PlaceDossier / Zoning / Islands Trust
Denman Island Land Use Bylaw No. 186, 2008
The Denman Island Local Trust Committee's land use bylaw, which applies in Comox Valley, Electoral Area A. Our summary of its 3 residential, rural residential and agriculture zones, read from the consolidation to 2024-05-07 and checked 2026-10-11. Its other zones aren't summarised here.
The zones side by side
| Zone | Homes allowed | Smallest lot for a subdivision | Lot coverage | Height limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 Residential | One single-family home per 1.0 ha of lot, at most five on a lot; one on a smaller lot (s. 3.3 Table 3); the zone's table lists no secondary suite or secondary dwelling unit (s. 3.3 Table 1, line 10) | 1.0 ha, and 1.0 ha on average (s. 3.3 Table 7) | 25% (s. 3.3 Table 3) | 7 m for homes within 100 m of the sea, 9 m farther back; 6 m for accessory buildings; 15 m for buildings used only for farming; boathouses 4.5 m (s. 3.3 Table 4) |
| R2 Rural Residential | One single-family home per 4.0 ha of lot; one on a smaller lot (s. 3.3 Table 3); a secondary suite inside the home (s. 3.3 Table 1, s. 2.1(5)); a detached secondary dwelling unit only by Temporary Use Permit (s. 2.1(4)) | 2.0 ha, and 4.0 ha on average, no more than half the new lots under the average (s. 3.3 Table 7, s. 2.8(4)) | 25% (s. 3.3 Table 3) | 7 m for homes within 100 m of the sea, 9 m farther back; 6 m for accessory buildings; 15 m for buildings used only for farming; boathouses 4.5 m (s. 3.3 Table 4) |
| A Agriculture | Outside the Agricultural Land Reserve, one single-family home per 15.0 ha of lot, and one on a smaller lot (s. 3.4 Table 3); in the ALR one home per lot of up to 410 m², one secondary suite and one secondary dwelling unit as the ALR Use Regulation allows, all homes together within a 500 m² footprint (s. 3.4 Table 3 and its note). Whether a secondary dwelling unit is possible outside the ALR is unclear: s. 2.1(4) names the A zone for one by Temporary Use Permit, but the zone's table and Part 5 don't | 15.0 ha (s. 3.4 Table 7); in the ALR a subdivision needs the Agricultural Land Commission's approval too | 35%, or 75% counting greenhouses (s. 3.4 Table 3) | 7 m for homes within 100 m of the sea, 9 m farther back; 6 m for accessory buildings; 15 m for farm and forestry buildings in the ALR, silos and grain bins aside; boathouses 4.5 m (s. 3.4 Table 4) |
"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 Islands Trust's office for the island before you buy or build.
Source: Denman Island Land Use Bylaw No. 186, 2008 (summarised in our words); zone map: Open Government Licence – Islands Trust.