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City of Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw No. 4500
The City of Nanaimo's zoning bylaw, which applies in Nanaimo. Our summary of its 7 zones R1, R3, R5, R8, R10, R14 and COR1 zones, read from the consolidation to 2026-03-23 and checked 2026-10-04. 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 Single Dwelling Residential | One house, with a secondary suite, or two where one is in an accessory building (s. 6.15). On a corner lot over 700 m² too small to subdivide, two houses or a duplex, one front door facing each street, and then no suites. On a lot over 0.4 ha, a second house (s. 7.3.1) | 500 m², 15 m wide, 30 m deep (450 m², 10 m wide and 26.5 m deep with a lane; 10 m wide on a cul-de-sac); a subdivision may cut lots by 10% if they average 500 m² (ss. 7.4.1, 7.4.5) | 40% | 9 m with a sloped roof (4 in 12 or steeper), 7 m with a flat one; perimeter walls 7.32 m |
| R5 Three and Four Unit Residential | Up to 3 homes, 4 on a lot of 280 m² or more (s. 7.3.1), as houses, a duplex or a small multi-family building, at most two main buildings on the lot (s. 7.2.1). A secondary suite only where the lot has no more than two main homes (s. 7.2.3.1); whether a suite counts toward the 3 or 4 is unclear, so ask the City | 600 m², 15 m wide, 30 m deep (550 m² and 26.5 m deep with a lane) | 50%; a lot with one house only, 40% (s. 7.6.4) | 10.5 m with a sloped roof (4 in 12 or steeper), 9 m with a flat one; a lot with one house only, as R1: 9 m and 7 m, perimeter walls 7.32 m (s. 7.6.4) |
| R10 Steep Slope Residential | Houses or a multi-family building (the zone doesn't list duplexes), at most 16 homes per hectare of the lot, not counting watercourse leave strips or park dedicated at subdivision; any lot big enough for the zone may have one house (ss. 7.2.1, 7.3.1, 7.3.2). A secondary suite only where the lot has one house (s. 7.2.3.1) | 1,200 m², 15 m wide, 30 m deep (ss. 7.4.1, 7.4.3)Exceptions (2)
Listed in s. 7.4.1, footnotes 1 and 2 of the bylaw. | 40%; floor area at most 0.55 times the lot area with one or two homes, 0.45 with three or more; on a lot with more than one home, 0.10 or 0.15 more for meeting Schedule D's Tier 1 or Tier 2 amenities (s. 7.3.1) | 9 m with a sloped roof (4 in 12 or steeper), 7 m with a flat one; perimeter walls of a house or duplex 7.32 m (s. 7.6.1) |
| R14 Old City Low Density (Fourplex) Residential | Up to 4 homes, as houses, a duplex or a small multi-family building (ss. 7.2.1, 7.3.1); a fifth where a house built before 1975 in the Old City Neighbourhood is kept and converted (s. 7.3.1.1). A secondary suite only where the lot has no more than two main homes (s. 7.2.3.1); whether a suite counts toward the 4 is unclear, so ask the City | 750 m², 15 m wide, 30 m deep (s. 7.4.1) | 40% (s. 7.6.1) | 7.75 m, measured from the higher of the average natural grade at the building's corners and the curb, to the middle of a sloped roof between eaves and ridge (ss. 7.6.1, 7.6.5) |
| COR1 Residential Corridor | Multi-family buildings, houses, live/work units and seniors' congregate housing, within the floor area allowed (s. 9.2.1). On a lot under 2,000 m² in the Interim Corridor Area (Schedule A's map, which we don't read), only one house, on R1's rules (s. 9.8) | 850 m², 18 m wide (15 m with a lane), 30 m deep (s. 9.4.1) | 60%; floor area 1.00 times the lot area, up to 0.50 more for amenities under Schedule D, and more again for parking under the building (ss. 9.3.1, 9.3.2, 9.7.1) | 14 m, or 18 m with at least 75% of the parking under the building; at least 2 storeys above grade (s. 9.7.1) |
| R8 Medium Density Residential | Multi-family buildings, a house or a rooming house; the zone sets no count of homes, only floor area: at most 1.25 times the lot area, more for parking under the building and for Schedule D's amenities (ss. 7.2.1, 7.3.1). A secondary suite per home under Part 6 (s. 6.15) | 1,800 m², 15 m wide, 30 m deep (s. 7.4.1) | 40%; floor area 1.25 times the lot area, plus 0.25 times the share of parking under the building (its roof no more than 0.8 m above finished grade), plus 0.1 or 0.25 for meeting Schedule D's Tier 1 or Tier 2 amenities (ss. 7.3.1, 7.6.1); a lot with one house only, as R1: 40% (s. 7.6.4) | 14 m, flat or sloped roof (s. 7.6.1); a lot with one house only, as R1: 9 m with a sloped roof, 7 m with a flat one, perimeter walls 7.32 m (s. 7.6.4); accessory buildings up to 7 m (s. 6.6.5.1)Exceptions (1)
Listed in s. 7.6.7 of the bylaw. |
| R3 Island Residential | One house, with floor area at most 0.55 times the lot area (s. 7.3.1), and one secondary suite; not the second suite R1 allows (s. 6.15.2.1) | 5,000 m², 15 m wide, 30 m deep (s. 7.4.1) | 35%; floor area at most 0.55 times the lot area (ss. 7.3.1, 7.6.1) | 9 m with a sloped roof (4 in 12 or steeper), 7 m with a flat one; no perimeter wall limit in this zone (s. 7.6.1) |
"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.
- R3: Part 7 sets lot sizes only for lots on community water, sewer and storm drains (s. 7.4.1); what it asks of a lot without them is unclear: ask the City.
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 City of Nanaimo's planning and development department before you buy or build.
Source: City of Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (summarised in our words); zone map: Open Government Licence – Nanaimo.