---
title: "RT-A zone in New Westminster: Townhouse Residential District"
place: New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/new-westminster
zone: RT-A
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/rt-a/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/zoning/rt-a.json"
---

# RT-A zone in New Westminster: Townhouse Residential District

Allow townhouse developments (with the Official Community Plan townhouse design guidelines) on sites that also allow single detached dwellings, secondary suites and laneway or carriage houses.

## Zone rules

- **Purpose:** Allow townhouse developments (with the Official Community Plan townhouse design guidelines) on sites that also allow single detached dwellings, secondary suites and laneway or carriage houses.
- **Main uses:** Single detached dwellings; Townhouses; Public Utilities; Women’s Transition house; Accommodation for youth in foster care and transitioning from foster care
- **Also allowed (secondary uses):** Uses accessory to any permitted principal use; Home based businesses; Secondary suites; Keeping of up to four foster children in a dwelling unit or eight child care children on a site
- **Minimum lot area:** Townhouses only where the site area is at least 836.1 square metres (9,000 square feet)
- **Minimum lot width:** Townhouses only where the site frontage is at least 20 metres (65.62 feet)
- **Maximum lot coverage:** Buildings 50% of the lot; buildings, structures and other impervious surfaces together 65% of the lot
- **Maximum density:** Floor space ratio up to 1.2; a principal dwelling unit may include one secondary suite
- **Maximum height:** Peak height 12.0 metres (39.4 feet) for a peaked roof; 11.0 metres (36.1 feet) for a roof with a pitch of 4:12 or less
- **Maximum height, accessory buildings:** Detached accessory buildings: one storey, 3.6 metres (12 feet) measured from the finished floor to the highest point
- **Front setback:** 3.5 metres (11.5 feet)
- **Rear setback:** 7.62 metres (25 feet)
- **Interior side setback:** 1.22 metres (4 feet)
- **Street side setback:** 3.5 metres (11.5 feet)
- **Accessory building setbacks:** Detached accessory buildings: not in the required front yard; at least 1 metre (3.28 feet) from the principal building; carport with vehicle entry facing the lane 6.71 metres (22 feet) less lane width from the lane; 4.57 metres (15 feet) from the corner of a site at an intersection of streets and/or lanes
- **Other rules:** Maximum building length is 38.1 metres (125 feet); Townhouses need lane access at least 6.0 metres (19.7 feet) wide (or a dedication to achieve it); Pervious site coverage at least 35% of the lot and planted site space at least 15% of the lot; Single detached dwellings follow the NR-1 regulations west of Eighth Street and north of Sixth Avenue, otherwise RS-1; detached accessory buildings may not cover more than 15% of the site area

## Source

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (consolidated as of June 8, 2026), s. 405](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Complete_Zoning_Bylaw_No._6680_2001___As_of_June_8_2026(1%29.pdf#page=188) (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/rt-a/_