R2 Zoning in Burnaby — Townhouse District
R2 — Townhouse District is a residential zoning district in the City of Burnaby. The intent of this district is to provide ground-oriented residential townhouse and rowhouse forms of up to 4 storeys that can sensitively integrate with lower-density housing forms, while providing opportunities for limited neighbourhood-serving commercial uses.
Intent of the R2 district
The intent of this district is to provide ground-oriented residential townhouse and rowhouse forms of up to 4 storeys that can sensitively integrate with lower-density housing forms, while providing opportunities for limited neighbourhood-serving commercial uses.
R2 at a glance
| Max storeys (by right) | 4 |
|---|---|
| Zone category | Residential |
Density tiers in R2
| Tier | Min lot area | Max units | FSR | Max height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Townhouse District | — | — | — | — |
Permitted uses in R2
- Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing
- Rowhouse Dwellings
- Boarding
- Lodging
- Group Home
- Support Housing
- Child Care Facilities
- Boarding Use
- Home Occupation
- Urban Agriculture
- Accessory Buildings
- Structures Townhouse Dwelling
- Dormitory (within 800m of institution)
- Emergency Shelter
- Live-Work Units
- Supportive Housing (Cat A & B)
- Active Mobility Hub (secondary)
- Child Care Facility (secondary)
- Community Garden (secondary)
- Energy Generation (secondary)
- Personal and Business Services (secondary)
- Restaurant (secondary)
- Retail (secondary)
- Boarding Use
- Home Occupation
- Multi-Family Flex-Units
- Short-Term Rental
- Accessory Buildings/Structures
R2 zoning FAQ
What is R2 zoning in Burnaby?
R2 (Townhouse District) is a residential zoning district in the City of Burnaby. The intent of this district is to provide ground-oriented residential townhouse and rowhouse forms of up to 4 storeys that can sensitively integrate with lower-density housing forms, while providing opportunities for limited neighbourhood-serving commercial uses.
What can you build on R2-zoned land in Burnaby?
Permitted uses in R2 include Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, Rowhouse Dwellings, Boarding, Lodging, Group Home, among others. Permitted uses are allowed outright; conditional uses may require Development Permit Board approval.
How tall can a building be in R2?
R2 permits a maximum of 4 storeys. Height can be affected by view corridors, setbacks, and the specific form of development.
Other residential zones in Burnaby
- R1 — SSMUH – 5 to 6 Units (Frequent Transit Network Area only)
- R2r — Townhouse District – Rental
- R3 — Low-Rise Apartment 1
- R3r — Low-Rise Apartment 1 – Rental
- R4 — Low-Rise Apartment 2
- R4r — Low-Rise Apartment 2 – Rental
- R5 — Mid-Rise Apartment 1
- R6 — Mid-Rise Apartment 2
Look up a specific address in Burnaby
Source: official Burnaby zoning bylaw (PDF) · updated August 2026