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These are half duplexes for sale across Langley, in both the Township of Langley and the City of Langley. Each half is its own home with one shared wall, often with a yard and sometimes a suite. For every other home type in the area, see my Langley homes for sale page.
Written by Jared Gibbons, REALTOR®
I help buyers find half duplexes across Langley, from Willoughby to Langley City, and walk them through the zoning and title questions first. I've been a REALTOR® since 2015 and a member of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board's Medallion Club for 10 straight years, which puts me in the top 1% of all Realtors in the Fraser Valley by FVREB sales. I've also closed more than $500M in sales.
This page shows duplexes and half duplexes for sale across Langley. A half duplex is one side of a building split into two homes. You own your side and share one wall with the neighbour. "Langley" is really two separate municipalities, the Township of Langley and the City of Langley, and each has its own zoning bylaw. Before you buy, check which one the home is in, how it's titled, and what the zone allows.
The Township of Langley is the larger of the two and takes in areas like Willoughby, Walnut Grove, Murrayville, Brookswood and Fort Langley. The City of Langley is the smaller, more urban centre inside it. In Paragon, the MLS® system local REALTORS® use, both are filed together as the Langley area, so a search shows homes from both.
A duplex is one building with two homes in it. The Township describes a semi-detached dwelling as a duplex building that straddles two lots, with the property line running through the shared wall. On MLS, each side is usually listed on its own as a half duplex.
A half duplex can be owned two ways. It can be a strata lot in a two-lot strata, with a strata corporation, bylaws and Form B paperwork. Or each half can sit on its own legal lot, with no strata at all. The Province says the Strata Property Act applies to duplexes if they are strata-titled, and the Act treats each strata lot as a separate parcel for assessment and taxation. Ask early for the title, the strata plan if there is one, and any agreements about the shared wall and roof.
The Township allows small-scale multi-unit housing on eligible lots. To qualify, the Township says a property must:
Eligible lots can have 3 units at 280 m² or less, and 4 units from 280 m² up to 4,050 m². Lots that don't qualify are limited to one home plus one secondary suite or detached unit, depending on zoning. Small-scale housing lots need at least one parking space per unit and at least two per lot. A Development Permit with form and character guidelines is required unless an exemption applies.
The Township says secondary suites are now allowed in duplexes and in semi-detached dwellings. Adding one needs a building permit, confirmation of parking, and strata permission where it applies. The BC Building Code allows only one secondary suite per principal dwelling unit. If you're looking near Willowbrook, note the Township has one Transit Oriented Area, the 800 m radius around the planned Willowbrook SkyTrain station on 196 Street, where different rules apply. My Willoughby homes for sale page covers the area where many newer duplexes are being built.
The City of Langley has its own zoning bylaw, Zoning Bylaw No. 3300. Under it, the R1 zone covers single detached homes and plexhomes and allows secondary suites, garden suites and carriage homes. The bylaw sets firm limits on suites:
The same owner-on-site rule applies to garden suites and carriage homes. To learn the neighbourhoods, see my Langley City guide.
For current figures, see my Fraser Valley Market Stats page. If you want a home with a separate unit out back, my Langley houses with coach houses page is worth a look.
1. What is a half duplex? One of two homes in a duplex building. You own your side and share one wall with the other home.
2. Is Langley one city? No. The Township of Langley and the City of Langley are separate municipalities with separate zoning bylaws. Paragon lists both under Langley.
3. Are suites allowed in Township of Langley duplexes? Yes. The Township allows secondary suites in duplexes and semi-detached dwellings, with a building permit, confirmation of parking and strata permission where it applies.
4. How do I know if a home is in the Township or the City of Langley? Check the jurisdiction on the BC Assessment record or the property tax notice, which comes from either the City of Langley or the Township of Langley. You can also look the address up on that municipality's online property map. Don't rely on the MLS® city field.
5. Are suite sizes limited in the City of Langley? Yes. The City's zoning bylaw caps suite size, so ask for the permitted floor area before you count on a suite.
6. Does the owner have to live on a City of Langley lot with a suite? Yes. Plan on living there yourself if the home has a suite, garden suite or carriage home.
7. Is every half duplex a strata? No. Some are strata lots in a two-lot strata. Others sit on their own legal lot with the property line through the shared wall.
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Call 604-928-1361 or Email me today and let's discuss your next home sale or purchase.