R-3: Transitional Small-Scale Residential

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

At most two principal homes and two accessory dwelling units (on a lot of 280 m² or less, three homes, at most two of them principal), all in one principal building joined by a common wall over living space (ss. 1004(3), (7))

Main uses

Small-scale residential: one or more homes in detached, attached or semi-detached buildings, from a house with suites, carriage houses or garden cottages to a duplex, triplex, fourplex or multiplex (not townhouses, row-style village homes or apartments; Part 2); boarding, home occupations, accessory residential uses, accessory institutional support services

Smallest lot for a subdivision

650 m², 18.5 m wide (s. 1004(4))

Lot coverage

45% for all buildings, not counting enclosed garbage and recycling structures (s. 1004(6))

Height limit

Principal buildings 11.0 m and three storeys on any face (a basement more than 1.3 m out of the ground counts as a storey); accessory buildings 3.7 m, 4.6 m with a roof of 4 in 12 or steeper (s. 1004(10))

Setbacks

Principal buildings: front 5.5 m, rear 6.0 m (1.2 m along a lane, or for a principal building no taller than 3.7 m, 4.6 m with a roof of 4 in 12 or steeper), sides 1.2 m, street side 3.0 m. Detached accessory buildings at least 1.6 m from a principal building: front 5.5 m, rear and sides 1.2 m, street side 3.0 m (s. 1004(8))

The zone is for up to four homes where the City wants lots put together and rezoned for denser housing later (s. 1004(1)).

Floor area ratio 0.5, counting garages and accessory buildings; Up to 40 m² more for a lot with one home, 46 m² with two or more, for above-grade concealed parking and parking structures (s. 1004(5)).

Because the homes must share one principal building, a detached carriage house or garden cottage looks unclear here: ask the City (s. 1004(7); our reading).

A building with only one principal home (a house, with or without suites) is at most 511 m², plus up to 40 m² for an attached garage, or the zone's floor area ratio if that is less (s. 524).

Each home needs at least 20 m² of private or shared outdoor space and an indoor, windowless storage room of 2.2 to 4.5 m² (3.3 to 4.5 m² for a home over 79 m²) on its main floor (s. 1004(13)).

Detached accessory buildings: not in the front yard, 3.0 m from principal buildings, 3.7 m high (4.6 m with a roof of 4 in 12 or steeper); a detached garage or carport at most 10.3 m along any wall and three spaces; garage doors facing a street at most 6.0 m wide in all (ss. 1004(8), (9), (10), (11)). Parking isn't allowed in the front yard or exterior side setback, except an open space for an accessory dwelling unit or tandem parking on a lot without a lane (s. 1004(9)).

Parking: one space for a home under 79 m², 1.5 from 79 to 158 m², 2 for a bigger one, all of which may be in tandem (s. 706(1)).

A lot smaller than the zone's minimum may still be built on if it was registered before June 30, 2025 and is on City water and sewer (s. 511).

On a private septic system, an accessory dwelling unit needs written confirmation from the licensing body that the system can take it (s. 508(2)).

Subdivision without City water and sewer: at least 1.25 ha (0.4 ha with City water but no sewer) (s. 602(2)). The Approving Officer may cut the zone's minimum width by up to 10% for the last lot of a subdivision (s. 603(2)).

Boarding: at most two boarders in a home; a bed and breakfast counts as boarding, for one family or two boarders, inside the building (s. 508(1)).

Home occupations: licensed, run by someone who lives there with at most one employee from elsewhere, indoors, at most 40% of the home's floor area, no sales of goods made elsewhere and nothing that shows from outside but a small sign (s. 508(3)).

Tourist accommodation (stays of 60 days or less) isn't a residential use under the bylaw (Part 2) and isn't listed in this zone; a bed and breakfast counts as boarding (above). Ask the City whether and how a home here may be rented by the night.

Parts 2 to 7 of the bylaw also apply: setbacks can grow for arterial roads, flood and slope protection and streamside areas (ss. 518, 519, 523) or shrink for allowed projections (s. 514); Part 7 sets parking.

Site-specific exceptions listed in the bylaw by legal description can add or change uses for one property, and development permit areas, the ALR and building rules apply on top. Confirm with the City of Coquitlam's planning and development department before you buy or build.

Source: Section 1004 of City of Coquitlam Zoning Bylaw No. 3000, 1996 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05); zone map: Open Government Licence – Coquitlam.