RU-ALR: Rural ALR

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

One house with a secondary suite, plus the extra homes the Agricultural Land Commission Act and its regulations allow

Main uses

Farming, intensive farming, home business, and any other use the Agricultural Land Commission Act allows on land in the ALR

Smallest lot for a subdivision

8 ha

Lot coverage

35%, not counting greenhouses

Height limit

10 m (accessory buildings 8 m)

Setbacks

Front and rear 7.5 m, sides 1.75 m (3.5 m on a lot over 31 m wide), a side on a road 7.5 m

Barns for intensive farming stay 30 m from every lot line, well, spring and stream (s. 303.2).

A subdivision of land in the ALR needs the Agricultural Land Commission's approval too.

An RV may be lived in while the house is built under a building permit, for up to 365 days, once a septic system is in and with a $1,000 security; otherwise one RV may be lived in for at most 60 days in a year (s. 313).

Buildings stay 4.5 m from a lot line on a road, and 22.5 m from the centre line of Island Highway 19A (19.5 m on the ocean side in Area A) (s. 402).

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 CVRD's planning services department before you buy or build.

Source: Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 520, 2019 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-20); no open zoning map (ask the CVRD's planning services department which zone a lot is in).