Triplexes
Triplex Builders in Greater Vancouver
Three homes on one lot — the density most Greater Vancouver lots now allow outright.
- 3
- homes on one lot
- 1.00
- FSR in Vancouver R1-1
- 10.0 m
- minimum frontage
- 25+ yrs
- Family building experience
Drag to compare
See the Difference
A triplex is three self-contained homes on a single lot. Under British Columbia’s small-scale multi-unit housing rules, three units is the minimum most municipalities must now permit on a former single-family lot — including lots under 280 m² (3,014 sq ft). For many owners it is the highest density available without triggering the frontage and parking thresholds that larger multiplexes bring.
Before
After
- 01
The standard 33 ft lot build
A 33 × 122 ft lot fits Vancouver’s triplex limits, at 1.00 FSR instead of a duplex’s 0.70.
- 02
Live in one, rent two
Fewer, larger homes suit owners who plan to stay on site.
- 03
Strata or rental
Strata title all three to sell, or hold them as rentals.
- 04
One contract
Design, permits and construction under one contract, with the price in writing before we break ground.
Two layouts
Three Homes, Two Common Plans
There is no single template. Lot width, orientation and where the lane sits usually decide the layout.
Street-and-Lane Triplex
Two homes face the street and a third faces the lane, around a shared courtyard.
- Layout:
- Two front homes side by side, one rear home off the lane.
- Entries:
- Every home has its own front door at ground level.
- Title:
- Strata all three to sell, or hold them as rentals.
Stacked Triplex
Three homes stacked across two or three storeys in one building.
- Layout:
- Homes arranged floor by floor, or a pair with a third above.
- Fits:
- Narrower lots where a courtyard plan won’t work.
- Title:
- Strata titled or kept as rentals; many owners live in one.
The details
Everything to Know Before You Build
Rules, costs and timelines, checked against each city’s own bylaws and fee schedules.
01
Why is three units the number that keeps coming up?
Three is the provincial floor. The legislation requires municipalities to permit three dwelling units on lots of 280 m² (3,014 sq ft) or less, and four on lots between 280 m² and 4,050 m². If your lot is on the smaller side, a triplex is very often the most you can build — and the fact that it is permitted outright means no rezoning application.
Even on lots that could take four or six units, a triplex is sometimes the better project. Fewer, larger units suit owners who plan to live in one and rent or sell the others, and three units can often be delivered without the parking and massing pressure that a six-unit building brings.
02
Does my lot qualify for a triplex?
Almost certainly, if it is a residential lot in a Greater Vancouver municipality that was previously zoned for single detached housing. Provincial legislation removed the blanket restriction, and a 2025 amendment tightened the definition so that a zone containing any parcel restricted to a single detached house or duplex counts as a restricted zone and must meet the minimum density requirements.
Qualifying and building well are different questions. Frontage, setbacks, floor space ratio, tree bylaws, and how services enter the site all determine whether three good units actually fit. We answer that with a feasibility study before anyone commits to a design.
03
Can I build a triplex in Vancouver?
Yes, but Vancouver’s R1-1 zone limits a three-unit multiplex to smaller sites. A triplex needs at least 306 m² (3,294 sq ft) and 10.0 m (33 ft) of frontage, and it is capped at 463 m² and 13.3 m. A bigger lot has to go to four units or more, or build a duplex with suites instead.
| Rule | Triplex in R1-1 |
|---|---|
| Site area | 306 m² to 463 m² (3,294 to 4,984 sq ft) |
| Frontage | 10.0 m to 13.3 m (33 to 43.6 ft) |
| Minimum site depth | 30.4 m (100 ft), or 33.5 m in a courtyard layout |
| Floor space ratio | 1.00 |
| Family-sized units | At least 2 of the 3 homes need 2 or more bedrooms (1 if all rental) |
| Site access | Vehicle access from the rear, outside the flood plain, on a single lot on record |
A standard 33 ft by 122 ft lot fits these limits, which is why the triplex is such a common Vancouver project. At 1.00 FSR, the same lot allows about 4,026 sq ft of floor area, compared with about 2,820 sq ft for a duplex.
04
How are triplex units usually laid out?
There is no single template, and that is the point of doing design in-house. Common arrangements are three units stacked across two or three storeys, a front-to-back split with a rear unit addressing the lane, or a side-by-side pair with a third unit above. Lot width, orientation and where the lane sits usually decide it.
Layout is also where livability is won or lost. Getting daylight into every unit, keeping entries genuinely separate, and putting outdoor space somewhere people will actually use it are the things that make a triplex feel like three homes rather than one house divided three ways.
05
Can triplex units be sold individually?
Yes, where the units are strata titled. Stratification runs alongside the build as its own legal process, and we plan for it from the beginning rather than treating it as an afterthought at completion. Some owners strata the whole project to sell, some keep all three as rentals, and many live in one and rent the others.
Whether stratification makes sense is partly a financial question and partly a municipal one, and it is worth resolving early because it can influence the design.
06
What does T-City handle on a triplex project?
All of it, on one contract. Feasibility, architectural design, city permits, interior design, construction and warranty. We act as your representative with the city, so the permit file is our problem rather than yours.
Through construction you get daily photo and video updates and a private client portal to track progress. The price and the schedule are set out in writing before we break ground.
07
What warranty covers a triplex build?
New homes built by a BC Housing Licensed Residential Builder must carry third-party home warranty insurance, known as 2-5-10 coverage: materials and labour for 12 months on most defects (24 months for major systems such as electrical, plumbing and heating), 5 years on the building envelope, including water penetration, and 10 years on structure.
We confirm the warranty provider and policy for your home in writing before construction starts.
Project showcase
From Vision to Reality.
The journey
How We Work
A clear, step-by-step process from the first lot check to the day you get the keys.
01
Lot check & feasibility
Zoning, frontage, site area, trees and servicing, checked before any design money is spent.
01 / 0602
Architectural design
In-house design to your zone’s rules, with suites, layout and energy needs planned from the first sketch.
02 / 0603
Permits
Sewer and water connection permit first, then the development and building permit, with us as your representative.
03 / 0604
Interior design
Finishes chosen while the permit is in review, so the two run side by side.
04 / 0605
Price & schedule in writing
A quote that sets out what is included, and a schedule with a target move-in date.
05 / 0606
Construction & keys
Daily photo and video updates in your client portal, inspections at each stage, then the keys.
06 / 06The T-City promise
One Team, No Surprises.
Most delays and surprise costs start in the handoffs between a designer, a permit consultant and a builder. We keep all three with one team, and put the price in writing first.
Price in writing. The price and schedule are set out in writing before we break ground.
One contract. Design, permits and construction with one team, so nothing falls between consultants.
Rules checked at the source. Every zoning figure is checked against the city’s own bylaw before design starts.
Daily updates. Photos and video from site in your private client portal.
Questions about warranty or after-care?
Ask Our Team“The team was professional, helpful, and easy to work with throughout the process. They paid attention to the details, communicated well, and made sure everything was done properly.”
Common questions
Questions, Answered.
How small can a lot be and still take a triplex?
Provincial rules require municipalities to permit three units on lots of 280 m² (3,014 sq ft) or less, so small lots are explicitly covered. In Vancouver R1-1 a triplex needs at least 306 m² and 10.0 m of frontage. Whether three well-designed units fit is a separate question that feasibility answers.
Do I need parking for each triplex unit?
It depends on location. Minimum parking requirements are removed for lots within 400 m of a bus stop with service every 15 minutes or better. Outside that radius your municipality sets the requirement.
Can I keep living on site during construction?
Rarely on a full triplex build, since it usually involves demolishing the existing house. We set out the construction schedule before we start so you can plan your move around it.
Is a triplex more expensive per unit than a duplex?
Not necessarily. Up-front costs like demolition, excavation, servicing and permits spread across more units. Per-unit cost often falls as unit count rises, up to the point where structural or parking requirements change.
How long before I can move in?
Permitting usually takes longer than construction. We set the construction schedule and a target move-in date before we break ground, and because design and permitting are handled in-house we are not waiting on outside consultants to keep it on track.
Ready to Start Your Project?
Send us the address. We reply within one business day, with no obligation. Or call 778-239-2078.