Zoning · Hamilton · Residential
R2 zone, Hamilton: Low Density Residential – Large Lot (R2) Zone
Section 15.3 (Regulations 15.3.2.1 to 15.3.2.4) of the City of Hamilton Zoning By-law 05-200, as amended by 25-155, 25-229, 24-051.
A residential zone for larger lots (often on roads with a rural cross-section) allowing single detached, semi-detached, duplex, triplex, fourplex and street townhouse homes plus a few community uses, with generous setbacks and minimum landscaping.
Is a property in the R2 zone? Enter its address and the lookup returns the zone and these standards, including any site-specific exception.
Check an addressWhat the R2 zone permits
- Child Care Centre
- Community Garden
- Duplex Dwelling
- Educational Establishment (excluding a College or University)
- Fourplex Dwelling
- Lodging House
- Residential Care Facility
- Retirement Home
- Semi-Detached Dwelling
- Single Detached Dwelling
- Street Townhouse Dwelling
- Triplex Dwelling
- Urban Farm
Standards
| Requirement | By-law |
|---|---|
| Minimum lot area (interior lot) | 630 m²630.0 m² for single detached, duplex, triplex, fourplex, child care centre, educational establishment, lodging house, residential care facility, retirement home (15.3.2.1 a, 15.3.2.4 a); semi-detached 315.0 m² per dwelling unit (15.3.2.2 a); street townhouse 180.0 m² per dwelling unit (15.3.2.3 a) |
| Minimum lot width (interior lot) | 18 mMinimum lot width 18.0 m for single detached, duplex, triplex, fourplex and non-residential uses (15.3.2.1 b, 15.3.2.4 b); semi-detached 9.0 m per dwelling unit (15.3.2.2 b); street townhouse: minimum unit width 6.0 m per dwelling unit (15.3.2.3 b) |
| Minimum front yard | 4 m |
| Minimum interior side yard | 2 m2.0 m for single detached, duplex, triplex, fourplex, semi-detached and other uses; 6.0 m for an Educational Establishment (15.3.2.1 d ii); 1.2 m for street townhouse (15.3.2.3 d); 0 m permitted on the common-wall side of a semi-detached or street townhouse unit |
| Minimum exterior side yard | 3 m |
| Minimum rear yard | 7.5 m |
| Maximum building height | 10.5 m |
| Maximum lot coverage | 35 %35% for single detached, duplex, triplex, fourplex, child care centre, educational establishment, lodging house, residential care facility, retirement home (15.3.2.1 h, 15.3.2.4 h); no lot coverage standard stated for semi-detached or street townhouse dwellings |
| Minimum landscaped open space | 40 %40% for single detached, duplex, triplex, fourplex and other 15.3.2.1 uses; 35% for semi-detached (15.3.2.2 h); street townhouse: per Section 4.35 a) and b) only (min 50% landscaped area in the front yard and 50% in the flankage yard). Within the landscaped area Section 4.35 applies (50% of front yard and flankage yard landscaped; tree protection/planting area min 3.75 m per side) |
| Minimum unit width | 6 mStreet townhouse dwelling only: minimum unit width 6.0 m for each dwelling unit (15.3.2.3 b) |
Other provisions in this section
- Prohibited use: Educational Establishment consisting of a College or University (15.3.1.1, By-law 25-229).
- Educational Establishment: minimum side lot line setback 6.0 m instead of 2.0 m (15.3.2.1 d ii).
- Semi-detached dwelling: minimum lot area 315.0 m² and minimum lot width 9.0 m for each dwelling unit; side yard 2.0 m except 0 m permitted on the common-wall side; minimum landscaped area 35% (15.3.2.2).
- Street townhouse dwelling: minimum lot area 180.0 m² per dwelling unit; minimum unit width 6.0 m; side yard 1.2 m except 0 m on the common-wall side; front 4.0 m, flankage 3.0 m, rear 7.5 m; max height 10.5 m; landscaped area per Section 4.35 a) and b) (15.3.2.3).
- Fourplex dwelling: min lot area 630.0 m², min lot width 18 m, front 4.0 m, side 2 m, flankage 3.0 m, rear 7.5 m, max height 10.5 m, max lot coverage 35%, min landscaped area 40% (15.3.2.4, By-law 24-051).
- Fourplex: a visual barrier is required along side lot lines and the rear lot line per Section 4.19; rear yard parking must comply with Section 4.35 d) (1.5 m landscaped strip with wall/fence to side lot line, 3 m landscaped strip with visual barrier to rear lot line) (15.3.2.4 j).
- Fourplex: amenity areas not permitted in the side yard or on the roof-top of the dwelling (15.3.2.4 k).
- Fourplex: outdoor waste storage must be fully enclosed and not located in the front yard (15.3.2.4 l).
- Within the required landscaped area, Section 4.35 applies: minimum 50% landscaped area in the front yard and in the flankage yard, plus a single tree protection/planting area with each side at least 3.75 m and no hard landscaping or structures (4.35.1).
Source: Section 15.3 (Regulations 15.3.2.1 to 15.3.2.4), By-law 05-200 (City of Hamilton), 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 Hamilton: D6, R1, R1a, R3, R4, R4a, S1, TOC3