R3-R: Rural Residential One and Two-Family

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

Two homes in one residential building: a house with a secondary suite, or a duplex (s. 58.1(1), (4)(a), (b)); a duplex needs 700 m² of lot and 23 m of frontage (s. 58.1(2)(c), (3)(c))

Exceptions (1)

• Three homes, one of them a detached accessory home, on one lot the bylaw names

Listed in s. 58.1(4)(c) of the bylaw.

Main uses

Houses, secondary suites, duplexes, farming, bed and breakfast, home-based business, and in a house assisted living, supportive housing or a community care facility for up to three residents (s. 58.1(1), (8)(j))

Smallest lot for a subdivision

450 m², with 15 m of frontage (700 m² and 23 m for a duplex) (s. 58.1(2), (3))

Lot coverage

30% on lots of 650 m² or more, 35% on smaller lots (s. 58.1(5))

Height limit

9.0 m; accessory buildings 5.0 m (s. 58.1(7))

Setbacks

Front 5.0 m, sides 2.0 m (3.0 m beside a lane or street), rear 7.5 m; accessory buildings 5.0 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 a road other than a lane (s. 58.1(6), (6.1))

The zone is for houses and duplexes on town-sized lots in the rural parts of the Municipality (its name and rules; our reading). Unlike R3, its rules weren't rewritten for four homes on a lot: ask the Municipality whether the provincial small-scale housing rules reach a lot here.

On a lot created before March 31, 2000, a house, a duplex or a secondary suite is allowed whatever the lot's size (s. 58.1(8)(h)).

Bed and breakfast: up to three guest rooms, and in a house only as a use beside living there (s. 58.1(8)(d), (e)).

Limited farm sales: at least half of what is sold grown on the land, under 100 m² of covered sales area (s. 58.1(8)(i)).

A secondary suite has at most 2 bedrooms and shares the house's driveway unless the lot fronts two streets or a lane (s. 40.4). Each home's driveway at most 6.0 m wide (s. 58.1(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 58.1 of Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-06); zone map: Open Government Licence – Municipality of North Cowichan.