---
title: "R3 zone in Surrey: Urban Residential Zone"
place: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/surrey
zone: R3
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/r3/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/zoning/r3.json"
---

# R3 zone in Surrey: Urban Residential Zone

Small-scale multi-unit housing (2 to 6 dwelling units) on urban-sized lots typically 560 sq. m or larger.

## Zone rules

- **Purpose:** Small-scale multi-unit housing (2 to 6 dwelling units) on urban-sized lots typically 560 sq. m or larger.
- **Main uses:** Single Family Dwelling; Duplex (lots under 4,050 sq. m); Houseplex (lots under 4,050 sq. m) (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 (not permitted in a houseplex); Garden Suite; Coach House; Bed and Breakfast; Boarders or Lodgers; Short-Term Rental
- **Minimum lot area:** 560 sq. m (new lots)
- **Minimum lot width:** 15 m (new lots); minimum lot depth 28 m
- **Maximum lot coverage:** Single family dwelling: 40% (lots up to 560 sq. m) reducing to 25%; with coach house or garden suite: 50% reducing to 30%; duplex: 50% reducing to 35%; houseplex: 60% reducing to 35%
- **Maximum density:** Maximum 18 lots per hectare on subdivision; floor area ratio: single family 0.60 on first 560 sq. m of lot and 0.35 on the rest, maximum 465 sq. m; duplex 1.0; houseplex 1.0 on first 560 sq. m and 0.60 on the rest
- **Maximum height:** Single family dwelling: 9 m sloped roof, 7.3 m flatter roof, 10 m in floodplain; duplex: 3 storeys up to 11 m (9.3 m flatter roof, 12 m floodplain); houseplex: 3 storeys up to 9 m (7.3 m flatter roof, 12 m floodplain); coach house or garden suite: 2 storeys up to 7.0 m, roof peak 8.3 m (6.5 m flatter roof, 8.5 m floodplain)
- **Maximum height, accessory buildings:** 4 m (5 m if roof slope and materials match the principal building)
- **Front setback:** Single family dwelling 6.5 m; duplex 6.0 m; houseplex 3.5 m; coach house, garden suite and accessory buildings over 10 sq. m not permitted in front yard
- **Rear setback:** Single family dwelling, duplex and houseplex 7.5 m; coach house 1.2 m (1.8 m on lots without lane access); garden suite 1.2 m (1.8 m without lane access)
- **Interior side setback:** Single family dwelling 1.8 m; duplex and houseplex 1.2 m; garden suite 1.8 m; coach house 1.2 m (1.8 m on some lots)
- **Street side setback:** Single family dwelling 3.6 m; duplex and houseplex 2.4 m; coach house and garden suite 2.4 m (corner lots)
- **Accessory building setbacks:** Other accessory buildings over 10 sq. m: not permitted in front yard, rear 1.2 m (1.8 m without lane), side 1.0 m, street side 3.6 m; 10 sq. m or less: front 18.0 m, rear 0 m, side 0 m, street side 1.8 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; Maximum floor area: duplex 560 sq. m including basements; houseplex 600 sq. m not including basements; 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 15](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_Zoning_12000.pdf#page=143) (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/r3/_