A low-rise is a building that is only a few stories tall.

There is no universally accepted height requirement for a building to be considered a low-rise. Some define the term as any building that is shorter than a high-rise, though others include the classification of mid-rise.

Emporis

Emporis

Emporis GmbH is a real estate data mining company with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. The company collects and publishes data and photographs of buildings worldwide....

 defines a low-rise as "an enclosed structure below 35 meters [115 feet] which is divided into regular floor levels."

Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

defines a mid-rise as a building between 4 and 12 storeys.

Characteristics

Low-rise apartments sometimes offer more privacy and negotiability of rent and utilities than high-rise apartments, although they may have fewer amenities and less flexibility with leases. It is also easier to put out fires in low-rise buildings.

While less luxurious than high-rises, some businesses prefer low-rise buildings due to lower costs and more usable space. Having all employees on a single floor may also increase work productivity.