What Is RS-1 Zoning in BC? Lot Sizes and Height by City
RS-1 usually means a city's main single-detached residential zone, but the lot size behind it runs from 500 m² in Port Coquitlam to about 8,000 m² in West Vancouver. Here is RS-1 in 11 BC cities.
The short answer
- 11 BC cities in this comparison that use an RS-1 or RS1 zone
- 500 to 8,094 m² range of minimum lot areas where the bylaw states one
- 7.62 to 11 m range of maximum building heights
RS stands for residential single-family or single detached, and the 1 is the city's own numbering. RS-1 (also written RS1) is normally a municipality's base single-detached zone, but there is no provincial RS-1. Each city writes its own bylaw, so RS-1 in Port Coquitlam and RS-1 in West Vancouver are very different zones.
Vancouver no longer has an RS-1 zone: its RS districts were folded into R1-1.
RS-1 zoning by city
The table lists the minimum lot area, minimum frontage and maximum height ZoneScout reads from each city's bylaw. A dash means the bylaw does not state a single figure in the form we record.
| City | Zone name | Minimum lot area | Minimum frontage | Maximum height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotsford | Urban Estate Residential Zone | 1,620 m² | 30 m | 9.5 m |
| City of North Vancouver | One-Unit Residential 1 | - | 10 m | 10.1 m |
| Coquitlam | One-Family Residential | 650 m² | 13.5 m | 11 m |
| Delta | Single Detached Residential 1 Zone | 4,000 m² | 30 m | 9.5 m |
| District of North Vancouver | Single-Family Residential One Acre Zone | 4,000 m² | 30 m | 8.53 m |
| Maple Ridge | Single Detached Residential | 668 m² | 18 m | 8 m |
| New Westminster | Single Detached Residential Districts (RS-1) | 557.4 m² | - | 7.62 m |
| Port Coquitlam | Residential Small-Scale 1 | 500 m² | 9 m | 10.5 m |
| Port Moody | Single Detached Residential | 555 m² | 15 m | 10.5 m |
| West Vancouver | Single Family Dwelling Zone 1 | 8,094 m² | 61 m | 7.62 m |
| White Rock | RS-1 SSMUH Residential Zone | 742 m² | 18 m | 7.7 m |
Abbotsford RS1 · North Vancouver RS-1 · Coquitlam RS-1 · Delta RS1 · District of North Vancouver RS1 · Maple Ridge RS-1 · New Westminster RS-1 · Port Coquitlam RS1 · Port Moody RS1 · West Vancouver RS1 · White Rock RS-1
Why the same code means different things
Port Coquitlam's RS1 sets a 500 m² minimum lot, while Delta's and the District of North Vancouver's RS1 set 4,000 m² and West Vancouver's sets 8,094 m². Same two characters, a sixteen-fold difference. The code is a label inside one city's bylaw, not a standard.
Several cities have also rewritten their single-family zones for Bill 44. White Rock's RS-1 is now titled an SSMUH residential zone, and Port Coquitlam's RS1 is Residential Small-Scale 1.
Vancouver RS-1 zoning is now R1-1
Does RS-1 allow more than one home?
Often yes today, but the number depends on the city's bylaw, the lot size and servicing, not on the RS-1 label. Each zone page above lists the unit limit ZoneScout reads for that district, and a report shows the figure for one address.
How many units can I build? City guides
Check your own lot
Listings and old documents often quote a zone that has since been renamed or replaced. Enter the address in ZoneScout to see the zone that applies to that lot today.
Frequently asked questions
What does RS-1 zoning mean in BC?
RS-1 is normally a municipality's base single-detached residential zone. It is defined by each city's own bylaw, so minimum lot area and height differ widely: 500 m² in Port Coquitlam, 8,094 m² in West Vancouver.
Is RS-1 the same as R1?
No. RS-1 and R1 are separate codes written by each city, and a city may use one, the other or both. Vancouver, for example, folded its RS zones into R1-1.
Can I build a duplex or multiplex on RS-1 land?
In many cities, yes, since Bill 44 required small-scale multi-unit housing. The count depends on the city, lot size and servicing, so check the zone page or run an address.
How do I find my lot's zone?
Enter the address in ZoneScout or look it up on your city's official zoning map.