Langford's multiplex rules come from Bylaw 2183, which amended Zoning Bylaw 300 to meet the Province's small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH) law. In the RS1 Residential Small Lot zone you can now build up to 3 units on a lot of 280 m2 or less, up to 4 units on lots from 281 m2 to 4,047 m2 (one acre), and up to 6 units on those larger lots if they sit within 400 m of a prescribed transit stop on the city's Schedule AA map. Here is what the bylaw allows, what still limits you, and a worked example lot.
How many units do Langford's multiplex rules allow?
Langford does not let you pick any building form. Zoning Bylaw 300 lists prescribed forms for each tier (RS1 zone, s.6.20.03, consolidated June 2026):
| Lot | Max units | Allowed forms |
|---|---|---|
| 280 m2 or less | 3 | House with a secondary suite; townhouse; or duplex where one side may have a secondary suite |
| 281 to 4,047 m2 | 4 | House with a secondary suite; house with a secondary suite plus a garden or carriage suite; townhouse; or duplex where both sides may have a secondary suite |
| 281 to 4,047 m2, within 400 m of a Schedule AA transit stop | 6 | Same forms as the 4-unit tier, with up to 6 townhouse units |
The 6th unit near transit carries a density bonus under Langford's Amenity Contribution Policy, according to the June 3, 2024 staff report on Bylaw 2183. That is the only unit where provincial law lets the city ask for an amenity contribution. Langford has also since added a Residential Infill (R1) zone (Bylaw 2274) with the same 3 / 4 / 6 structure.
For how these numbers compare with Saanich, Victoria, Colwood and the rest of the region, see our Greater Victoria SSMUH units-per-lot table.
What are the Langford RS1 setbacks, height and lot coverage?
The RS1 zone regulations in Zoning Bylaw 300 set the envelope for a one-family dwelling with suites:
- Height: 11 m maximum (raised by Bylaw 2183).
- Lot coverage: 50% for all buildings and structures; up to 60% for a townhouse use.
- Front setback: 3 m, but a front-facing garage or carport must be 6 m from the sidewalk or curb.
- Rear setback: 3 m.
- Exterior side setback: 3 m (6 m to a garage facing that side).
- Interior side setback: 1.5 m.
Garden suites, carriage suites and secondary suites in Langford
The suite rules in Part 3 of the zoning bylaw decide whether the "house plus two suites" form works on your lot:
- Garden suite: only on lots over 400 m2, up to 65 m2 (700 sq ft) of floor area, 4.5 m maximum height.
- Carriage suite: only on lots over 1,000 m2, up to 90 m2 (969 sq ft), with ground-floor parking only.
- Secondary suite: must be completely inside the principal dwelling. Bylaw 2183 removed the minimum lot size and the maximum floor area for secondary suites.
Langford multiplex parking rules
Within 400 m of a prescribed transit stop, Langford requires no off-street parking for SSMUH. Beyond 400 m, it requires one space per dwelling unit. On a four-unit lot that means four stalls, which often decides between a side-by-side duplex and a house with suites.
Do I need a development permit for a Langford multiplex?
Yes, in most cases. The staff report is direct: "Developers will still be required to pay Development Cost Charges for each unit and obtain required Development Permits and Building Permits prior to commencing work." Provincial law stops the city from using a development permit to unreasonably restrict SSMUH density, but design review still applies. Building permit timing is covered in our permit timelines guide.
Worked example: a 650 m2 RS1 lot in Langford
Take a hypothetical 650 m2 (about 7,000 sq ft) RS1 lot, south of Sooke Road, about 1 km from the nearest Schedule AA stop.
- Units: 650 m2 is between 281 and 4,047 m2 and outside 400 m of a prescribed stop, so 4 units.
- Form options: a duplex with a suite in each side, or a house with a secondary suite plus a garden suite (the lot is over 400 m2, so a garden suite of up to 65 m2 is allowed). A carriage suite is out because the lot is under 1,000 m2.
- Footprint: 50% coverage allows up to 325 m2 of buildings and structures in the RS1 form.
- Parking: 4 stalls, one per unit.
- Development cost charges: Langford's DCC summary sheet (May 2025) lists, per duplex unit: roads $3,865, storm (south of Sooke Road) $1,028, park improvement $1,948, park acquisition $130 and CRD Juan de Fuca water $2,796. That is $9,767 per duplex unit, or $19,534 for both sides, plus sewer of $742.50 per duplex lot and the SD62 school site charge ($600 to $1,000 per unit by density). Ask the city how it treats the two secondary suites.
- Building permit fee: under Building Bylaw 1160, a $1,000,000 construction value works out to $63.41 for the first $1,000, plus $1,253.34 for the next $99,000, plus $9,162 for the next $900,000, or about $10,479. The city values the work at the greater of the contract price or its own Marshall and Swift estimate.
Two dates matter for this example. Langford requires Zero Carbon Step Code EL-4 (effectively all-electric space and water heat) for building permit applications on or after December 1, 2026. And the CRD's new regional water supply DCC starts on April 2, 2027, adding $9,044 per lot for low density or $7,914 per unit for medium density. Full numbers are in our Greater Victoria DCC guide, and build costs are in our guide to the cost to build a duplex in Langford.
Next steps before you design
Confirm your zone, lot area and Schedule AA distance with the City of Langford, check title for covenants, and get a surveyor to locate setbacks before a designer starts. A new multiplex needs a Licensed Residential Builder and home warranty on each unit, since owner-builder authorization does not cover new multi-unit buildings. ACAP LTD provides general contracting for Langford multiplex projects; send us your lot details and we will tell you which form fits.