Township of Langley zoning bylaw, section 409

Zone R-CL (SD): Residential Compact Lot Zone R-CL(SD)

A zone for semi-detached homes: two homes joined by a wall, each on its own lot, with a garage on a back lane. Each lot may add a home above the garage, and lots larger than 280 m² (3,014 sq ft) may add a second one.

501 lots carry this zone in the Township of Langley lot records.

How many homes

Up to 3 homes on this lot, because it is 280 m² (3,014 sq ft) or smaller: one half of a semi-detached pair (two homes joined by a wall, each on its own lot), which may hold one secondary suite, and one accessory dwelling unit above the garage. (section 409.2 2) and 409.1)
Up to 4 homes on this lot, because it is larger than 280 m² (3,014 sq ft): one half of a semi-detached pair, which may hold one secondary suite, one accessory dwelling unit above the garage, and a second accessory dwelling unit attached to the first. (section 409.2 2) and 409.1 5))

A duplex (two homes joined by a wall) (section 409.1)
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 409.1)

The rules of zone R-CL (SD)

What the zone allows

A detached garage for at least 1 vehicle. (section 409.1 1) and 409.3 2))
Home businesses, following Section 104.3. (section 409.1 2))
Semi-detached homes. (section 409.1 3))
One accessory dwelling unit on each lot, above the detached garage. (section 409.1 4))
A second accessory dwelling unit, attached to the first, where the lot is larger than 280 m² (3,014 sq ft). (section 409.1 5))

Lot size for new lots

New inside lots must be 201 m² (2,164 sq ft) to 280 m² (3,014 sq ft), with at least 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in) of frontage (7.6 m (24 ft 11 in) where part of a visitor parking space is on the lot) and 28 m (91 ft 10 in) of depth. (section 409.9 and note (2))
New corner lots must be 254 m² (2,734 sq ft) to 280 m² (3,014 sq ft), with at least 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in) of frontage and 28 m (91 ft 10 in) of depth. (section 409.9)

How much of the lot buildings may cover

Buildings and structures may cover at most 55% of the lot. Covered verandahs, porches, patios and entrances in the front and side street yards do not count. (section 409.4 1))

Floor area and density

A third storey may have at most 50% of the floor area of the first storey. (section 409.7 1))

Height

The semi-detached home may be at most 9 m (29 ft 6 in) high or 3 storeys, whichever is less. (section 409.7 1))
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 a street or lane may show above ground, and a walkout basement at the back may be fully exposed. (section 409.7 2))
A detached garage may be at most 3.75 m (12 ft 4 in) high, or 6.75 m (22 ft 2 in) high when it has an accessory dwelling unit. (section 409.7 3))
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

The semi-detached home must sit at least 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) from the front property line and an average of 13 m (42 ft 8 in) from the rear property line. It may be built on the side property line it shares, and must be at least 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) from the other side, 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) from a side street and 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) from a side lane. (section 409.5 and note (5))
The detached garage or accessory dwelling unit must sit at least 0.6 m (2 ft) from the rear property line, 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) from a side street and 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) from a side lane. It may sit on one side property line. The garage must be at least 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) from the other side, and an accessory dwelling unit at least 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in). (section 409.5 and notes (4) and (5))
No detached garage, accessory dwelling unit or parking space may be within 6 m (19 ft 8 in) of the semi-detached home. Accessory buildings are not allowed in the front yard. (section 409.5 notes (1) and (3))
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 409.5 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 409.5 note (6))

Parking

Each main home needs 2 parking spaces, plus 1 space for a secondary suite. One space for each main home needs an electric car charging outlet. (section 107.3 a) vii))
A semi-detached home with 2 accessory dwelling units needs 4 parking spaces in total. (section 409.8 6))
Parking must be reached from the lane. At least 1 required space must be inside a closed garage, at least 6.1 m (20 ft) deep and 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) wide inside. (section 409.8 1) and 2))
One visitor parking space is needed for every 5 main homes. It may be off the site, in a place other than parallel parking on the street, if the Township accepts it. (section 409.8 3))
Each outdoor parking space must be at least 5.8 m (19 ft) deep and 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) wide, and spaces may not be placed one behind the other. (section 409.8 5))
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))

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)
Each semi-detached home may have one secondary suite. (section 102)
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)
Each lot may have one accessory dwelling unit above the detached garage, and a second one attached to the first where the lot is larger than 280 m² (3,014 sq ft). (section 409.1 4) and 5))
An accessory dwelling unit must be designed with, permitted with and built by the same builder as the one on the other lot of the semi-detached pair, under a party wall agreement. (section 409.6 7))
The only accessory buildings allowed are the detached garage and its accessory dwelling units. (section 409.6 3))

Other rules

The number of homes in a development must stay within the density set in the area's Community or Neighbourhood Plan. (section 409.2 1))
Both homes of a semi-detached pair must be designed together, get permits at the same time and be built by the same builder under a party wall agreement. The garage must be built together with the home. (section 409.6 4) and 5))
The kitchen, living room and dining room of each main home must be on the first floor. Outside stairs down to the basement are allowed only at the back. (section 409.6 1) and 2))
Hoop or arch buildings with a curved roof that comes down to form the walls, and frame buildings covered in tarp or fabric, are not allowed. (section 409.6 6))
On an inside lot, the fence may not reach toward the front past the back corner of the home. (section 409.10 2))

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

Questions about zone R-CL (SD)

What is zone R-CL (SD) in the Township of Langley?

R-CL (SD) is the Residential Compact Lot Zone R-CL(SD) in the Township of Langley zoning bylaw (section 409). A zone for semi-detached homes: two homes joined by a wall, each on its own lot, with a garage on a back lane. Each lot may add a home above the garage, and lots larger than 280 m² (3,014 sq ft) may add a second one.

How many homes can I build in zone R-CL (SD)?

Up to 3 homes on this lot, because it is 280 m² (3,014 sq ft) or smaller: one half of a semi-detached pair (two homes joined by a wall, each on its own lot), which may hold one secondary suite, and one accessory dwelling unit above the garage. Up to 4 homes on this lot, because it is larger than 280 m² (3,014 sq ft): one half of a semi-detached pair, which may hold one secondary suite, one accessory dwelling unit above the garage, and a second accessory dwelling unit attached to the first.

How tall can I build in zone R-CL (SD)?

The semi-detached home may be at most 9 m (29 ft 6 in) high or 3 storeys, whichever is less. 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 a street or lane may show above ground, and a walkout basement at the back may be fully exposed.

Are secondary suites allowed in zone R-CL (SD)?

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. Each semi-detached home may have one secondary suite.

Can I build a coach house in zone R-CL (SD)?

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. Each lot may have one accessory dwelling unit above the detached garage, and a second one attached to the first where the lot is larger than 280 m² (3,014 sq ft). An accessory dwelling unit must be designed with, permitted with and built by the same builder as the one on the other lot of the semi-detached pair, under a party wall agreement.

How many lots are zoned R-CL (SD)?

The Township of Langley lot records list 501 lots in zone R-CL (SD), on 26 streets.

Streets with lots in zone R-CL (SD)

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