Source

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (consolidated as of June 8, 2026), s. 310](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Complete_Zoning_Bylaw_No._6680_2001___As_of_June_8_2026(1%29.pdf#page=122) (read 2026-11-07)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply. All zones in New Westminster: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/zoning/index.json

_Draft: taken from the bylaw text by a research agent and not yet reviewed by a person. Gov Handbook is an independent guide. Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/zoning/rs-1/_