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RS-5 zone in New Westminster

Single Detached Residential District (Small Lots). Allow single detached dwellings, secondary suites, and laneway or carriage houses on small lots (s.314.1).

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33lots in this zone on the map

419 m²median lot size (4,510 ft²)

375–529 m²smallest to largest lot

7.62 mmaximum height (25 ft)

The rules

Name	Single Detached Residential District (Small Lots)
Homes allowed	3 (house + suite + DADU); DADU only on lots designated RD or RGO in the OCP (s.314.2(b))
Floor space ratio	0.5
Floor space notes	Principal building FSR 0.5 (s.310.11); Energy Step Code bonus: +0.01 FSR (Step 3), +0.03 (Step 4), +0.05 (Step 5 or Passive House). (s.310.11.1). Floor area excludes areas 1.22 m or lower and, for pre-June-2019 approvals, up to 41.81 m2 of garage (s.310.6). Detached accessory dwelling unit (laneway/carriage house): max 89 m2 detached accessory area (plus Step Code increase), 7.0 m high from base height plane, garage max 21 m2 (27.9 m2 if accessible) (s.310.19). Detached accessory area max 10% of site, +5% if traded from house floor area.
Height	7.62 m (25 ft)
Height notes	Building height 7.62 m, or 8.84 m for Step 5/Passive House; peak 10.67 m from height datum (s.310.13).
Lot coverage	35%
Coverage notes	Principal building 35% (s.310.13); attached accessory structures max 10% and detached accessory area max 10% of site (s.310.15-310.16).
Setbacks	front 5.79 m (19 ft), side 1.52 m (5 ft), rear 7.62 m (25 ft)
Setback notes	Front: least of 5.79 m, 20% of site depth, or average of neighbours' front setbacks; rear: lesser of 7.62 m or 20% of depth; side: lots wider than 12.19 m 10% of width up to 1.52 m each side, lots 12.19 m or less 1.22 m. No exterior-side figure in the zone (accessory buildings 1.52 m from a flanking street). (s.310.13)
Bonus density	Energy Step Code bonus: +0.01 FSR (Step 3), +0.03 (Step 4), +0.05 (Step 5 or Passive House).
Bylaw sections	s.314.1-314.2 (RS-1 rules apply)

What you can use it for

Single detached dwellingSecondary suiteHome based businessBoarders/lodgers (max 2), foster children (4) or child care (8)Accommodation for youth in foster careWomen's transition housePublic utilitiesDetached accessory dwelling unit (laneway/carriage house)

What BC law allows on these lots

Transit-oriented area (taller buildings)25 lots
4 homes (lots over 280 m²)6 lots
6 homes (near frequent transit)2 lots

Our estimate per lot under BC's Bills 44 and 47, from lot size, transit distance and the urban boundary.

Example lots in RS-5

No addressed lots in this zone on the map.

Other zones in New Westminster

RGO-A RM-4 RGO-B RM-6B RM-2 RM-5A RS-1 RQ-1 RM-6A NR-1 RS-2 RMW-2A RM-2A RT-A RMW-3B RT-3A RT-3 RMW-3 NR-2 RT-2D RS-4 RT-1 RM-1A RM-1 RQ-5 RT-2E RT-2B RM-5 RT-2F RT-3B RW-1 RT-B RS-6 RT-2 RM-6 NR-5

Read from New Westminster Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (section consolidations to 2025-05-26, plus adopted amendments Bylaw 8524 (Townhouse Zoning Update) and Bylaw 8578, 2026 (Infill Housing Program, footer-dated 2026-06-08); official consolidation to 2025-11-17 not retrievable) ↗, checked 2026-10-21. Summaries are our reading of the bylaw: confirm with New Westminster before buying or designing. Page rebuilt October 25, 2026.