RS1: Low Density Residential One

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

Up to three: a duplex, or a house with a secondary suite and an accessory dwelling (s. 11.1.5); on land the floodplain map (Schedule C) covers, a suite or an accessory dwelling, not both

Main uses

One house or a duplex; accessory dwelling, bed and breakfast, home occupation, secondary suite

Smallest lot for a subdivision

500 m² on Village sewer, 1 ha without; 225 m² for each half of a duplex divided on sewer; width at least a quarter of the depth, 25 m deep

Lot coverage

45%

Height limit

11 m; detached accessory dwellings 8 m; other accessory buildings 5 m

Setbacks

Front 6 m, rear 6 m, interior sides 1.2 m, exterior side 3 m; accessory buildings front 6 m, rear 1.5 m, sides 1.2 m, exterior side 3 m; none on the shared wall of a duplex divided down the middle

The zone is for houses, duplexes, accessory dwellings and suites on serviced town lots, up to three homes a lot (s. 11.1). A duplex is on community water and sewer (s. 11.1.9).

Secondary suite (s. 7.7): one, inside the house, never in an accessory building, on Village sewer, never strata-titled; one more parking space.

Accessory dwelling (s. 7.2): a separate home up to 100 m², not joined to a building with a home in it, never strata-titled; not on a lot under 1 ha unless it is on community sewer.

Bed and breakfast (s. 7.8): in the home, up to 4 bedrooms and 8 guests, no cooking in the guest rooms, run by someone who lives there and is there during each stay.

Home occupation (s. 7.5): up to 25% of the home or accessory building and 50 m², one employee from outside, no outdoor storage, vehicle repair, animals or cannabis.

The bylaw doesn't list short-term rental of a whole home as a use in this zone, and the zone allows only the uses it lists (s. 5.4): ask the Village of Keremeos before renting a home short term.

Site-specific (s. 11.1.10): the smallest lot is 451.4 m² on Block 114, Plan KAP300.

Floodplain (s. 8): living space at or above the provincial map's flood level along the Similkameen River, or 1.5 m above any other watercourse; no building within 30 m of the Similkameen's natural boundary, 7.5 m of the dyke's toe or a lake, or 15 m of another watercourse.

Accessory buildings go up only with or after the house (one shed of 10 m² aside) (s. 7.1); metal storage containers only during construction under a permit (s. 7.4).

Only the uses the zone lists are allowed (s. 5.4).

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 Village of Keremeos's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Section 11.1 of Village of Keremeos Zoning Bylaw No. 851 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05); zone map: Open Government Licence – Regional District Okanagan Similkameen.