In 2023 Vancouver replaced most single-family zoning with R1-1 — and quietly handed every standard lot the right to hold multiple homes. In 2026 the multiplex is the fastest-growing project type we build. Here's what your lot likely allows, and how the numbers work.
What fits on a standard lot now
Floor-area ratio rises with unit count — build more homes and the city lets you build more floor area in total. That's the deliberate trade at the heart of the policy: gentle density in exchange for family-scale housing.
Three ways owners are using it
Grandparents in the garden suite, kids in a front unit, rental income from the third — one build, three households, one shared equity base.
Owner-occupiers replacing an aging house with four units: live in one, rent three, and let the income carry the construction financing.
Each multiplex unit can be sold separately. On well-located lots the completed strata value meaningfully exceeds single-house redevelopment.
| Factor | Single new house | 4-unit multiplex |
|---|---|---|
| Homes created | 1 | 4 |
| Typical build cost | $$ | $$$ (lower per home) |
| Income potential | Suite only | Multiple rentals or sales |
| Permit stream | Standard | Standard (no rezoning) |
| Who it suits | One household | Families, partnerships, investors |
We'll run the R1-1 numbers for your address — unit count, floor area and a budget range — free.
✱ Representative planning figures for Metro Vancouver, mid-2026 — assembled from municipal permitting schedules, the BC Energy Step Code framework and Armacan project records. Every lot and scope is different: treat these as orientation, not a quote, and confirm against your property in a free consultation.
