Vancouver is committed to a comprehensive, long-term growth plan extending beyond 2050. The city is embarking on a visionary journey, including strategies that prioritize housing diversity across neighborhoods instead of concentrating it in one area. This innovative approach not only promotes diverse housing options but also addresses climate change, encourages walkable communities, and supports businesses of all sizes. In this blog post, we'll zoom in on residential zoning changes—a pivotal element of Vancouver's broader initiative to craft a more enjoyable, affordable, and sustainable urban environment.
Zoning is like a set of city rules that tell us what we can do with our land and buildings. It's all about making sure our city grows and develops in a way that makes sense. The city is divided into different areas, and each area has its own special rules that match up with what's around it.
Zoning is important because it keeps our communities safe and healthy. It helps decide what we can build where, like houses or offices, and what they can look like. Zoning also makes sure different parts of the city have their unique feel and style. It even thinks about the environment and how much stuff we can put in one place. So, zoning helps our cities look good, work well, and be a nice place for everyone to live in.
In this post, we'll unravel the intricacies of three key zoning types: RT, RM, and R1-1. RT zoning opens the door to Duplexes and Multiple Dwellings in residential areas, while RM zoning is specifically designed for Multiple Dwellings. Finally, we'll take a closer look at R1-1 zoning, which falls under the Residential Inclusive District. Whether you're a resident or simply curious about Vancouver's housing landscape, understanding these zoning categories is essential. Let's dive in!
The primary intent of this schedule is to allow building a side-by-side duplexes. It also allows for single detached houses or single detached houses with secondary suites, although the latter is subject to conditional approval.
The main aim of this schedule is to allow duplexes and, under certain conditions, to allow low-density multiple dwelling development.
The primary objective of RT-3 zoning is to preserve the appearance and ambiance of Vancouver's Strathcona and Kiwassa neighborhoods, which have a rich history dating back to the late 1880s and early 1900s. This zoning, indicated by orange zones on the map, is dedicated to maintaining the unique charm of these historic streets. It encompasses the area between Strathcona, Downtown Eastside, and Grandview-Woodland, ensuring that existing buildings are preserved, renovated, or restored to uphold the neighborhood's distinctive character.
The objective of this schedule is to maintain the residential ambiance of the neighborhood. This zoning category encompasses duplexes, single-detached houses, and single-detached houses with secondary suites. You can find this schedule along Vanness Avenue.
The RT-4N and RT-4AN Districts are a bit different from the RT-4 and RT-4A Districts. In RT-4N and RT-4AN, they ask for noise reduction when building homes.
The purpose of this schedule is to permit increased floor area, additional dwelling units, and additional relaxation provisions, provided that the character of the neighborhood house is preserved. Additionally, this schedule offers a range of housing options. The only thing that sets RT-5N apart from RT-5 is that RT-5N asks for a design that reduces noise.
This schedule encourages keeping old houses looking historic and in the same style as the neighborhood. New buildings should fit in with the old ones and offer different housing options. The design should match the historic look of the area.
The goal of this schedule is to keep the old-fashioned Kitsilano house style in the area. You can rebuild small buildings to be the same height as others nearby. When you make changes or add things, they should still look like the houses on the street.
This schedule aims to preserve the classic Kitsilano house style. You can build new things on sites with small or non-matching buildings. When changing or adding, keep the same look for the outside. New buildings should fit in with the neighborhood's size and placement. One key difference between RT-7 and RT-8 is their allowed maximum size.
This schedule wants to see new buildings with different styles and sizes that fit well with the neighborhood. It also allows keeping and fixing up old buildings if they have historical or architectural value.
The purpose of this schedule is to promote the construction of multiple small houses and duplexes on larger lots and consolidated properties, while still allowing for less intensive development on smaller parcels. However, the retention of older character-building designs is still encouraged. The difference between RT-10 and RT-10N is that RT-10N mandates the use of noise reduction design.
This schedule aims to offer diverse housing options by promoting small houses and duplexes on larger lots and grouped areas, while still allowing lower-density development on smaller plots. New buildings should fit well with existing single detached houses but not be identical. It also permits laneway houses, secondary suites, and lock-off units within certain limits to provide flexible housing choices. The key distinction between RT-11 and RT-11N is that RT-11N requires the implementation of noise reduction design.
This schedule allows courtyard townhouses on bigger lots, lower-density development on smaller ones, and even apartments in some places. New buildings should fit in with the existing single houses but not be exactly the same. Unlike RM-1, RM-1N requires the implementation of noise reduction design.
The purpose of this schedule is to allow residential development, including 3-story apartment buildings.
The purpose of this schedule is to allow residential development, including high-rise apartment buildings.
The goal of this schedule is to enable residential development, which includes 3-story apartments and 6-story social housing apartments.
The purpose of this schedule is to allow various types of multiple dwelling structures, such as 4-story apartments and 6-story social housing apartments, with the goal of preserving existing buildings and accomplishing community and social goals. RM-4N is not the same as RM-4 because it needs proof of noise reduction for residential areas.
This schedule aims to allow different types of housing in the West End, promoting secured market rental housing as infill development, while ensuring that new buildings fit in with the neighborhood's streetscape. Rm-5, RM-5A, RM-5B, RM-5C, & RM-5D have different Max. allowable FSR and encourages different building types.
This schedule allows for apartments and compatible retail, cultural, recreational, service, and institutional uses. Development should align with the character of Georgia Street and be in harmony with the residential character of Alberni Street in the West End.
This schedule promotes townhouse development while allowing other housing types. Building characteristic must be preserved and for new development, it should be able to harmonize with the existing housing. The RM-7AN district offers a chance to build townhouses in a courtyard layout. RM-7N, on the other hand, is different from RM-7AN because it requires acoustic regulations to be followed.
This schedule is intended to permit 3 story townhouses and lower intensity residential development while preserving the characteristic of the buildings in the area. Within the RM-8A and RM-8AN districts, a specific percentage of units must fall within a particular size range to enhance housing options and affordability. RM-8N and RM-8AN also mandate compliance with acoustic regulations.
This schedule aims to allow 4-story apartments in residential areas, making a transition between taller buildings and houses with yards. The goal is to have different-sized homes, including ones suitable for families with kids. Townhouses are only allowed when they're part of an apartment building or on very deep plots of land. Acoustic regulations must be included in the design for RM-9AN.
The purpose of this schedule is to allow different types of multiple dwellings, such as 4-story apartments and townhouses, with a focus on offering various sizes of housing units. RM-9N and RM-9BN also necessitate compliance with acoustic regulations.
This schedule permits building apartments with up to six floors. Townhouses is encouraged to be constructed at the back of the lot, as long as there is enough space. If the site isn't big enough for apartments, you can build triplexes. For both apartments and townhouses, you need to have common and private outdoor areas. RM-10N also needs to comply with the acoustic regulations of the city.
This schedule permits development of 4 – storey building apartments that’s “T” in shape and have different-sized units and are owned or rented by various people. Having common and private outdoor space is required in this schedule. You can only build lower-density residential units like townhouses and triplexes on locked in lots. Rm-11N needs to comply with the acoustic regulations of the city.
This schedule is specifically regulated for areas in the Fairview slopes. The intent of this schedule is to enhance small-scale residential character of the neighborhood.
R1-1 is the newer version of RS-1 zoning in Vancouver. Most of Vancouver is zoned as R1-1, which is primarily for single-detached houses. In simple terms, you can build up to 1.0 Floor Space Ratio (FSR) in R1-1 zoning from 0.7 FSR. If you want more information about R1-1, please check out our other videos and blog posts.
The intent of this schedule is to allow for triplexes and townhouses where all the dwelling units are available for rent.
The purpose of this schedule is to permit residential buildings with 3-6 stories, as long as all the units are meant for rental housing.
The intent of this schedule is to permit mixed use residential buildings with 4-6 stories where all of its dwelling units are open to renting.
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