---
title: "R1 zone in Surrey: Suburban Residential Zone"
place: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/surrey
zone: R1
bylaw: Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (consolidation includes amendments up to By-law 22120, adopted 09/21/2026)
bylaw_read: 2026-11-07
review: draft
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/zoning/r1/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/zoning/r1.json"
---

# R1 zone in Surrey: Suburban Residential Zone

Small-scale multi-unit housing on suburban-sized lots typically larger than 1,858 sq. m, with 2 to 6 dwelling units.

## Zone rules

- **Purpose:** Small-scale multi-unit housing on suburban-sized lots typically larger than 1,858 sq. m, with 2 to 6 dwelling units.
- **Main uses:** Single Family Dwelling; Duplex (lots under 4,050 sq. m); Hobby Kennel (lots of 4,050 sq. m or more); Agriculture and Horticulture Uses (lots of 2 ha or more) (Maximum dwelling units: up to 2 on lots of 4,050 sq. m or more; up to 4 (or 6 on eligible lots near frequent bus stops) on lots from 280 to under 4,050 sq. m; 2 or 3 on lots under 280 sq. m.)
- **Also allowed (secondary uses):** Secondary Suite; Garden Suite; Coach House; Bed and Breakfast; Boarders or Lodgers; Short-Term Rental
- **Minimum lot area:** 1,858 sq. m (new lots)
- **Minimum lot width:** 30 m (new lots); minimum lot depth 30 m
- **Maximum lot coverage:** Single family dwelling: 40% (lots up to 560 sq. m) reducing to 25% (lots over 1,262 sq. m); with coach house or garden suite: 45% reducing to 30%; duplex: 50% reducing to 35%; duplex with coach house or garden suite: 55% reducing to 40%
- **Maximum density:** Maximum 5.0 lots per hectare on subdivision; floor area ratio for lots up to 1,500 sq. m: single family 0.60 on first 560 sq. m of lot and 0.35 on the rest, maximum 465 sq. m; lots over 1,500 sq. m: 0.32; duplex 1.0 on first 560 sq. m and 0.60 on the rest
- **Maximum height:** Single family dwelling 9 m (10 m in floodplain); duplex 3 storeys including basement, up to 11 m (12 m in floodplain); coach house or garden suite 2 storeys including basement, up to 7.0 m with roof peak 8.3 m (8.5 m in floodplain)
- **Maximum height, accessory buildings:** 4 m (5 m if roof slope and materials match the principal building)
- **Front setback:** 7.5 m (single family dwelling or duplex); can be relaxed to 5.5 m at the lower floor for up to 50% of the width on lots up to 1,500 sq. m; coach house or garden suite not permitted in front yard
- **Rear setback:** 7.5 m (single family dwelling or duplex); 1.8 m (coach house or garden suite)
- **Interior side setback:** 4.5 m for lots over 1,500 sq. m; 1.8 m for lots up to 1,500 sq. m; coach house or garden suite 1.8 m
- **Street side setback:** 7.5 m for lots over 1,500 sq. m; 3.6 m for lots up to 1,500 sq. m; coach house or garden suite 2.4 m
- **Accessory building setbacks:** Other accessory buildings over 10 sq. m: front 18.0 m, rear 1.8 m, side 1.0 m, street side 7.5 m; 10 sq. m or less: front 18.0 m, rear 0.0 m, side 0.0 m, street side 7.5 m
- **Other rules:** Single family dwellings must have a ground level floor area of at least 84 sq. m and building width of at least 7 m; Duplexes: minimum ground level floor area 84 sq. m and maximum floor area 700 sq. m including basements (lots up to 1,500 sq. m); Lots protected as heritage or not connected to community water or sewer allow no more than 2 dwelling units

## Source

- [Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (consolidation includes amendments up to By-law 22120, adopted 09/21/2026), s. Part 13](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_Zoning_12000.pdf#page=115) (read 2026-11-07)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply. All zones in Surrey: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/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/surrey/zoning/r1/_