PlaceDossier / Zoning / District of Clearwater
District of Clearwater Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016
The District of Clearwater's zoning bylaw, which applies in Clearwater. Our summary of its 15 zones, read from the consolidation to 2025-04-01.
The zones side by side
| Zone | Homes allowed | Smallest lot for a subdivision | Lot coverage | Height limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RL-1 Rural | One house or one manufactured home, or off ALR land one duplex; a secondary suite in a house; off ALR land on a lot over 2 ha, one carriage suite or garden suite | 4 ha; 8 ha in the ALR | No maximum | No maximum |
| CR-1 Country Residential | One house or one manufactured home, or off ALR land one duplex; a secondary suite in a house | 0.4 ha on community water, 1 ha without | No maximum | No maximum |
| R-1 Residential Single Family and Duplex | One house, one duplex or one manufactured home; a secondary suite in a house | 700 m² on community water and sewer, 2,000 m² on community water only, 1 ha with neither; 15 m of frontage (9 m on a cul-de-sac bulb) | 40%, all buildings together | Main building 10 m, accessory buildings 6 m |
| R-2 Compact Residential | One house or one duplex; a secondary suite in a house | 400 m² for a house, 600 m² for a duplex | 45%, all buildings together | Main building 10 m, accessory buildings 5 m |
| R-3 Multiple Family Residential | Apartments and senior citizen housing up to 70 homes per hectare; townhouses and other buildings of three or more homes up to 35 per hectare | 900 m² for up to 4 homes, 1,000 m² for 5 or more; 30 m of frontage | 60% for apartments and senior housing, 45% for other buildings, accessory buildings included | Apartments and senior housing 15 m, other buildings 12 m, accessory buildings 5 m |
| MHP-1 Manufactured Home Park | Manufactured homes in a park, up to 17 per hectare; one caretaker home | 2 ha for the park | Set by the park bylaw | Set by the park bylaw |
| C-1 General Commercial | Homes in the commercial building, on or above the business's floor with their own entrance; on a lot over 0.8 ha, one detached house | 500 m² on community water and sewer, 2,000 m² on community water only, 1 ha with neither; 15 m of frontage | 60%, all buildings together | Main building 15 m, accessory buildings 6 m |
| C-2 Service Commercial | One caretaker home | 1,000 m² on community water and sewer, 2,000 m² on community water only, 1 ha with neither; 20 m of frontage | 60%, all buildings together | Main building 15 m, accessory buildings 12 m |
| C-4 Recreational Commercial | One caretaker home | 2,000 m² on community water and sewer, 1 ha with neither | 40%, all buildings together | No maximum |
| MX-1 Riverside Centre Mixed Use | Houses, duplexes, apartments and townhouses, homes in commercial buildings; a secondary suite in a house | 500 m² on community water and sewer, 2,000 m² on community water only, 1 ha with neither | 60%, all buildings together | Main building 15 m, accessory buildings 6 m |
| I-1 Vehicle Wrecking | One caretaker home | 1 ha | No maximum | 10 m |
| I-2 Light Industrial | One caretaker home | 1,000 m² on community water and sewer, 2,000 m² on community water only, 1 ha with neither; 20 m of frontage | No maximum | No maximum |
| I-3 Heavy Industrial | One caretaker home | 1 ha; 20 m of frontage | No maximum | No maximum |
| P-1 Parks and Recreation | One caretaker home | 350 m² | 10%, all buildings together | No maximum |
| P-2 Institutional | Senior citizen housing; one caretaker home | 1,000 m² on community water and sewer, 2,000 m² on community water only, 1 ha with neither | No maximum | No maximum |
"Not set" means the zone itself sets no figure; general rules elsewhere in the bylaw may still apply. Each zone's page has its uses, setbacks and the general rules that apply to it.
Where the bylaw is unclear
Points we couldn't settle from the bylaw's text. Ask before you rely on them.
- C-1: Whether a lot over 0.8 ha may have homes in the commercial building as well as the detached house. Section 9.1.2(o) allows homes in the building "except on lots greater than 0.8 ha", where one house may stand apart, so this is unclear; ask the District of Clearwater.
- C-1: The bylaw doesn't mention short-term rental. This zone allows traveller accommodation (s. 2.2: short stays in a motel, hotel, hostel or cabins); whether renting out a home by the night counts as that is unclear; ask the District of Clearwater.
- C-2: Whether a convenience store run as a main use is capped. Section 9.2.4 limits one "as an accessory use" to 140 m², but the zone lists convenience stores as a main use, so this is unclear; ask the District of Clearwater.
- C-2: Outdoor storage (s. 5.21): not in a front yard of a lot with a home; its share is capped at "40% of the total site coverage", and whether that means 40% of the lot or of the area covered by buildings is unclear (ask the District); it stands 10 m from side and rear lot lines, 30 m from homes and from rivers, streams and lakes, screened by a solid fence 1.8 to 2.5 m tall along streets and residential zones.
- C-4: The smallest lot on community water without sewer. Section 9.4.3 gives only the serviced and unserviced cases, so this is unclear; ask the District of Clearwater.
- C-4: The bylaw doesn't mention short-term rental. This zone allows traveller accommodation (s. 2.2: short stays in a motel, hotel, hostel or cabins); whether renting out a home by the night counts as that is unclear; ask the District of Clearwater.
- MX-1: The bylaw doesn't mention short-term rental. This zone allows traveller accommodation (s. 2.2: short stays in a motel, hotel, hostel or cabins); whether renting out a home by the night counts as that is unclear; ask the District of Clearwater.
- I-2: Whether a mini-storage facility is allowed. Section 10.2.4 sets rules for one (fully indoors, units 2.8 to 28 m² with ground-level doors), but the zone's uses list only wholesaling, warehousing and storage, so this is unclear; ask the District of Clearwater.
- I-2: Outdoor storage (s. 5.21): not in a front yard of a lot with a home; its share is capped at "40% of the total site coverage", and whether that means 40% of the lot or of the area covered by buildings is unclear (ask the District); it stands 10 m from side and rear lot lines, 30 m from homes and from rivers, streams and lakes, screened by a solid fence 1.8 to 2.5 m tall along streets and residential zones.
- I-3: Outdoor storage (s. 5.21): not in a front yard of a lot with a home; its share is capped at "40% of the total site coverage", and whether that means 40% of the lot or of the area covered by buildings is unclear (ask the District); it stands 10 m from side and rear lot lines, 30 m from homes and from rivers, streams and lakes, screened by a solid fence 1.8 to 2.5 m tall along streets and residential zones.
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 the District of Clearwater's planning department before you buy or build.
Source: District of Clearwater Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (summarised in our words); zone map: Open Government Licence – Thompson-Nicola Regional District.