RT-8: Two-Family Dwelling, Kitsilano character

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

Every new home is conditional: a single detached house, with or without a secondary suite; a duplex; infill; a multiple dwelling with at least half its homes of 2 or more bedrooms; or a conversion of a building that stood on May 17, 1994 (a 2-home conversion with no additions is outright). Infill and conversions at most 74 homes per hectare, multiple dwellings 62. No laneway houses or lock-off units are listed (ss. 2.1, 2.2.3 to 2.2.5, 3.1.1.2)

Main uses

Houses, duplexes, infill, multiple dwellings, 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, 2.2.2)

Smallest lot for a subdivision

306 m² for a house or duplex (less for a lot on title before August 10, 1976, with the Director of Planning's approval); a multiple dwelling on no wider a frontage than a single lot had on title before May 17, 1994 (ss. 3.1.2.1, 3.1.2.2, 3.1.2.8)

Lot coverage

45% of the lot. Floor space ratio 0.50; for homes the Director of Planning may allow 0.75, more inside the shell of a building that stood on July 24, 1990, and enough for 185 m² on a small lot; 0.60 for other uses (ss. 3.1.1.1, 3.1.2.6)

Height limit

10.7 m and 2 storeys (more storeys with the Director of Planning's approval); infill 7.7 m or 2 storeys, the second a partial storey of at most 60% of the one below. Accessory buildings 3.1 m flat-roofed, 3.5 m otherwise (4.0 m at the peak), at most 42 m² together (ss. 2.2.8, 3.1.2.3, 3.1.2.9, 3.1.2.10)

Setbacks

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 (the Director of Planning may cut them to 60% for infill, family-sized multiple dwellings, seniors housing or where a building is kept); building depth at most 35% of the lot's depth (ss. 3.1.2.4, 3.1.2.5, 3.1.2.7, 3.1.2.13)

The schedule's aim is to keep and renovate buildings in Kitsilano's historical character, and to allow redevelopment where buildings are small or don't add to it; outside design is weighed (s. 1.1).

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-8 District Schedule (May 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.