On July 28, 2009, Council approved laneway housing.
The key features of laneway housing include:
- In RS-1 and RS-5 single family areas
- On lots 33′ wide and wider, with a lane, on a double fronting street, or on a corner with a lane dedication
- Generally located in the space where a garage would be permitted: in the rear 26′ of the lot, and a minimum of 16′ separation between the laneway house and the main house
- Rental or family only – no strata titling
- Minimum of one on-site parking space
- Unit based on lot size (0.125 x lot area) to a maximum of 750 sq.ft. (this results in approx. a 500 sq.ft. unit on a 33′x122′ lot)
- 1 and 1.5 storey configurations, with guidelines to address upper storey massing, privacy and shadowing
- 1 storey LWH have same roof height maximums as current garage maximums
- 1.5 storey LWH have maximum roof heights of 18′ to 20′ depending on roof type
- Homeowners may add a laneway house while retaining their existing main house, or build a laneway house along with a new house (with or without a secondary suite)
For more information about laneway housing, please see the EcoDensity website at: www.vancouver.ca/ecodensity (click on “What is Next”).