PlaceDossier / Zoning / Zone codes
SH4 zoning in BC
SH4 (also written SH-4) means whatever the bylaw that zones the lot says: there is no provincial SH4 zone. 3 bylaws we've summarised use it, from 2 local governments. It goes by 2 names: Small Holdings Four (2 bylaws), Small Holdings Rural (4 Hectare). What it allows is below, bylaw by bylaw.
SH4 in each bylaw
| Local government | Homes allowed | Smallest lot for a subdivision | Lot coverage | Height limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional District of East Kootenay Small Holdings Rural (4 Hectare) · Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 3255, 2023 | One house and a secondary suite | 4 ha | 10% | House 10 m, accessory buildings 12 m |
| Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Small Holdings Four · Okanagan Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 2800, 2022 | One house, one secondary suite and one accessory dwelling (s. 15.4.4) | 2 ha | 15% | 10 m |
| Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Small Holdings Four · Electoral Area H Zoning Bylaw No. 3065, 2024 | One house, mobile home or RV, one secondary suite and one accessory dwelling (s. 15.4.4) | 2 ha | 15% | 10 m |
Listed by local government, not ranked. "Not set" means the zone itself sets no figure; general rules elsewhere in its bylaw may still apply. Each zone's page has its uses, setbacks and the bylaw's sections.
Two lots both zoned SH4 under different bylaws can allow quite different things, and provincial law sets a floor of homes on most house zones in towns (how many homes can I build?). Site-specific exceptions, development permit areas and the ALR apply on top. Find the lot's own zone with the search above, then confirm with the local government before you buy or build.
Sources: each zone's bylaw, linked from its page, summarised in our words. Other councils' zones aren't here: the zoning we cover.