R-2: Two Family Dwelling District

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

A duplex (two homes), or anything the R1-B zone allows under its rules; or more homes under s. 52 or Schedule P (below): up to 4 housing units on a lot over 280 m² (3 on smaller lots, 6 near a frequent bus stop), or a houseplex or corner townhouse in the Residential Fabric. Whether a lot qualifies we don't check: ask the City

Main uses

A duplex; R1-B uses under Part 1.2; home occupations, accessory buildings, public buildings, garage sales (2 a year), commercial exhibits there before 2011

Smallest lot for a subdivision

555 m², and 277.5 m² a home; 15 m wide on average (s. 2.1.2); a panhandle lot 700 m², 18 m wide (Schedule H)

Lot coverage

40%, with open site space of 30% of the lot and 33% of the rear yard (s. 2.1.6); under s. 52 or Schedule P, 40% with 45% open site space

Height limit

Duplex 7.6 m and 2 storeys (1½ with a basement), no roof deck; public building 11 m (or the lot's width if less) and 2½ storeys; garden suite 3.5 m (4.2 m on a plus site); accessory buildings 3.5 m; under s. 52 or Schedule P, 11 m (12 m with a pitched roof)

Setbacks

Duplex: front 7.5 m or the average of the two neighbours' front setbacks, whichever is less (steps and porch 3.5 m, bay windows 0.6 m may reach into it); rear 10.7 m or 35% of the lot's depth, sides 1.5 m or 10% of the width (one side 3.0 m without a rear lane), 4.5 m together, flanking street 3.5 m or 10% of the width, whichever is more each time (s. 2.1.5); a house as R1-B

A duplex: floor space ratio 0.5, each home at least 46 m², at most 280 m² on the first two storeys and 380 m² in all (s. 2.1.3).

The zone lists no suite with the duplex; under s. 52 a duplex lot may have up to 4 housing units in all (our reading).

A panhandle lot created after July 10, 2009 (Schedule H): 700 m², 18 m wide not counting the driveway; a house at most 280 m², 5.0 m high and one storey, 7.5 m from the lot lines where a wall has windows to living rooms, 4.0 m elsewhere, coverage 25%; accessory buildings 3.0 m high (2.4 m if not a garage), 37.5 m², 4.0 m back. A house there may still have a suite, a garden suite or boarders, but no house conversion or public building; in R-2 no duplex; Schedule P doesn't apply.

Small-scale multi-unit housing (general regulations s. 52, the Province's rules): in a zone limited to a house or duplex with suites, up to 4 housing units (homes, secondary suites and garden suites counted) on a lot over 280 m², 3 on a lot of 280 m² or less, 6 on a lot over 280 m² any part of which is within 400 m of a bus stop meeting the Province's frequent-service test (no car parking needed then, bar one van-accessible space and six long-term bicycle spaces). A garden suite may then sit beside a suite or a duplex. Height, setbacks and coverage then follow Schedule P ss. 3.2 to 3.4: 11 m with a flat roof, 12 m otherwise; front and other street sides 4 m, sides 1.5 m, rear 10 m or 25% of the lot's depth, whichever is more, 5 m between buildings; coverage 40%, open site space 45%. Which floor area limit then applies is unclear. Not on a lot off City water or sewer, in a transit-oriented area (Schedule T), over 4,050 m², under 230 m² or narrower than 7.5 m on average, or on heritage-designated or protected land.

Missing Middle (general regulations s. 49, Schedule P): on a lot in the Residential Fabric of the Official Community Plan, 2025, a houseplex of 3 to 6 homes (lot 12 m wide, 14 m if more than one parking space is needed; within 30 m of a street; floor space ratio 1.0, at most 235 m² a floor) or, on a corner lot 18 m wide, a corner townhouse (up to 12 homes on the lot, floor space ratio 1.1, coverage 50%), secondary dwelling units also allowed; at least 2 homes or 30% of them with three bedrooms; each home at least 33 m², at most 1,410 m² of floor area on the lot; houseplexes 11 m high (12 m with a pitched roof), front 4 m, sides 1.5 m, rear 10 m or 25% of the depth, coverage 40%, open site space 45%; 0.77 parking spaces a home, fewer with car share or transit passes. Not on a panhandle lot, a Gorge Waterway waterfront lot, a lot with a heritage-designated or covenanted building, or in a heritage conservation area. Which of these maps a lot is on we don't check: ask the City.

A garden suite (Schedule M): one per lot, in the rear yard, one storey, 3.5 m high and 37 m² (on a corner lot, a lot with two street fronts or a rear lane, or a lot over 557 m²: 4.2 m, 1.5 storeys, 56 m²), no roof deck; 0.6 m from the rear and side lines, 3.5 m from a flanking street (or the neighbours' front setback if more), 2.4 m from the house; with accessory buildings at most 25% of the rear yard. Outside s. 52 only with a house and never with a secondary suite; an accessory building may become one only if built before July 11, 2019 or at least 5 years earlier.

Accessory buildings (Schedule F): in the rear yard, at most 37 m² and 3.5 m high, no roof deck; 0.6 m from the rear and side lines, 3.5 m from a flanking street (or the neighbours' front setback if more), 2.4 m from the house; together with a garden suite at most 25% of the rear yard; no home, shower, bath or toilet in them.

Short-term rental (stays under 30 nights) only as a home occupation in the operator's principal residence: at most two bedrooms, never a whole home, except the whole residence while the operator is away for no more than 160 nights a year; no liquor, no sign (s. 17(4), Schedule D s. 12). A bed and breakfast of up to two bedrooms in a house is also a home occupation (Schedule D s. 11).

Home occupations (Schedule D): one person who lives there (two for urban agriculture), no sales to customers on the lot, teaching at most 5 people at a time in a house; at most three in a home, one with customers attending.

On a lot under 230 m² or narrower than 7.5 m on average, only a private garage is allowed.

On a waterfront lot, garden suites, accessory buildings, outdoor features and retaining walls between the house and the water keep the house's setbacks (s. 46).

Decks, patios and other outdoor features keep the house's setbacks and are at most 3.5 m high.

A child care facility is allowed in an existing house or duplex (s. 51).

The general regulations, Schedule C (parking), Schedule G (house conversions) and Schedule S (fences) 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 Victoria's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Part 2.1 of City of Victoria Zoning Regulation Bylaw No. 80-159 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05); zone map: Open Government Licence – City of Victoria.