Triplex Builders in Greater Vancouver
Three homes on one lot — the density most Greater Vancouver lots now allow outright.
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.
Why is three units the number that keeps coming up?
Three is the provincial floor. The legislation requires municipalities to permit a maximum of three dwelling units on lots smaller than 280 m² (3,014 sq ft), 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 is confirmed before we break ground, along with the move-in date.
What warranty covers a triplex build?
Two years on labour and materials, five years on the building envelope against water penetration, and ten years of structural coverage on the foundation and framing — the same protection on every project we build.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How small can a lot be and still take a triplex?
Provincial rules require municipalities to permit up to three units on lots under 280 m² (3,014 sq ft), so small lots are explicitly covered. 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 confirm your move-out and move-in dates before construction starts so you can plan around them.
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 confirm a guaranteed move-in date before construction begins, and because design and permitting are handled in-house we are not waiting on third parties to hit it.
Next Step
Find out what your lot allows
Every project starts with a feasibility study. No obligation, no pressure, and a reply within one business day.