AG: Agriculture

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

Two houses and one secondary suite (s. 17.1.5(a)); more homes for farm workers where the Agricultural Land Commission approves them (s. 17.1.5(b)). On a lot under 1.0 ha, a second house must be on Town sewer (s. 17.1.9(d))

Main uses

Agriculture, a brewery, cidery, distillery, meadery or winery, packing and storing farm products, processing farm and off-farm products, silviculture, stables, a single detached house; homes for farm workers, agri-tourist accommodation, bed and breakfast, home industry, home occupation, retail sales of farm and off-farm products, a secondary suite, a veterinary clinic, accessory buildings, vacation rental (s. 17.1.1)

Smallest lot for a subdivision

4.0 ha; at least a quarter as wide as it is deep; no depth set (ss. 17.1.2 to 17.1.4)

Exceptions (1)

• 0.25 ha on one lot the bylaw names

Listed in s. 17.1.10 of the bylaw.

Lot coverage

30%; on a lot of 1.0 ha or more, 75%, of which 60% only for greenhouses (s. 17.1.8)

Height limit

10.0 m; accessory buildings 15.0 m (s. 17.1.7)

Setbacks

Front 7.5 m, rear 7.5 m, interior sides 4.0 m, exterior side 4.5 m, 75.0 m from Tuc-el-Nuit Lake, for every building; buildings holding livestock 7.5 m from every lot line and 12.0 m from a home (s. 17.1.6)

The zone is for farming and the uses that go with it (s. 17.1's intent). Each home is at least 30 m², a main home at least 5.0 m wide; in the ALR the Agricultural Land Commission sets a home's largest floor area (s. 17.1.9).

Agri-tourist accommodation (s. 6.16): only on land classed as a farm for assessment; stays of up to 30 days with 30 days between; none under 1.0 ha, 5 sleeping units up to 5.0 ha, 10 above, all in one building, each at most 30 m² without cooking.

Home industry (s. 6.10): only on a lot of 2.0 ha or more, in the main home or an accessory building, at most half the home's floor area and 200 m², run by people living there with up to two employees from outside; sales only of what is made or grown on the lot.

Secondary suite (s. 6.7): one in a house or in each half of a duplex, up to half its floor area, never on a separate title.

Vacation rental (stays under a month, s. 4.0; s. 6.12): one per lot, in a house, a legal secondary suite or one half of a duplex, run by the owner, who lives on the lot, with a Town business licence; up to 2 adults and 2 children per bedroom; not on a lot with a bed and breakfast.

Bed and breakfast (s. 6.11): in the home, up to 4 bedrooms and 8 guests, run by someone who lives there and is there during each stay; not with a vacation rental.

Home occupation (s. 6.9): one per lot, up to 40% of the home or accessory building and 90 m²; one employee from outside, three clients at a time; no outdoor storage, vehicle repair, trades yards or cannabis.

Floodplain (s. 7): living space stands at or above the provincial map's flood level along the Okanagan River and its channel, 299.5 m (geodetic) around Tuc-el-nuit Lake, and 1.5 m above any other watercourse; no building within 7.5 m of a lake or the river channel's flood control right-of-way, or 15 m of another watercourse.

Every zone also allows public parks, utilities, emergency services, licensed day care for up to 8 and a residence for up to 10 (6 in care) (s. 6.2).

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 Town of Oliver's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Section 17.1 of Town of Oliver Zoning Bylaw No. 1423 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-06); zone map: Open Government Licence – Regional District Okanagan Similkameen.