Township of Langley zoning bylaw, section 401

Zone R-1A: Residential Zone R-1A

A zone for house lots, with rules for lots served from the front street and lots served from a back lane. It allows one house with a suite or a separate accessory dwelling unit, or small-scale multi-unit housing where the lot qualifies.

1,644 lots and 8 strata properties carry this zone in the Township of Langley lot records.

How many homes

Up to 3 homes on one lot, because the lot is 280 m² (3,014 sq ft) or smaller and meets the Township's conditions for small-scale multi-unit housing (up to 4 homes on one lot, joined or separate). (section 401.2 and 102)
Up to 4 homes on one lot, because the lot is larger than 280 m² (3,014 sq ft) and meets the Township's conditions for small-scale multi-unit housing (up to 4 homes on one lot, joined or separate). (section 401.2 and 102)
Otherwise: Up to 2 homes: one house with one secondary suite (a second home inside the house), or one house with no suite plus one accessory dwelling unit (a home inside a separate building on the lot). (section 401.2 and 102)

A house (section 401.2)
A secondary suite (a second home inside the house) (section 102)
An accessory dwelling unit (a home in a separate building on the lot) (section 401.2)
A coach house (a home above a detached garage) (section 401.5 2))
Small-scale multi-unit housing (3 or 4 homes on one lot) (section 401.2)

The rules of zone R-1A

What the zone allows

Accessory buildings. (section 401.1 1))
Home businesses, following Section 104.3. (section 401.1 2))
Homes, following Section 401.2. (section 401.1 3))
A detached garage with room for at least 2 parking spaces. (section 401.1 4) and 401.3 3))

Lot size for new lots

New lots must be at least 371.6 m² (4,000 sq ft) with at least 12 m (39 ft 4 in) of frontage (width along the street). Lots served from the front street need at least 25 m (82 ft) of depth, and lots served from a back lane need at least 28 m (91 ft 10 in). (section 401.8)

How much of the lot buildings may cover

Buildings and structures may cover at most 35% of the lot. (section 401.4 1))
Coverage may go up to 45% when the buildings include infill housing: new detached homes on a lot that keeps a house or duplex built before Bylaw 6020 was adopted on November 18, 2024. (section 401.4 2) and 102)

Floor area and density

If a house has 280 m² (3,014 sq ft) or more of floor area (counting all garages and carports, and leaving out a basement), it may have at most 2 storeys plus a basement, and its second floor may be at most 80% of the size of its first floor (with garages and carports counted in the first floor). (section 401.4 3) a) and b))
For such a house, the first floor may be at most 0.8 m (2 ft 7 in) above the average ground level on any side that faces a street. On a lot with an average slope of 5% or more, up to 80% of a basement wall facing the street may show above ground, and a walkout basement at the back may be fully exposed. (section 401.4 3) c))
A third storey is not allowed when the lot has 1 or 2 homes. With 3 homes, a third storey may have up to 50% of the floor area of the first storey. With 4 homes, it may have up to 80%. (section 401.4 4))

Height

Infill housing within 6 m (19 ft 8 in) of the rear property line may be at most 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) high, unless it is a coach house facing a lane. (section 401.6 1))
Any other building with a home in it may be up to 9 m (29 ft 6 in) high. (section 401.6 1))
Accessory buildings with no home in them may be up to 3.75 m (12 ft 4 in) high. (section 401.6 1))
Inside the Fort Langley area shown on the map in Section 104.5 3), buildings may be at most 9 m (29 ft 6 in) high and at most 2 storeys, with no room above the second storey. (section 104.5 2))

Distance from the property lines

On a lot with its driveway from the front or side street, the house must sit between 6 m (19 ft 8 in) and 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in) from the front property line, at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) from the rear property line and at least 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) from each side property line. On a side next to a collector or arterial street (a main road), the distance is at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in). (section 401.5 1))
On such a lot, an accessory dwelling unit or other accessory building must sit at least 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) from the rear property line, 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) from each side, and 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) from a side next to a collector or arterial street. Accessory buildings are not allowed in the front yard. (section 401.5 1) and note (1))
On a lot with its driveway from a back lane, the house must sit at least 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) from the front property line, 1 m (3 ft 3 in) from the rear property line, 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) from each side, and 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) from a side next to a collector or arterial street. (section 401.5 2))
On a lane lot, a detached garage or coach house must sit at least 0.6 m (2 ft) from the rear property line, 0.9 m (2 ft 11 in) from an inside side property line, 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) from a side next to a lane or local street, and 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) from a side next to a collector or arterial street. (section 401.5 2))
On a lane lot, any other accessory dwelling unit or accessory building must sit at least 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) from the rear property line, 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) from each side and 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) from a side next to a collector or arterial street. Accessory buildings are not allowed in the front yard. (section 401.5 2) and note (1))
An accessory building under 6 m² (65 sq ft) may sit as close as 0.6 m (2 ft) to the rear and side property lines. (section 401.5 note (6))
Where a lot runs between two parallel streets, the rear distance is the same as the front distance. (section 401.5 note (7))
On a corner lot, no part of a building, structure or fence taller than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) may stand inside the corner triangle: 6 m (19 ft 8 in) along each property line where a local street or lane meets, and 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in) where an arterial or collector street meets. (section 401.5 note (2))
Front or side stairs, porches, verandahs and balconies that stick out from the building may come as close as 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) to the property line. The rest of the building keeps the full distance. (section 401.5 note (5))
On two lots side by side, detached garages may be built right on the shared side property line, if both garages are designed together, get permits at the same time and are built by the same builder under a party wall agreement. (section 401.5 notes (3) and (4))
The eaves and gutters of a detached garage must stay at least 0.45 m (1 ft 6 in) from the side property line. (section 401.5 notes (3) and (4))

Parking

Each home needs 1 parking space on the lot, and every lot needs at least 2 spaces. This rate covers houses, duplexes, mobile homes and small-scale multi-unit housing. (section 107.3 a) i))
For each main home, one of the required spaces needs a power outlet beside it that can charge an electric car at Level 2 or faster. (section 107.3 a) i) and note (1))
Lots in the Willowbrook Transit-Oriented Area need no parking spaces for homes, except spaces for people with disabilities. Any spaces built there for homes must have electric car charging outlets. (section 107.1 3))
On a corner lot with small-scale multi-unit housing of at least 3 homes, up to 2 more driveways may come in from the side property line, if that side street is a local street or lane and all driveways on the lot add up to no more than 12 m (39 ft 4 in) wide. (section 107.6 4))
On a lane lot, all parking must be in the rear yard with access from the lane. No parking space may open directly onto a road other than a lane. (section 401.7 4))
Outdoor parking spaces may reach into the street land owned by the Township, but not past the back of the sidewalk (front driveway lots) or into the lane (lane lots). (section 401.7 3))
On a corner lane lot, no part of a parking space may sit inside the triangle formed by points 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) along each property line from the corner. (section 401.7 1))

Secondary suites

A secondary suite is a second home inside a house. It must meet the BC Building Code and may have at most 120 m² (1,292 sq ft) of floor area. (section 102)
A house may have one secondary suite. A separate accessory dwelling unit is allowed only when the house has no suite. (section 401.2 2))
A home business may not be run inside a secondary suite. (section 104.3 a))

Coach houses and other backyard homes

An accessory dwelling unit is a home inside an accessory building: a smaller building on the same lot, set at least 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) away from the house. (section 102)
A coach house is an accessory dwelling unit on the second floor of a detached garage. (section 102)
A house may have one secondary suite. A separate accessory dwelling unit is allowed only when the house has no suite. (section 401.2 2))
An accessory building may be built only after the house is built, or while the house is being built. (section 104.15 1))

Other rules

Landscaping, screens and fences must follow Section 111 of the bylaw. (section 401.9)

Source: Township of Langley Zoning Bylaw No. 2500, Section 400 Residential Zones. Section numbers are the bylaw's own.

Questions about zone R-1A

What is zone R-1A in the Township of Langley?

R-1A is the Residential Zone R-1A in the Township of Langley zoning bylaw (section 401). A zone for house lots, with rules for lots served from the front street and lots served from a back lane. It allows one house with a suite or a separate accessory dwelling unit, or small-scale multi-unit housing where the lot qualifies.

How many homes can I build in zone R-1A?

Up to 3 homes on one lot, because the lot is 280 m² (3,014 sq ft) or smaller and meets the Township's conditions for small-scale multi-unit housing (up to 4 homes on one lot, joined or separate). Up to 4 homes on one lot, because the lot is larger than 280 m² (3,014 sq ft) and meets the Township's conditions for small-scale multi-unit housing (up to 4 homes on one lot, joined or separate). Otherwise: Up to 2 homes: one house with one secondary suite (a second home inside the house), or one house with no suite plus one accessory dwelling unit (a home inside a separate building on the lot).

How tall can I build in zone R-1A?

Infill housing within 6 m (19 ft 8 in) of the rear property line may be at most 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) high, unless it is a coach house facing a lane. Any other building with a home in it may be up to 9 m (29 ft 6 in) high.

Are secondary suites allowed in zone R-1A?

A secondary suite is a second home inside a house. It must meet the BC Building Code and may have at most 120 m² (1,292 sq ft) of floor area. A house may have one secondary suite. A separate accessory dwelling unit is allowed only when the house has no suite.

Can I build a coach house in zone R-1A?

An accessory dwelling unit is a home inside an accessory building: a smaller building on the same lot, set at least 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) away from the house. A coach house is an accessory dwelling unit on the second floor of a detached garage. A house may have one secondary suite. A separate accessory dwelling unit is allowed only when the house has no suite.

How many lots are zoned R-1A?

The Township of Langley lot records list 1,644 lots and 8 strata properties in zone R-1A, on 105 streets.

Streets with lots in zone R-1A

Contains information licensed under the Township of Langley's Open Government License.