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Valdes Island Rural Land Use Bylaw, 1998 (Thetis Island Bylaw No. 42)
The Thetis Island Local Trust Committee's land use bylaw, which applies in Cowichan Valley, Electoral Area G. Our summary of its 3 recreational home, rural 1 and rural 2 zones, read from the consolidation to 2024-11-04 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RH Recreational Home | One dwelling per parcel and one guest cottage up to 65 m² (s. 5.2.5); no secondary suite (our reading) | 1 ha (s. 5.2.5) | 5%, the house, cottage and accessory buildings together (s. 5.2.5) | 8 m for a dwelling, 6 m for accessory buildings and structures (s. 4.1.4); barns and water tanks aren't limited (s. 4.1.5) |
| R1 Rural 1 | One dwelling per parcel and one guest cottage up to 65 m² (s. 5.2.2); no secondary suite (our reading) | 4 ha (s. 5.2.2) | 5%, the house, cottage and accessory buildings together (s. 5.2.2) | 8 m for a dwelling, 6 m for accessory buildings and structures (s. 4.1.4); barns and water tanks aren't limited (s. 4.1.5) |
| R2 Rural 2 | One dwelling per parcel (s. 5.2.3); no guest cottage (not among the zone's uses) and no secondary suite (our reading) | 2 ha (s. 5.2.3) | 5%, the house and accessory buildings together (s. 5.2.3) | 8 m for a dwelling, 6 m for accessory buildings and structures (s. 4.1.4); barns and water tanks aren't limited (s. 4.1.5) |
"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.
- R2: On land in the old Forest Land Reserve, the zone's uses are allowed only as far as that Act and the Commission allow (s. 5.2.3); the reserve has since been replaced by the Private Managed Forest Land regime, so how this reads today is unclear.
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: Valdes Island Rural Land Use Bylaw, 1998 (Thetis Island Bylaw No. 42) (summarised in our words); zone map: Open Government Licence – Islands Trust.