RM1: Medium Density Residential One

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

Apartments and townhouses up to 75 homes per hectare (s. 12.1.4; the count is rounded down, s. 6.7)

Main uses

Apartment buildings, townhouses, community care; home occupation

Smallest lot for a subdivision

1,000 m², 30 m wide

Lot coverage

50%

Height limit

15 m

Setbacks

Front 4.5 m, rear 4.5 m, interior sides 3 m, exterior side 4.5 m; accessory buildings front 7.5 m, rear and sides 1 m, exterior side 4.5 m

A townhouse is three or more homes side by side under one roof, up to three storeys (s. 4.0).

Site-specific densities and uses (s. 12.1.8): 50 homes and 28 secondary suites at 8000 Vedette Drive; 140 homes per hectare on Lot B, Plan EPP124165 (89th Street); 112 per hectare at 7808 Spartan Drive; an apartment building of up to 36 homes 24 m tall at 8000 Cottonwood Drive; one duplex and secondary suites at 4601 97th Street; 19 homes at 6819 and 9821 Cottonwood Drive; 87 per hectare and 24 homes at 5601 Lakeshore Drive.

Home occupation (s. 7.5): residents only, in the home or an accessory building, up to 40% of the home and 50 m²; no outdoor storage, retail limited to goods made there and remote sales; no vehicle repair, contractor's yard, animals or cannabis; one extra parking space.

Parking (s. 10.2): 1.5 spaces per home, 1 in the downtown parking area (s. 10.6); every home's space gets a power outlet for an electric vehicle charger (s. 10.8).

A minimum lot size under 1 ha applies only to a new lot on community water and sewer (s. 8.4).

Floodplain (s. 9): no building within 7.5 m of the natural boundary of a lake, pond or marsh; living space on the Osoyoos Lake floodplain stands at or above 280.70 m (geodetic), and elsewhere 1.5 m above any other watercourse.

Accessory buildings go up only with or after the main building, never between it and the front lot line, and can't be lived in or hold a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, wet bar or deck (s. 7.1).

Fences up to 1.2 m in the front setback and 2.0 m behind it; nothing over 1.0 m within 6 m of a street corner (ss. 6.1, 6.12).

Living in an RV or tent is prohibited, except in an RV for up to two years while a house is built under a permit (ss. 6.5, 6.6); one RV may be stored per house.

Metal storage containers only during construction under a building permit (s. 6.3); no poultry or beehives (s. 6.5).

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. 6.11).

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 Osoyoos's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Section 12.1 of Town of Osoyoos Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05); zone map: Open Government Licence – Regional District Okanagan Similkameen.