RT-5: Two-Family Dwelling, character retention

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

A single detached house (outright) with a secondary suite and a lock-off unit (conditional) and a laneway house (conditional); a duplex (outright), each half with a suite or lock-off unit (conditional); two houses on a lot (conditional); or a multiple dwelling (conditional) on a lot of 338 m² or more made of one lot or two adjoining lots on title before January 16, 2018. At most 74 homes per hectare counting suites and lock-off units on a lot of 338 m² or more or with a character house; else 2 homes, suites and lock-off units aside. Where a character house is torn down, only a house, suite and laneway house may replace it, unless the lot is under-used (ss. 2.1, 2.2.1, 2.2.11, 3.1.1.2, 3.2.1.4)

Main uses

Houses, duplexes, multiple dwellings, laneway houses, suites and lock-off units; a 2-home conversion of an existing building outright; infill and conversions where a character house is kept; seniors housing, child day care, community care (Class A outright), churches, schools, a neighbourhood grocery store, bed and breakfast and short-term rental, all conditional (s. 2.1)

Smallest lot for a subdivision

306 m² for a house or duplex (less for a lot on title before August 10, 1976 or in step with its block), 338 m² for a multiple dwelling (ss. 3.1.2.1, 3.2.2.1, 3.2.2.8)

Lot coverage

45% of the lot. Floor space ratio 0.60 for a house or multiple dwelling (0.75 with the Director of Planning's approval), 0.75 for a duplex, 0.50 for a new house where a character house was torn down; where a character house is kept, up to 0.75 for an addition and 0.85 with infill (ss. 3.1.1.1, 3.1.2.7, 3.2.1, 3.2.2.6, 5.2)

Height limit

10.7 m and 3 storeys, the third a partial storey of at most half the one below; a rear building 7.7 m and 2 storeys, the second partial. Accessory buildings 3.7 m (4.6 m at the peak) (ss. 2.2.14, 3.1.2.3, 3.1.2.10, 3.2.2.2, 3.2.2.9)

Setbacks

Front 7.3 m; sides 10% of the lot's width on a lot up to 15.0 m wide, else 1.5 m; rear 10.7 m on a lot up to 36.6 m deep, else 30% of its depth. Where the rear of the lot meets a lane, the rear yard shrinks by the distance from the rear line to the lane's centre line. Building depth at most 45% of the lot's depth (35% for a single house) (ss. 3.1.2.4 to 3.1.2.8, 3.2.2.3 to 3.2.2.7, 3.2.2.10)

The schedule's aim is to keep character houses: more floor area, more homes and more relaxations where one is kept (s. 1.1). Whether a house counts as a character house is the Director of Planning's call (Section 2).

Lots joined for a multiple dwelling may have at most 15.6 m of frontage together (s. 3.1.2.9).

Houses need hip or gable roofs of at least 7:12; a duplex needs two front doors facing the street (one each way on a corner) with a porch at each (ss. 4.5.2 to 4.5.4).

Outright uses get a permit once they meet the rules; conditional uses are at the Director of Planning's discretion, weighing the schedule's intent, Council's policies and guidelines and what neighbours, owners and tenants submit (s. 2.1).

A secondary suite: a smaller home inside a house or duplex with its own outside door (an inside door to the main home is allowed), one kitchen and a full bathroom, at least 37 m² (29.7 m² with the Director of Planning's approval); it may be in a basement (Section 2, ss. 10.20.3, 11.3.1.2, 11.3.3).

A lock-off unit: a smaller home inside a larger one with its own outside door and a shared inside door that locks, 26 to 29.7 m² (19 m² with the Director of Planning's approval), one kitchen and a full bathroom (Section 2, ss. 11.3.1.2, 11.3.1.3, 11.3.3).

A laneway house: only behind a single detached house (with or without a suite) on a lot with access from a lane, at least 9.8 m wide (7.3 m with the Director of Planning's approval); floor area at most 0.25 times the lot area or 186 m², whichever is less; 8.5 m and 2 storeys; 4.9 m from the house, 0.9 m from the rear line, 1.2 m from the sides; coverage with it up to 50% of the lot; no deck on its roof (s. 11.3.8).

One family to a home, plus at most 2 boarders or lodgers; no home rented for less than 30 days except as a hotel, bed and breakfast or short-term rental (ss. 11.3.1.1, 11.3.1.7). The smallest home is 37 m² (29.7 m² with the Director of Planning's approval) (s. 11.3.1.2).

Short-term rental is a conditional use, only in the operator's principal residence (a home, secondary suite, laneway house or lock-off unit); never in an accessory building or a vehicle, or alongside a bed and breakfast; at most 2 adults to a bedroom and one booking at a time; its permit lasts 2 years (s. 11.9.1).

Bed and breakfast: at most 2 bedrooms and 4 guests, the operator living in the home, and no boarders at the same time (s. 11.9.2).

Sections 2 (definitions), 10 (general regulations) and 11 (use-specific regulations) of the by-law also apply. Parking is set by the separate Parking By-law, which we haven't summarised.

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 Vancouver's development, buildings and licensing department before you buy or build.

Source: the RT-5 District Schedule (June 2026) of Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05); Section 11, Use-Specific Regulations (February 2026), Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575; Section 2, Definitions (June 2026), Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575; zone map: Open Government Licence – Vancouver.