Zoning · Burlington · Residential
RM5 zone, Burlington: Medium Density Residential RM5
Part 2 (Residential Zones), Sections 1-2, 7 and 12; Table 2.7.1 (permitted uses), Tables 2.12.1-2.12.2 (RM5 regulations) of the City of Burlington Zoning By-law 09-2026 / 2020.
A medium-density residential zone intended for street townhouses (rows of attached homes fronting a public street) on lots at least 6.8 m wide and 200 m² in area, limited to two storeys.
Is a property in the RM5 zone? Enter its address and the lookup returns the zone and these standards, including any site-specific exception.
Check an addressWhat the RM5 zone permits
- Street Townhouse Building
- Additional Residential Units (subject to Part 1, Section 2.21, Subsection (u))
Standards
| Requirement | By-law |
|---|---|
| Minimum lot area (interior lot) | 200 m² |
| Minimum lot width (interior lot) | 6.8 m |
| Minimum front yard | 6 m |
| Minimum interior side yard | 1.2 mTable 2.12.1 (street townhouse): side yard 1.2 m; interior side yard 0 m (i.e. 0 m along the common/party wall between attached units, 1.2 m at the end unit's free side) |
| Minimum exterior side yard | 4 m |
| Minimum rear yard | 9 m |
| Maximum building height | See notes.12.4(b): maximum height 2 storeys; s.12.4(a): residential building height per Part 1, Subsection 2.31 'Residential Building Height' (Table 2.31.1 B 'All Other Zones' gives metric limits by roof type and storeys, e.g. 2 storey peaked roof to 11.5 m, 2 storey flat roof to 7 m) |
| Maximum density | See notes.12.2 Density: MINIMUM 25 units per hectare (a floor, not a cap); no maximum density stated |
Other provisions in this section
- Minimum density: 25 units per hectare (s.12.2).
- Building setback abutting a creek block: 7.5 m, or 4.5 m if the block includes a 3 m buffer (Table 2.12.2).
- Yard abutting a pipeline easement: 7 m (Table 2.12.2).
- Yard abutting a railway right-of-way: 30 m (Table 2.12.2).
- Parking per Part 1, Subsection 2.25 'Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements' (s.12.3).
- Building height per Part 1, Subsection 2.31 'Residential Building Height'; maximum 2 storeys (s.12.4).
- Additional Residential Units permitted subject to Part 1, Section 2.21, Subsection (u) (Table 2.7.1 note g).
- Street townhouses in the RM3 zone are subject to RM5 zone regulations (Table 2.7.1 note d).
- Holding 'H' prefix: uses per Part 11, Subsection 1.1; development deemed premature until 'H' removed per Part 11, Subsection 1.2 (s.1(a)).
- Accessory buildings/structures per Part 1 s.2.2; patios and decks per s.2.3; fencing and privacy screens per s.2.4; swimming pools per s.2.5; lands adjacent to Lake Ontario/Burlington Bay per s.2.30 (s.1(b)-(f)).
- Parking lots shall be set back 4.5 m from a street line (s.1(h)).
- For townhouses (and other listed types up to 3 storeys), driveways and parking lots set back 3 m from a building wall containing habitable-room windows, except where the space/driveway is for the exclusive use of the unit occupant; parking spaces set back at least 6 m from an R1, R2, R3, LN3, LN4, LN5, LN6 zone (s.1(i)(i)).
- Enclosed parking structure more than 1.6 m above finished grade is subject to the same yard requirements as a principal building; one below grade and up to 1.6 m above grade set back 3 m from a street line; no encroachment into a required landscape buffer abutting a residential zone (s.1(j)).
- Prohibited (s.2 and Part 1 s.2.22): parking/storing a motor vehicle (other than a recreational vehicle) over 3000 kg registered GVW, 6 m length or 2.6 m height; vehicles with a stake body; recreational vehicles or utility trailers with load exceeding 3.6 m combined height; parking/storage of any vehicle, boat, trailer etc. within a landscaped open space area.
- Exceptions to zone designations are in Part 14 (s.1).
Source: Part 2 (Residential Zones), Sections 1-2, 7 and 12; Table 2.7.1 (permitted uses), Tables 2.12.1-2.12.2 (RM5 regulations), By-law 09-2026 / 2020 (City of Burlington), checked 2026-09-12. General provisions elsewhere in the by-law (parking, driveways, accessory buildings) also apply, and a numbered exception on the parcel can change any value here. Treat this as a pre-check, not a sign-off.
Other residential zones in Burlington: DRH, DRL, DRM, HN, LN1, LN2, LN3, LN4, LN5, LN6, LN7, LN8, R1.1, R1.2, R2.1, R2.2, R2.3, R2.4, R3.1, R3.2, R3.3, R3.4, R4, R5, RAL1, RAL2, RAL3, RAL4, REV1, REV2, REV3, RH1, RH2, RH3, RH4, RH5, RM1, RM2, RM3, RM4, RNA1, RNA2, RNA3, RO1, RO2, RO3, RO4, SNA, URH, URM