RA zone in Surrey
Acreage Residential Zone. Acreage lots of 4,050 m2 or more with up to 2 dwelling units; existing smaller lots get small-scale multi-unit housing of 2 to 6 units.
The rules
| Name | Acreage Residential Zone |
|---|---|
| Homes allowed | 2 on lots >=4,050 m2; on lots 280-4,050 m2: 4 (house or duplex, with suite/coach house/garden suite), 6 on eligible lots in Frequent Bus Stop Areas, 2 inside Transit-Oriented Areas; lots <280 m2: 3 (2 in TOA). Heritage-protected or unserviced lots: 2. |
| Floor space ratio | 1 on lots 0–560 m²; 0.6 + 224 m² on lots 560–1,858 m² |
| Floor space notes | Duplex (max-unit form) on lots <=900 m2 (Suburban/Suburban-Urban Reserve OCP) or <=1,858 m2 (Urban/Multiple Residential OCP): 1.0 on first 560 m2 + 0.60 on remainder, basements counted, min 44 m2 garage/carport (not required in Frequent Bus Stop Areas). Single family: 0.60/0.35, max 465 m2. Larger lots: FAR 'not applicable'. Coach house/garden suite 35-75 m2 extra (to 120 m2 if unused floor area). s.D.2-D.3, Part 12. |
| Height | 11 m (36 ft) · 3 incl. basement (duplex) storeys |
| Height notes | Duplex 3 storeys incl. basement, max 11 m (12 m floodplain); single family 9 m (10 m floodplain); coach house/garden suite 2 storeys, 7.0 m (peak 8.3 m). s.G. |
| Lot coverage | 45% on lots 0–653 m²; 43% on lots 653–746 m²; 41% on lots 746–839 m²; 39% on lots 839–932 m²; 37% on lots 932–1,025 m²; 35% on lots 1,025–1,118 m²; 33% on lots 1,118–1,211 m²; 31% on lots 1,211–1,262 m²; 25% on lots over 1,262 m² |
| Coverage notes | Duplex on lots <=900/1,160/1,858 m2 (by OCP designation): 45% to 25%. Bylaw text: max % on lots <=560 m2, 'reduced by 2% for each 93 m2' of lot area above 560 m2, down to the floor; tiers here are that rule stepped per full 93 m2 (step interpretation is ours); above 1,262 m2 the stated floor applies, which can be a jump. Larger lots: 20% general max (s.E.1). s.E. |
| Setbacks | front 7.5 m (25 ft), side 1.8 m (6 ft), rear 7.5 m (25 ft), flank 3.6 m (12 ft) |
| Setback notes | Reduced setbacks (s.F.3) for duplex/house on lots <=900 m2 Suburban or <=1,858 m2 Urban. Larger lots (s.F.2): side 4.5 m, flank 7.5 m (one side may be 3.0 m if other is >=15 m). House: one side 1.2 m next to SSMUH lot if other side 2.4 m; 50% of rear face may be 6.0 m if rest 8.5 m. Coach house/garden suite: rear 1.8, side 1.8, flank 2.4, 5.0 m separation. |
| Bonus density | Subdivision density 1.2 lots/ha base, 2.5 lots/ha with Schedule G amenity contributions (s.D.1). |
| Bylaw sections | Part 12 s.A-G; Schedule G |
What you can use it for
Single family dwellingDuplexSecondary suiteCoach houseGarden suiteShort-term rental (Part 4 B.36)Hobby kennel (lot >=4,050 m2)Agriculture/horticulture (lot >=2 ha)Bed and breakfastBoarders or lodgers
What BC law allows on these lots
- 4 homes (lots over 280 m²)2,270 lots
- 3 homes (lots up to 280 m²)981 lots
- 6 homes (near frequent transit)915 lots
- Transit-oriented area (taller buildings)1 lots
Our estimate per lot under BC's Bills 44 and 47, from lot size, transit distance and the urban boundary.
Example lots in RA
No addressed lots in this zone on the map.
Other zones in Surrey
Read from Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (consolidated to 2026-09-21, last amendment By-law 22120) ↗, checked 2026-10-21. Summaries are our reading of the bylaw: confirm with Surrey before buying or designing. Page rebuilt October 25, 2026.