North Vancouver’s New Height Rules

A 9-part series - District of North Vancouver’s new residential zoning rules.

Part 3 of 9: Could Your Next North Vancouver Home Be Three Storeys?

If the District is discouraging deep underground basements, where does that living space go?

Increasingly, the answer may be up.

Under the new residential zoning rules, a principal house can generally be designed with as many as three storeys, with the storey count including applicable basement and attic living areas.

Maximum overall height will generally be:

• 33 feet (10.1 metres) for a flat or very low-pitched roof

• 38 feet (11.6 metres) for a qualifying pitched roof

There are additional height controls toward the front and rear portions of a property intended to reduce the impact of taller homes on neighbouring properties.

The result could be a gradual change in the way new detached homes in North Vancouver are designed.

Rather than putting significant living space underground, future homes may make greater use of above-ground floors.

What does this mean for my property?

If you are considering rebuilding, don't assume your future home needs to follow the same basic shape as the house currently sitting on the lot.

A three-storey design may provide different options for bedrooms, family areas, views and multigenerational living.

But being permitted to build taller does not necessarily mean you can build a substantially larger house. Overall floor-area limits still apply.

Height, floor area, setbacks, slope and neighbouring properties all work together in determining what can actually be built.

And there is another potentially valuable opportunity under the new zoning — particularly for R2 properties.

Next week: Could You Build a 1,400 Sq. Ft. Coach House on Your Property?

This article is a general summary and is not intended as legal or planning advice. Property-specific requirements should always be confirmed with the District of North Vancouver.