Langley City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 18
12 RM ZONE – MIXED RESIDENTIAL
§ 18.12.010 Land uses.
The table in Section 18.09.010 identifies the allowed land uses in the RM district.
In addition to the land uses identified in Chapter 18.09 the following standards apply:
Single-family dwellings existing as of January 1, 2014, shall be considered a permitted use and may be modified in accordance with all applicable development standards.
(Ord. 527, 1989; Ord. 696, 1995; Ord. 699, 1995; Ord. 788, 2000; Ord. 820, 2002; Ord. 1004 § 4 (Exh. E), 2014; Ord. 1139, 12/1/2025)
§ 18.12.020 Secondary uses.
Repealed by Ord. 1004.
(Ord. 527, 1989; Ord. 583, 1990; Ord. 687, 1994; Ord. 703, 1995; Ord. 754, 1997; Ord. 788, 2000)
§ 18.12.030 Conditional uses.
Repealed by Ord. 1004.
(Ord. 527, 1989; Ord. 583, 1990; Ord. 696, 1995; Ord. 699, 1995; Ord. 754, 1997; Ord. 771, 1999; Ord. 798, 2001)
§ 18.12.040 Minimum lot size.
Minimum lot size in the RM zone is 5,000 square feet.
(Ord. 527, 1989; Ord. 1139, 12/1/2025)
§ 18.12.050 Maximum density.
Maximum density in the RM zone is 15 dwelling units per acre; provided, that submerged lands and all but 25 percent of sensitive areas shall be deducted before calculating the development density for the property. Sensitive area buffers are to be included in calculating the development density for the property.
The construction of additional housing units entirely within an existing building envelope may be permitted at a density of 23 dwelling units per acre. For the purpose of this section, an "existing building" means a building that received a certificate of occupancy at least three years prior to the permit application to add housing units.
(Ord. 527, 1989; Ord. 623B, 1992; Ord. 696, 1995; Ord. 733, 1997; Ord. 1139, 12/1/2025)
§ 18.12.060 Maximum lot coverage – Multifamily.
The maximum lot coverage in the RM zone shall be:
Fifty percent; or
Sixty percent if parking is within the principal building.
The maximum lot coverage is the maximum percentage of surface (exclusive of sensitive areas and submerged lands, but including required buffers) that may be covered with materials that will not allow percolation of water into underlying soils.
(Ord. 527, 1989; Ord. 696, 1995; Ord. 733, 1997; Ord. 1139, 12/1/2025)
§ 18.12.070 Maximum height.
Maximum height in the RM zone is 25 feet; provided, that the height may be built to 30 feet with a pitched roof if the lowest part of the pitch begins no higher than 25 feet.
The maximum height for accessory structures is 15 feet. On lots one-half acre or larger in size, the height may be increased up to the height of the principal building; provided, that there shall be one foot of additional yard setback for each added foot of additional height above 15 feet.
The following items are exempt when making height determinations:
Radio and television aerials and flagpoles.
Other Features. Open rails, planters, skylights, and chimneys may exceed the height limits by four feet or may extend four feet above the ridge of a pitched roof.
Wireless communication antenna arrays up to a height of 15 feet from the highest point of the roof.
Penthouses. Enclosed, unoccupied rooftop structures used for sheltering mechanical and electrical equipment, tanks, elevators and related machinery, and vertical shaft openings. Penthouses must be set back from the edge of the roof a minimum distance of one foot for every foot by which such features extend above the roof surface of the principal building to which they are attached.
(Ord. 527, 1989; Ord. 617, 1992; Ord. 699, 1995; Ord. 1139, 12/1/2025)
§ 18.12.080 Setbacks.
Setbacks in the RM zone are:
Street: 20 feet;
Side yard: five feet on each side except that for multifamily development the side yards shall be 10 feet on each side;
Rear yard: 25 feet;
Where a lot abuts a public or private alley, the setback for a principal building shall be 25 feet from the centerline of the alley; for accessory structures, exclusive of accessory dwelling units, the setback shall be 10 feet from the center of the alleyway; for accessory dwelling units, the setback shall be not less than five feet from the rear property line; and in no case shall a structure be erected closer than two feet to the alley right-of-way;
Certain parts of the structure or building including, without limitation, cornices, canopies, sun shades, chimneys and flues shall be considered in calculating the location of the structure or building in determining compliance with the setback requirements of this section (see also Section 18.22.030 for further reference).
(Ord. 527, 1989; Ord. 569, 1990; Ord. 771, 1999; Ord. 788, 2000; Ord. 1139, 12/1/2025)
§ 18.12.100 Maximum lot coverage – Single-family.
(Only applies to single-family existing as of May 17, 1995.) The maximum lot coverage is the maximum percentage of surface (exclusive of sensitive areas and submerged lands but including required buffers) that may be covered with materials that will not allow percolation of water into underlying soils. The maximum lot coverage percentages are as follows:
Lots 10,000 square feet or less: 40%;
Lots 10,000 to 43,560 square feet (one acre): 40% for the first 10,000 square feet and 30% for all area over 10,000 square feet;
Lots over one acre: 25%.
(Ord. 617, 1992; Ord. 733, 1997; Ord. 771, 1999; Ord. 1139, 12/1/2025)