City of Langley

20536 51A Ave: zoning and what you can build

20536 51A Ave is a 559 m² (6,020 sq ft) lot in City of Langley. It is zoned R1 (Suburban residential). 2 to 6 homes, depending on the conditions below. Sources: City of Langley Zoning Bylaw, 2025, No. 3300, section R1, and City of Langley lot records downloaded October 28, 2026.

Homes allowed

2 to 6 homes, depending on the conditions below

The count depends on facts the public records do not settle for this lot. Each possible count is listed with what it needs.

Zone

R1 Suburban Residential

Lot size

559 m² (6,020 sq ft)

Measured from the lot outline in the public map data.

Each possible count

2 homes, if the lot is inside a City Transit-Oriented Area (within 800 m (2,625 ft) of the Willowbrook or Langley City Centre SkyTrain station, or 400 m (1,312 ft) of the Langley Centre bus exchange, as mapped in section 2.5 of the zoning bylaw). Up to 2 homes, because the lot is inside a Transit-Oriented Area (an area close to a SkyTrain station or the bus exchange): one main home plus one secondary suite, garden suite or carriage home. (section R1, 3. Density)
6 homes, if the lot is outside a City Transit-Oriented Area (within 800 m (2,625 ft) of the Willowbrook or Langley City Centre SkyTrain station, or 400 m (1,312 ft) of the Langley Centre bus exchange, as mapped in section 2.5 of the zoning bylaw) and the lot is within 400 m (1,312 ft) of a frequent transit bus stop. Up to 6 homes on one lot, because the lot is within 400 m (1,312 ft) of a frequent transit bus stop. Secondary suites, garden suites and carriage homes count toward the 6. (section R1, 3. Density)
4 homes, if the lot is outside a City Transit-Oriented Area (within 800 m (2,625 ft) of the Willowbrook or Langley City Centre SkyTrain station, or 400 m (1,312 ft) of the Langley Centre bus exchange, as mapped in section 2.5 of the zoning bylaw) and the lot is more than 400 m (1,312 ft) from a frequent transit bus stop. Up to 4 homes on one lot. Secondary suites, garden suites and carriage homes count toward the 4. (section R1, 3. Density)

Home count: City of Langley Zoning Bylaw, 2025, No. 3300, section R1, 3. Density.

Lot outline from the public lot map data, to scale, north up.

What the public records say about this lot

Municipality: City of Langley
Neighbourhood: Blacklock
Lot size (measured from the lot outline): 559 m² (6,020 sq ft)
Plan number: 52928
Agricultural Land Reserve: Outside the reserve
Urban containment boundary (Metro Vancouver): Inside
Official Community Plan land use (City): Suburban
Flood construction level area (City): Inside

Zone R1

What zone R1 allows

A zone for single detached houses and plex homes (duplex, triplex or fourplex buildings) on lots of 557 m² (5,995 sq ft) or more. Secondary suites, garden suites and carriage homes are also allowed.

A house (section R1, 1. Permitted Uses)
A secondary suite (a second home inside the house) (section R1, 1. Permitted Uses)
A garden suite (a small separate home in the yard) (section R1, 1. Permitted Uses)
A coach house (a home above a detached garage) (section R1, 1. Permitted Uses)
Small-scale multi-unit housing (3 or 4 homes on one lot) (section R1, 1. Permitted Uses)

What the zone allows

Single detached house, with or without a secondary suite. (section R1, 1. Permitted Uses)
Plex home: a building with 2, 3 or 4 homes (duplex, triplex or fourplex). Plex homes are not allowed on R1 lots inside a Transit-Oriented Area. (section R1, 1. Permitted Uses)
Private care facility: support services for women, and women with children, leaving abusive relationships, for 10 people or fewer. (section R1, 1. Permitted Uses and 1.3)
Home business, as an accessory use. (section R1, 1. Permitted Uses)
Secondary suite (a second home inside the house), as an accessory use. (section R1, 1. Permitted Uses)
Garden suite (a one-storey home behind the house), as an accessory use. (section R1, 1. Permitted Uses)
Carriage home (a home of up to two storeys behind the house), as an accessory use. (section R1, 1. Permitted Uses)

Lot size for new lots

New lots must be at least 557 m² (5,995 sq ft), with at least 16 m (52 ft 6 in) of frontage (width along the street). (section R1, 2. Lot)
A lot that existed before this bylaw and is smaller than the minimum may still be used for the zone's uses. (section 1.4 2. and 2.3 g) iv))

How much of the lot buildings may cover

Buildings may cover at most 36% of the lot. (section R1, 5. Lot Coverage)

Floor area and density

A third storey may have the larger of these floor areas: 50 m² (538 sq ft) for each home in the third storey, or 80% of the ground floor area if the third storey is stepped back at least 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) from the front or from one or more sides of the storey below. (section R1, 6. Floorplate)
All accessory buildings on the lot (sheds, garages and similar buildings with no home in them) may have at most 60 m² (646 sq ft) of floor area in total. (section 2.4 d) iii))

Height

The main building may be up to 9 m (29 ft 6 in) high, or 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in) with a sloped roof on a three-storey building. (section R1, 4. Maximum Height)
A sloped roof has a pitch of 4 in 12 or steeper over at least 80% of the roof area seen from above. (section 1.3 Sloped Roof)
A carriage home may be up to 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in) high. (section R1, 4. Maximum Height)
A garden suite may be up to 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in) high. (section R1, 4. Maximum Height)
Accessory buildings and structures may be up to 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in) high. (section R1, 4. Maximum Height)
In R1, height is measured from finished grade to the top of a flat roof, or to the point halfway between the highest eave and the ridge of a gable, hip or gambrel roof. (section 1.3 Height (a))
Fences may be at most 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high. (section 2.3 b) iii))
The height limits do not apply to monuments, hydro towers, flag poles or telecommunication aerials. (section 2.3 b) ii))

Distance from the property lines

Main buildings: at least 6 m (19 ft 8 in) from the front lot line, 6 m (19 ft 8 in) from the rear lot line, 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) from an interior side lot line and 3 m (9 ft 10 in) from a side lot line on a street. (section R1, 7. Minimum Setbacks)
The interior side setback is 6 m (19 ft 8 in) for a main building behind another main building that sits next to the front lot line on the same lot, or where the setback area is needed as private open space. (section R1, 7. Minimum Setbacks, note *)
Garden suite: at least 6 m (19 ft 8 in) from the front lot line, 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) from the rear and interior side lot lines and 3 m (9 ft 10 in) from a side lot line on a street. (section R1, 7. Minimum Setbacks)
Carriage home: at least 6 m (19 ft 8 in) from the front lot line, 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) from the rear and interior side lot lines and 3 m (9 ft 10 in) from a side lot line on a street. The rear and interior side distances may drop to 3 m (9 ft 10 in) if the upper storey windows facing those lot lines are clerestory windows (windows set at least 2 m (6 ft 7 in) above the floor). (section R1, 7. Minimum Setbacks, note ^ and 1.3 Clerestory Window)
Balconies: at least 6 m (19 ft 8 in) from every lot line. (section R1, 7. Minimum Setbacks)
Accessory buildings and structures: at least 6 m (19 ft 8 in) from the front lot line, 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) from the rear and interior side lot lines and 3 m (9 ft 10 in) from a side lot line on a street. (section R1, 7. Minimum Setbacks)
Main buildings on the same lot must be at least 6 m (19 ft 8 in) apart where they are parallel to the front lot line, and 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) apart where they are at right angles to it. (section R1, 7. Separation between buildings on a lot)
Eaves, gutters, cornices, sills, bay windows, sun shades, chimneys, steps and similar parts may reach up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) into a required setback. (section 2.4 f) i))
Basements must be at least 2 m (6 ft 7 in) from the front lot line and from a side lot line along a street. Swimming pools may not sit in the front setback. (section 2.4 f) iv))
No building or structure may be built within 30 m (98 ft) of the natural boundary (the usual high water mark) of a Class A watercourse, 15 m (49 ft 3 in) of a Class B watercourse, or 5 m (16 ft 5 in) of a Class C watercourse. The Schedule B map in the bylaw gives each watercourse its class. A different distance may apply where a Qualified Environmental Professional sets one and the Province accepts it. (section 2.3 f) i) and ii))
These watercourse distances do not apply where the lot's subdivision was approved with a stream-side study and the building follows the covenant on title, or where a development permit for protecting nature sets where the building goes. (section 2.3 f) iii))
If the lot fronts a provincial highway and the Ministry of Transportation and Transit asks for a larger front setback than this bylaw, the Ministry's setback applies. (section 2.3 d))

Parking

R1 parking rates: a single detached house needs 2 spaces per home. A home with more than 100 m² (1,076 sq ft) of gross floor area needs 1.5 spaces, and a home of 100 m² (1,076 sq ft) or less needs 1 space. These rates cover plex homes, carriage homes, garden suites and secondary suites. (section 3.7, R1 Zone Uses)
These R1 parking rates do not apply within 400 m (1,312 ft) of a frequent bus stop. (section 3.7, R1 Zone Uses)
A secondary suite needs at least 1 parking space on the lot, on top of the 2 spaces for the house. (section 2.4 c) v))
Parking for homes must be on the same lot as the homes. (section 3.2 b.)
Inside a Transit-Oriented Area, homes need no parking spaces except accessible spaces: 0.05 accessible spaces per home or 1 accessible space, whichever is more. Any home parking spaces that are built must meet the electric car rules. (section 3.5 a. and b.)
A lot may hold at most one commercial vehicle over 5,000 kg, and only if it is at most 9 m (29 ft 6 in) long and kept inside a building, plus one licensed, working commercial vehicle under 5,000 kg. (section 2.4 a) i))
A lot may hold one recreational vehicle (a camper, motor home, trailer or boat). It may be kept in a building. If it is licensed and in working order it may also be kept outdoors behind the front wall of the house and behind any wall that faces a side street, or anywhere on the lot from May 1 to September 30. One kept outdoors may be at most 10 m (32 ft 10 in) long. (section 2.4 a) ii))

Secondary suites

A secondary suite is a second home inside a house, or inside one home of a plex home. Its floor area may be at most 100 m² (1,076 sq ft) and at most 40% of the building's gross floor area. (section 1.3 Secondary suite and 2.4 c) iii), iv))
The registered owner of the lot must live on the lot. (section 2.4 c) i))
The suite must fully meet the BC Building Code, be approved through a building permit and be listed in the City's secondary suite registry. (section 2.4 c) ii), vi))
A plex home may have one secondary suite for each main home in it, each at most 100 m² (1,076 sq ft), within the lot's limit on the number of homes. (section 1.3 Plex Home)

Coach houses and other backyard homes

A garden suite is a separate home behind the main house, at most one storey or 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in) high, whichever is lower. (section 1.3 Garden suite)
A carriage home is a separate home behind the main house, at most two storeys or 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in) high, whichever is lower. (section 1.3 Carriage Home)
The registered owner of the lot must live on the lot. (section 2.4 d) i))
A garden suite or carriage home must be at least as far from the front lot line as the main house, and at least 1 m (3 ft 3 in) from the main house. (section 2.4 d) ii))
Its ground floor may be at most 100 m² (1,076 sq ft), and all buildings together must stay within the 36% lot coverage limit. (section 2.4 d) iv))
The zone's separation rule reads: 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) to 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) between a garden suite or carriage home and a main building, or as the BC Building Code requires. (section R1, 7. Separation between buildings on a lot)

Other rules

The bylaw defines a frequent bus stop as "a bus stop as identified by regulation for the purposes of section 481.3 (5) of the Local Government Act": a stop named in a provincial regulation. (section 1.3 Frequent bus stop)
Transit-Oriented Areas are the areas shaded on the TOA map in Section 2.5: rings of 200 m (656 ft), 400 m (1,312 ft) and 800 m (2,625 ft) around the Willowbrook and Langley City Centre SkyTrain stations, and rings of 200 m (656 ft) and 400 m (1,312 ft) around the Langley Centre bus exchange. If any part of a lot is inside one, the whole lot counts as inside. A lot in more than one ring takes the ring with the higher height and density. (section 2.5 i) and TOA Table)
Inside a Transit-Oriented Area, a lot zoned for homes may be developed to the heights and densities in the TOA Table once the owner applies for, and the City adopts, a change to this bylaw. The zone's other rules still apply. The table's minimum allowable height and density are: within 200 m (656 ft) of a SkyTrain station, 20 storeys and 5 FAR; within 400 m (1,312 ft), 12 storeys and 4 FAR; within 800 m (2,625 ft), 8 storeys and 3 FAR; within 200 m (656 ft) of the bus exchange, 12 storeys and 4 FAR; within 400 m (1,312 ft) of it, 8 storeys and 3 FAR. The heights are subject to the Airport Zoning Regulation. (section 2.5 ii) and TOA Table)
20294 49 Avenue and 4865 203 Street may each have up to 6 homes and may be split into at most 2 lots. Each new lot made by that split may have up to 3 homes. (section 2.4 n) 1.)
Each home needs its own private outdoor space at least 6 m (19 ft 8 in) deep, measured out from the building wall next to it. (section R1, 10. h.)
Rooftop patios are not allowed. (section R1, 10. g.)
Home businesses must be run by a person who lives in the home, may have at most one worker who lives elsewhere, and may show no sign of the business outside except a name plate of at most 0.2 m² (2 sq ft). (section 2.4 b) i) to iii))
A child care centre may run as a home business on an R1 lot, except on a lot with a secondary suite, garden suite or carriage home, or in a plex home. No other home business may run in a house used for child care. (section 2.4 b) iv), v))
The zone has no landscaping requirement. (section R1, 9. Landscaping)
On land listed in the City's Floodplain Elevation Bylaw, the living space of any building must meet the floor heights and distances that bylaw sets. (section 2.3 e))
On a corner lot, a swimming pool may not sit inside the triangle formed by the two street lot lines and a line joining the points 9 m (29 ft 6 in) from where those lot lines meet. (section 2.3 c))
On a corner lot, the triangle formed by the two street lot lines and a line joining the points 3 m (9 ft 10 in) from the corner must stay clear: no building, structure or planting, and no fence or retaining wall over 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) high. Out to the points 6 m (19 ft 8 in) from the corner, nothing built or planted may be more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) above the ground. (section 2.4 e))

Source: City of Langley Zoning Bylaw, 2025, No. 3300. Section numbers are the bylaw's own.

Every lot in zone R1

Questions about 20536 51A Ave

What is the zoning of 20536 51A Ave?

20536 51A Ave is zoned R1 (R1 Suburban Residential) in the City of Langley. A zone for single detached houses and plex homes (duplex, triplex or fourplex buildings) on lots of 557 m² (5,995 sq ft) or more. Secondary suites, garden suites and carriage homes are also allowed.

How many homes can I build at 20536 51A Ave?

2 to 6 homes, depending on the conditions below. The count depends on facts the public records do not settle for this lot. Each possible count is listed with what it needs. 2 homes if the lot is inside a City Transit-Oriented Area (within 800 m (2,625 ft) of the Willowbrook or Langley City Centre SkyTrain station, or 400 m (1,312 ft) of the Langley Centre bus exchange, as mapped in section 2.5 of the zoning bylaw). 6 homes if the lot is outside a City Transit-Oriented Area (within 800 m (2,625 ft) of the Willowbrook or Langley City Centre SkyTrain station, or 400 m (1,312 ft) of the Langley Centre bus exchange, as mapped in section 2.5 of the zoning bylaw) and the lot is within 400 m (1,312 ft) of a frequent transit bus stop. 4 homes if the lot is outside a City Transit-Oriented Area (within 800 m (2,625 ft) of the Willowbrook or Langley City Centre SkyTrain station, or 400 m (1,312 ft) of the Langley Centre bus exchange, as mapped in section 2.5 of the zoning bylaw) and the lot is more than 400 m (1,312 ft) from a frequent transit bus stop.

Can I add a secondary suite at 20536 51A Ave?

A secondary suite is a second home inside a house, or inside one home of a plex home. Its floor area may be at most 100 m² (1,076 sq ft) and at most 40% of the building's gross floor area. The registered owner of the lot must live on the lot. The suite must fully meet the BC Building Code, be approved through a building permit and be listed in the City's secondary suite registry.

Can I build a coach house or backyard home at 20536 51A Ave?

A garden suite is a separate home behind the main house, at most one storey or 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in) high, whichever is lower. A carriage home is a separate home behind the main house, at most two storeys or 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in) high, whichever is lower. The registered owner of the lot must live on the lot.

How tall can a house be at 20536 51A Ave?

The main building may be up to 9 m (29 ft 6 in) high, or 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in) with a sloped roof on a three-storey building. A sloped roof has a pitch of 4 in 12 or steeper over at least 80% of the roof area seen from above.

How big is the lot at 20536 51A Ave?

The lot outline in the City of Langley map data measures 559 m² (6,020 sq ft). A survey gives the legal figure.

Is 20536 51A Ave in the Agricultural Land Reserve?

No. City of Langley records place 20536 51A Ave outside the Agricultural Land Reserve.

Other lots on 51A Ave

Every lot on 51A Ave

Look up another Langley address

Lot facts come from City of Langley open data downloaded October 28, 2026, and the urban containment boundary from Metro Vancouver open data. Zone rules come from the zoning bylaw sections named beside each rule. Lot sizes are measured from the lot outlines in that data; a survey gives the legal figure. Bylaws change, so confirm with the City of Langley before you buy or build. This page gives general information from public records. Only the City of Langley can approve a plan or a permit.

Contains information licensed under the City of Langley's Open Government License. Contains information licensed under Metro Vancouver's Open Government Licence.