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Written by Jared Gibbons, REALTOR®
I help South Surrey farm buyers work through ALR status, zoning and water. 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'm #1 in South Surrey/White Rock by MLS points for 2025 and 2026 year to date, with more than $500M in sales.
This page is for people looking at farms and agricultural land in South Surrey. Most of it is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, so two sets of rules apply: the Agricultural Land Commission's rules for ALR land, and the City of Surrey's agricultural zones. Before you fall for a property, it helps to know how many homes you can have, what the well and septic rules are, and whether the land sits in the lowland floodplain. Here's a plain guide.
South Surrey's farm land is mostly on the east side, around Hazelmere near 16 Avenue and 184 Street and along the Little Campbell River, and in the Serpentine and Nicomekl lowlands toward Mud Bay. The City names blueberries, forage, field vegetables and greenhouse products among Surrey's crops. My Hazelmere page has more on that part of South Surrey. For farm land further east, see my Fraser Valley acreages for sale and farms for sale pages.
Check every property in the Agricultural Land Commission's ALR Property and Map Finder, which searches by PID or civic address. As the Agricultural Land Commission notes, a note on title isn't the final word on ALR status.
The ALC's general rule is one residence per parcel. A principal residence of up to 500 m², with no more than 1,000 m² of fill placed to build it, doesn't need a Commission application. A larger one does. A secondary suite is allowed only inside the principal residence. One additional detached residence can be allowed without an application: up to 90 m² on parcels of 40 ha or less, or up to 186 m² on larger parcels. The City's bylaw has to allow it too, and the City can be more restrictive.
South Surrey farm land falls under Surrey Zoning Bylaw 12000, mainly: - A-1 General Agriculture (Part 10): written for agriculture on lots of 2 ha or more. New lots created by subdivision must be at least 4 ha inside the ALR and 2 ha outside it. The home can be one single family dwelling with one secondary suite. - A-2 Intensive Agriculture (Part 11): for more intensive farm uses.
Both zones limit the "farm residential footprint", the area used for the house, yard and driveway, to 2,000 m². Another 1,000 m² is allowed for an additional dwelling or duplex on a farm lot of 4 ha or more. The footprint can be up to 60 m deep, and in A-1 no part of the house can sit more than 50 m from the front lot line. For vacant land outside the farm zones, see my South Surrey lots and land page.
Surrey allows an additional farm house in A-1 and A-2 where the farm operation is at least 8 ha on contiguous lots, the lot is in the ALR and classed as farm under the Assessment Act, and the operation stays within the bylaw's dwelling limit. The ALC's size rules apply as well.
Many farms run on wells. The provincial GWELLS registry holds well records, though older wells may not be listed. Using groundwater for the house doesn't need a licence, but irrigation and other non-domestic use does need a water licence under the Water Sustainability Act.
A home that isn't on a community sewer needs an onsite system that meets the Sewerage System Regulation. Fraser Health's rules say only an Authorized Person, either a Professional Engineer or a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner, can design, install, repair, maintain or inspect it. I recommend an inspection as a subject of your offer.
The Serpentine and Nicomekl lowlands and the Mud Bay shore are low-lying. The City's Colebrook Dyke upgrades cover Mud Bay, the mouth of the Serpentine River and the Serpentine from Highway 99 to King George Boulevard, including a setback dyke built higher than the old one as an extra line of defence. Flood construction levels are set lot by lot, so check City mapping for the property. South of Hazelmere, my Pacific Douglas page covers the border-side pocket of South Surrey.
BC Assessment's farm classification is voluntary. A farm has to apply and meet minimum farm income thresholds that depend on the size of the operation.
For current figures, see my Fraser Valley Market Stats page.
1. How do I find out if a South Surrey property is in the ALR? Use the Agricultural Land Commission's ALR Property and Map Finder by PID or civic address. A note on title isn't the final word.
2. How big can the main house be on ALR land? Up to 500 m² without an Agricultural Land Commission application, with no more than 1,000 m² of fill placed to build it.
3. Can I add a second home for family or farm help? Possibly. The ALC allows one additional detached residence of up to 90 m² on parcels of 40 ha or less, or 186 m² on larger parcels, if Surrey's bylaw allows it. Surrey also has its own additional farm house rules for farms of 8 ha or more.
4. What's the smallest lot I can create in the A-1 zone? 4 ha inside the ALR and 2 ha outside it.
5. Do I need a water licence? Not for household use. Irrigation and other non-domestic groundwater use need a licence under the Water Sustainability Act.
6. Who can inspect or repair a septic system? Only an Authorized Person, either a Professional Engineer or a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner, under Fraser Health's rules.
7. Is South Surrey farm land at risk of flooding? The Serpentine and Nicomekl lowlands and Mud Bay are low-lying and protected by dykes, which the City has been upgrading. Check the specific property's flood construction level with the City.
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ALR property search
Type an address in Surrey, Langley (City or Township) or Abbotsford to see its ALR status, zoning, lot size and other public map checks. Anywhere else, send me the address and I'll look it up.
Call 604-928-1361 or Email me today and let's discuss your next home sale or purchase.