PlaceDossier / Zoning / Township of Esquimalt

Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050

The Township of Esquimalt's zoning bylaw, which applies in Esquimalt. Our summary of its 3 residential zones, read from the consolidation to 2026-09-03 and checked 2026-10-05. Its other zones aren't summarised here.

The zones side by side

Zone	Homes allowed	Smallest lot for a subdivision	Lot coverage	Height limit
RS-6 Single Family DADU Residential	Two homes: a house with a secondary suite, or a house and a detached accessory home (garden suite) of up to 65 m², which needs a covenant against subdividing or strata titling it and a housing agreement that the owner lives on the lot and the second home stays available to rent (s. 37.2(3)-(5)) Exceptions (1) On lots the Township's Schedule A.2 overlay map shows as small-scale multi-family housing lots, up to four homes in up to two buildings under the RSM-2 zone (three under RSM-1 on lots of 280 m² or less), unless the lot is also shown as a tsunami hazard lot Listed in s. 30.10, 40.2, 40.3 of the bylaw.	530 m² for a new lot (s. 37.2(2))	30%; the garden suite and accessory buildings together 10% of the lot and 25% of the rear yard; floor area up to 0.35 times the lot area, the garden suite included (s. 37.2(6), (8))	House 7.3 m; garden suite 4.2 m and no higher than the house; accessory buildings 3.6 m
RS-1 Single Family Residential	Two homes: a house with one secondary suite of up to 90 m² or 40% of the house's floor area, whichever is less (s. 34(1), 30.6) Exceptions (1) On lots the Township's Schedule A.2 overlay map shows as small-scale multi-family housing lots, up to four homes in up to two buildings under the RSM-2 zone (three under RSM-1 on lots of 280 m² or less), unless the lot is also shown as a tsunami hazard lot Listed in s. 30.10, 40.2, 40.3 of the bylaw.	530 m², 16 m wide at the front building line, for a new lot (s. 34(2), (3))	30%; accessory buildings and structures together 10%; floor area up to 0.35 times the lot area (s. 34(4), (8))	House 7.3 m; accessory buildings 3.6 m (s. 34(6))
RD-4 Two Family DADU Residential	Two homes: a duplex in one building, or a house and a detached accessory home (garden suite) of up to 65 m², which needs a covenant against subdividing or strata titling it and a housing agreement that the owner lives on the lot and the second home stays available to rent (s. 40.1(4)-(7)); the zone doesn't list a secondary suite, so whether a house can have one is unclear Exceptions (1) On lots the Township's Schedule A.2 overlay map shows as small-scale multi-family housing lots, up to four homes in up to two buildings under the RSM-2 zone (three under RSM-1 on lots of 280 m² or less), unless the lot is also shown as a tsunami hazard lot Listed in s. 30.10, 40.2, 40.3 of the bylaw.	668 m², 18.3 m wide at the front building line, for a new fee simple lot (s. 40.1(2), (3))	30%; accessory buildings and structures together 10% of the lot, and with the garden suite 25% of the rear yard; floor area up to 0.35 times the lot area for a house or a duplex on a lot of 800 m² or more, 0.4 for a duplex on a smaller lot (s. 40.1(8), (10))	House or duplex 7.3 m; garden suite 4.2 m and no higher than the house; accessory buildings 3.6 m (s. 40.1(9))

"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.

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 Township of Esquimalt's development services department before you buy or build.

Source: Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (summarised in our words); zone map: Open Government Licence – Corporation of the Township of Esquimalt.