---
title: "R4 zone in Surrey: Small Lot Residential Zone"
place: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/surrey
zone: R4
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/r4/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/zoning/r4.json"
---

# R4 zone in Surrey: Small Lot Residential Zone

Small-scale multi-unit housing (2 to 6 dwelling units) on small lots typically 336 sq. m or larger.

## Zone rules

- **Purpose:** Small-scale multi-unit housing (2 to 6 dwelling units) on small lots typically 336 sq. m or larger.
- **Main uses:** Single Family Dwelling; Duplex (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; Garden Suite; Coach House; Short-Term Rental
- **Minimum lot area:** Interior lot 336 sq. m; corner lot 380 sq. m (new lots) (The same section also lists a general table (Lot Area 8,094 sq. m, Lot Width 50 m, Lot Depth 60 m) that appears to belong to another case; please check.)
- **Minimum lot width:** Interior lot: 12 m (Type I narrow deep) or 13.4 m (Type II wide shallow); corner lot: 14 m (Type I) or 15.4 m (Type II); minimum lot depth 28 m (Type I) or 24 m (Type II)
- **Maximum lot coverage:** Single family dwelling 50%; with coach house or garden suite 59%; duplex 60%; duplex with coach house or garden suite 65%
- **Maximum density:** Maximum 30 lots per hectare on subdivision; single family dwelling floor area ratio 0.72, maximum floor area 266 sq. m; duplex maximum floor area 450 sq. m including basements
- **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); coach house or garden suite: 2 storeys up to 7.0 m, roof peak 8.3 m (6.0 m flatter roof, 8.5 m floodplain)
- **Maximum height, accessory buildings:** 3 m (5 m if roof slope and materials match the principal building)
- **Front setback:** Single family dwelling 5.5 m; duplex 6.0 m; coach house, garden suite and accessory buildings not permitted in front yard
- **Rear setback:** Single family dwelling 7.5 m; duplex 6.0 m; coach house 1.2 m; garden suite 1.2 m (1.8 m without lane access); other accessory buildings 1.0 m
- **Interior side setback:** Single family dwelling and duplex 1.2 m; garden suite 1.2 m (1.8 m without lane access); other accessory buildings 0 m
- **Street side setback:** Single family dwelling and duplex 2.4 m; coach house and garden suite 1.8 m; other accessory buildings 1.2 m
- **Accessory building setbacks:** Other accessory buildings: not permitted in front yard, rear 1.0 m, side 0 m, street side 1.2 m
- **Other rules:** Single family dwellings must not exceed a maximum floor area of 266 sq. m; Side-by-side garages only on lots 13.4 m or wider; maximum single garage width 4.0 m; Non-porous or paved surfaces may cover up to 30% of the lot area not occupied by buildings or structures; 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 16](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_Zoning_12000.pdf#page=155) (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/r4/_
