RS-3: Single Detached Rural Residential

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

One house with a secondary suite and a detached garden suite: 3 homes. The zone is for lots outside the urban area (s. 611.1), where urban infill allows no more (s. 402.29(3)). A farm worker's home only on a farm of 1.7 ha or more designated Rural Residential (2 ha Agricultural), with the Agricultural Land Commission's approval, an agrologist's report and a covenant (s. 402.2)

Main uses

A house, a farm worker's home, boarding, a campground (on 0.8 ha or more), a detached garden suite, a secondary suite, hobby beekeeping, home occupations, a neighbourhood daycare, produce sales, a rental stable, short-term rental (s. 402.31), assisted living; farming on a lot of 0.4 ha or more; cannabis production only in the ALR

Smallest lot for a subdivision

0.8 ha where a community water system is available, else 2.0 ha; 60 m wide, 75 m deep (s. 611.4, Schedule B)

Exceptions (1)

• 1,885 m², 29 m wide, 31 m deep for Lot 38, Plan EPP136035

Listed in s. 611.4(4) of the bylaw.

Lot coverage

40%, all buildings together; farm buildings 10% (greenhouses 20%)

Height limit

House 9.5 m; accessory buildings 6.0 m; farm buildings and cannabis production 15.0 m; garden suite 6.0 m, one storey (7.5 m above an accessory use on a lot in the ALR)

Setbacks

House: front and rear 7.5 m, sides 1.5 m (3.5 m together), street side 4.5 m (5.0 m from a high-pressure gas right-of-way at the rear on lots created after October 31, 1986); greenhouses 15 m front and rear, 7.5 m sides; accessory buildings front 7.5 m, rear and sides 1.5 m, street side 3.0 m

The zone is for farming and rural houses outside the urban area, which may have neither City water nor sewer (s. 611.1). No floor area or density limit is set for the house (s. 611.5).

A detached garden suite: in the rear yard only, one storey, no basement, never strata-titled or subdivided; at most 140 m² or 15% of the lot, whichever is less (90 m² in the ALR); 6.0 m high and one storey (on a lot of 0.4 ha or more it may instead sit above a garage or other accessory use; 7.5 m on an RS-3 lot in the ALR); set back 2.4 m from the rear line (7.5 m on an RS-3 lot in the ALR), 1.5 m from the sides, 3.0 m from a street side, 5.5 m from the front and 2.4 m from the house; a 1.5 m path to the front line and its own outdoor space (25% of its floor area or 10% of the lot, whichever is less); not with boarding, a caretaker's or farm worker's home or tourist accommodation on the lot (s. 402.11). On a lot of 0.4 ha or more it may be a manufactured home on a permanent foundation.

A secondary suite: one per home, inside it, never strata-titled; not with boarding or a caretaker's home on the lot; in a floodplain, its floor above the flood construction level (s. 402.24, s. 202).

Accessory buildings: 6.0 m high; front 7.5 m, rear and sides 1.5 m, street side 3.0 m, 1.5 m from the house; they count toward the lot coverage.

Farming (with fuel tanks) only on a lot of 0.4 ha or more; cannabis production only in the ALR. Farm buildings 30 m from the front, rear and street side, 15 m from the sides and 15 m from homes, 30 m from wells; mushroom, swine or poultry buildings and cannabis production 60 m from the front and street side, 30 m from the rear, sides, wells and homes; farm buildings at most 15 m high.

On a lot in the ALR, the house and its outbuildings sit in a farm home plate of at most 0.2 ha, no deeper than 60 m from the front or street side, the house within 50 m of it and at most 500 m² of floor area (42 m² of garage not counted); the Agricultural Land Commission's rules prevail (s. 402.12).

Boarding: at most 2 boarders in 2 rooms inside the house, for stays over 30 days, and not on a lot with a secondary suite or garden suite (s. 402.4).

Home occupations: by the residents, inside the home or an accessory building; on a lot under 1,200 m² at most 30% of the floor area up to 50 m² and 2 employees from elsewhere, from 1,200 m² 45% up to 100 m² and 3 (s. 402.14).

Short-term rental (stays of 30 days or less) is allowed only in the principal residence of the owner or a tenant the owner authorises, who lives there most of the year: one licence per property, either up to 3 rooms or one whole home (a suite or garden suite counts), at most 6 guests per home, one parking space per listing; not on a lot under 371 m², nor with assisted living, a caretaker's home or a neighbourhood daycare on the lot; in the ALR the Agricultural Land Commission's rules prevail (s. 402.31).

Sections 401 to 407 (general regulations, landscaping, retaining walls, heights) and the Off-Street Parking and Loading Bylaw also apply.

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 Maple Ridge's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Section 611 of City of Maple Ridge Zoning Bylaw No. 7600-2019 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05); zone map: Open Government Licence – Maple Ridge.