Living near Royal Oak

Royal Oak is a residential station rather than a destination, and it prices accordingly. You get Expo Line access at a discount to both Metrotown and Edmonds, in an area that is mostly older low-rise buildings and detached South Slope streets. For a buyer whose commute is downtown and whose budget stops short of the town centres, this is one of the more sensible compromises on the line.

Getting around from here

One connection: the 148 community shuttle to Edmonds Station.

Located south of Beresford Street and Royal Oak Avenue, near Kingsway and Imperial. It sits within walking distance of the Metrotown town centre area.

What you can buy nearby

Older low-rise apartments near the station, detached homes and duplexes on the South Slope streets running down toward Marine Drive.

This station sits in South Burnaby, where the full area guide covers streets, schools, price context, and what tends to come up for sale.

Who this station area suits

What the TOA rules mean here

Royal Oak station, like every SkyTrain station in BC, sits at the centre of a designated transit-oriented area under Bill 47. Within 200 metres of the station, municipalities must permit at least 20 storeys. From 200 to 400 metres, the minimum is 12 storeys. From 400 to 800 metres, it is 8 storeys. Minimum parking requirements cannot be imposed on new housing inside the ring.

For a buyer, this is the difference between a lot that is worth what the house on it is worth, and a lot that is worth what someone could eventually build on it. It also means the view from a unit near this station is less permanent than it looks. The main SkyTrain guide covers the tiers in full, and the SSMUH zoning guide explains how the separate Bill 44 multiplex rules interact with it.