CD1: The Cliffs Comprehensive Development Zone

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

Depends on the lot's Area on the zone's map (Schedule D-1). Area 1: up to four homes on a lot of 280 m² to 4,050 m² (three on a smaller lot, two on a larger one), in one residential building, or a house (with or without a secondary suite) and one detached accessory home. Area 2: townhouses and houses, one home per 275 m² of lot. Area 3: trails and open space, no homes (s. 80.1(1), (2), (2.1))

Main uses

Area 1: houses, duplexes, small multi-family buildings, secondary suites, detached accessory homes, home-based business. Area 2: houses, townhouses, home-based business (in a house only; an office elsewhere). Area 3: trails and open space (s. 80.1(1))

Smallest lot for a subdivision

Area 1: 600 m², with 18 m of frontage; Area 2: 1,100 m², with 30 m of frontage (s. 80.1(2), items 1 and 2)

Lot coverage

Area 1: 30% with one building of up to two homes; with three or more homes or a detached accessory home, 35% on lots of 650 m² or more, 40% on smaller ones. Area 2: 35% (s. 80.1(2), item 4, (8))

Height limit

Area 1: 9.0 m; Area 2: 12.0 m and 3 habitable floors; accessory buildings 5.0 m (s. 80.1(2), items 6 and 7)

Setbacks

Area 1: front 5.0 m, sides 1.5 m (3.0 m on a flanking street), rear 7.5 m. Area 2: front 6.0 m, sides 3.0 m, rear 8.0 m. Accessory buildings 5.0 m (Area 2: 6.0 m) from the front, 1.0 m from the sides, 1.5 m from the rear; a garage or carport door 5.8 m from the road; everything 10 m from land zoned A4 (s. 80.1(2), item 5)

The zone covers one subdivision, The Cliffs (its name; our reading). Which Area a lot is in is on Schedule D-1, a map in the bylaw; the zoning map gives only "CD1", so we don't know it here: ask the Municipality, or find the lot on the schedule.

Townhouses: 30% of the lot kept as landscaped open space, 15% of it an outdoor recreation area; parking screened by a planted strip at least 1.5 m wide; in Area 2, buildings on one lot 6.0 m apart where walls have windows, 4.0 m otherwise (s. 80.1(2), item 8, (3), (4)).

A planted strip at least 1.5 m wide along any lot line next to a home (s. 80.1(5)).

Where this zone and the bylaw's general parts differ, the zone wins (s. 80.1(9)).

Short-term rental isn't a use this zone lists; ask the Municipality of North Cowichan before renting a home short term.

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 North Cowichan's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Section 80.1 of Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-06); zone map: Open Government Licence – Municipality of North Cowichan.