RR1: Rural Residential 1

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

One house and one suite, in the house or detached (ss. 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 3.57)

Main uses

A house, farming, a stable or kennel; home occupation, a suite, short-term rental of the host's own home, a portable sawmill or mini-storage on 2 ha or more, accessory buildings (s. 4.1.1)

Smallest lot for a subdivision

4 ha without community water (s. 4.1.3)

Lot coverage

100 m² plus 3.5% of the lot, at most 1,500 m² (s. 4.1.2)

Height limit

9 m (s. 4.1.2)

Setbacks

7.5 m from every lot line (s. 4.1.2); a portable sawmill 30 m from water and 25 m from a lot where homes are allowed; more from the sea and water (ss. 3.16 to 3.19)

The zone is for homes and farming on Bowen Island's large rural lots.

Suite (s. 3.57): one per lot, either a secondary suite in the house (up to 90 m², or 65 m² plus 0.625% of the lot to 140 m², whichever is more) or a detached suite in an accessory building (65 m² plus 0.625% of the lot, up to 140 m²), with its own parking space; in the Official Community Plan's detached suite permit area a detached suite needs a development permit (s. 3.58).

Short-term rental (s. 3.59, "residential guest accommodation", stays under 90 days): only in the host's principal residence or in the one suite on that lot, at most 120 days a year, two adults a bedroom and one booking at a time. The Province's principal residence rule applies on top.

Home occupation (s. 3.35): run by someone living on the lot, up to two outside staff on the lot for each, no change to the house's look, outdoor storage screened. A bed and breakfast is a home occupation in the host's principal residence: up to four guest rooms (five on 2 ha or more), up to 93 m² of it in accessory buildings, no guest kitchen.

Accessory buildings: one for each 0.2 ha of lot or part of it, plus one, and one for each 0.2 ha may hold a home occupation.

The sea and water (ss. 3.16 to 3.19): 30 m from the natural boundary of the sea (down to 15 m by the average of the neighbours' houses, or 7.5 m on bedrock or engineered protection with reports), 30 m from a watercourse or wetland, 50 m from a lake or reservoir.

Zone variants (s. 4.1.4) change the rules for lots Schedule B marks RR 1 (a) to (f).

Site-specific exceptions listed in the bylaw by legal description can add or change uses for one property, and development permit areas, the ALR and building rules apply on top. Confirm with Bowen Island Municipality's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Section 4.1 of Bowen Island Municipality Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-13); zone map: Open Government Licence – Islands Trust.