RT-7: Two-Family Dwelling, multiplex

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

A single detached house or duplex (outright), with a secondary suite in each home (conditional); a 2-home conversion of an existing building (outright, no additions); a multiplex, infill or conversion of 3 or more homes (conditional): 3 homes on a lot of at most 463 m², 4 to 6 on 280 m², 7 or 8 on 557 m²; up to 6 homes, or 8 when every home is secured rental (one may be the owner's). No laneway houses or lock-off units are listed (ss. 2.1, 2.2.1, 2.2.5, 3.1.1.2, 3.1.1.3, 3.1.2.1, 3.1.2.2)

Main uses

Houses, duplexes, multiplexes, infill, conversions, seniors housing, a mixed-use building with a neighbourhood grocery store; child day care, community care, churches, schools, bed and breakfast and short-term rental, all conditional (ss. 2.1, 2.2.4)

Smallest lot for a subdivision

Multiplexes as under Homes, and 33.5 m deep for a courtyard layout; none set for a house or duplex (ss. 3.1.2.1 to 3.1.2.3)

Lot coverage

Multiplexes, infill and conversions of 3 or more homes: floor space ratio 1.00. Houses, duplexes and other uses: 45% of the lot, floor space ratio 0.60, or 185 m² of floor area where that is more (ss. 3.1.1.1, 3.2.1, 3.2.2.4)

Height limit

Multiplexes 11.5 m and 3 storeys, a rear building 8.5 m and 2 storeys (11.5 m on a lot under 306 m² or with no lane); houses and duplexes 10.7 m and 3 storeys. Accessory buildings 3.1 m flat-roofed, 3.5 m otherwise (4.0 m at the peak), at most 48 m² together (ss. 2.2.10, 3.1.2.4, 3.1.2.11, 3.2.2.1)

Setbacks

Multiplexes: front 4.9 m, sides 1.2 m, rear 10.7 m (0.9 m behind a courtyard layout); buildings at most 19.8 m deep and 17.4 m wide; 2.4 m between buildings side by side and 6.1 m between a front and a rear building. Houses and duplexes: front the average of the two neighbouring lots' front yards, sides 10% of the lot's width on a lot up to 15.0 m wide, else 1.5 m, building depth at most 50% of the lot's depth (ss. 3.1.2.5 to 3.1.2.10, 3.2.2.2 to 3.2.2.5)

New multiplexes, infill and conversions of 3 or more homes, and duplexes with suites, need 1 tree in the front yard (2 on a lot 15.1 m wide or more), kept or planted (s. 2.2.2). Each of their homes gets 7.4 m² of outdoor space (s. 4.4.3).

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).

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-7 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.