RES-2(MD): Resort Development – Mixed Density

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

At most one house (with a secondary suite) and one duplex per lot, or multi-unit buildings up to 60 homes per hectare of usable site area

Main uses

House, duplex, multi-unit housing; home business, golf and ski resort maintenance facility

Smallest lot for a subdivision

400 m²

Lot coverage

35% for houses and duplexes; not set for multi-unit buildings

Height limit

House or duplex 9 m, multi-unit buildings 13 m, accessory buildings 5 m

Setbacks

Front 7.5 m, rear 6 m, sides 4.5 m (6 m beside a road); accessory buildings front 7.5 m, rear and sides 4.5 m (6 m beside a road); a side of a duplex split along its common wall 3.5 m (4.5 m beside a road)

The zone allows one house and one duplex per lot but doesn't say whether both can share a lot; unclear, so ask the RDEK.

Accessory buildings are at most 185 m² in all, and a house at least 5.5 m wide (not counting additions).

Secondary suite (s. 1.18): one per lot, at most 49% of the house's floor space, on approved sewage disposal and never strata-titled. A suite above a detached garage is allowed only where the zone permits a secondary suite outright (not "within the dwelling only"): 70 m² on lots under 0.4 ha, 90 m² on 0.4 ha or more.

Densities count only usable site area: one piece of land with an average slope of 15% or less and no part subject to land slip, avalanche, rock fall, flooding or a high water table (s. 3.3).

Schedule A s. 2.2 also sets lot sizes by servicing: a house needs 555 m² with community water and sewer, 1,390 m² with one of them, 1,670 m² with neither (400 m² for a resort lot with both); a duplex 700, 1,865 or 2,140 m².

Schedule A s. 2.2 sets multi-family lots only with community water and sewer: 1,000 m² for 3 homes, 1,300 m² for 4, 1,500 m² for 5 or more.

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 RDEK's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 3255, 2023 (summarised in our words); zone map: Open Government Licence – Regional District of East Kootenay.