PlaceDossier / Zoning / Regional District of East Kootenay
Electoral Area E Zoning and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2502, 2014
The Regional District of East Kootenay's zoning bylaw, which applies in East Kootenay, Electoral Area E, East Kootenay, Electoral Area C. Our summary of its 27 zones, read from the consolidation to 2026-08-14.
The zones side by side
| Zone | Homes allowed | Smallest lot for a subdivision | Lot coverage | Height limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-1 Residential | One house (with a secondary suite) or one duplex (a duplex needs a lot of 2,140 m²) | 1,670 m² for a house, 2,140 m² for a duplex | 30% | Main building 9 m, accessory buildings 5 m |
| R-1(A) Residential (A) | One house, with a secondary suite inside it | 1,670 m² | 30% | House 9 m, accessory buildings 5 m |
| RS-1 Residential (Semi-Rural) | One house (with a secondary suite) or one duplex (a duplex needs a lot of 2,140 m²) | 1,670 m² for a house, 2,140 m² for a duplex | 30% | Main building 9 m, accessory buildings 5 m |
| RS-4 Residential (Semi-Rural) | One house (with a secondary suite) or one duplex; a dwelling for a relative needing care is possible | 0.4 ha | 30% | Main building 9 m, accessory buildings 5 m |
| R-MP Manufactured Home Park Residential | Manufactured homes in a park, up to 18 per hectare of usable land, one per space of 370 m²; and a house that isn't a manufactured home, on a space of 700 m² | 2 ha | Not set | Manufactured homes 5 m, other main buildings 9 m, accessory buildings 4.5 m |
| RR-1 Rural Residential (Estate) | One house (with a secondary suite) or one duplex; a dwelling for a relative needing care is possible | 1 ha | 35% (75% for greenhouses with closed waste and storm water systems) | House 9 m, accessory buildings 9 m |
| RR-2 Rural Residential (Small Holding) | One house (with a secondary suite) or one duplex, and farm-hand dwellings; a dwelling for a relative needing care is possible | 2 ha | 35% (75% for greenhouses with closed waste and storm water systems) | House 10 m, accessory buildings 12 m |
| RR-4 Rural Residential (Hobby Farm) | One house (with a secondary suite) or one duplex, and farm-hand dwellings; a dwelling for a relative needing care is possible | 4 ha | 35% (75% for greenhouses with closed waste and storm water systems) | House 10 m, accessory buildings 12 m |
| RR-8 Rural Residential (Country) | One house (with a secondary suite) or one duplex, and farm-hand dwellings; a dwelling for a relative needing care is possible | 8 ha | 35% (75% for greenhouses with closed waste and storm water systems) | House 10 m, accessory buildings 12 m |
| RR-16 Rural Residential (Extensive) | One house (with a secondary suite) or one duplex, and farm-hand dwellings; a dwelling for a relative needing care is possible | 16 ha | 35% (75% for greenhouses with closed waste and storm water systems) | House 10 m, accessory buildings 12 m, cabins 5 m |
| RR-60 Rural Resource | One house (with a secondary suite) or one duplex, and farm-hand dwellings; a dwelling for a relative needing care is possible | 60 ha | Not set | House 10 m, accessory buildings 12 m, cabins 5 m |
| RES-1(A) Recreation Residential (A) | Houses at up to 2 per hectare of usable land, each with one guest cottage; one secondary suite per lot, inside a house | 16 ha | 35% | Houses 9 m, accessory buildings 6 m |
| RES-1(B) Recreation Residential (B) | Up to ten houses on a lot; one secondary suite per lot, inside a house; farm-hand dwellings | 60 ha | 20% (75% for greenhouses with closed waste and storm water systems) | Houses 10 m, accessory buildings 12 m, cabins 5 m |
| RES-1(C) Recreation Residential (C) | Houses at up to 1 per 4 hectares of usable land and 6 at most, each with one guest cottage; one secondary suite per lot, inside a house | 60 ha | 20% | Houses 10 m, accessory buildings 12 m |
| C-1 Highway Commercial | One dwelling, accessory to a business on the lot: a manufactured home on a non-permanent foundation, or a self-contained unit built into the main building above the first storey or behind the main use, with its own outside door (the zone; s. 1.18(3)) | 1,500 m² | 60% | 10 m |
| C-2 Local Commercial | One dwelling, accessory to a business on the lot: a manufactured home on a non-permanent foundation, or a self-contained unit built into the main building above the first storey or behind the main use, with its own outside door (the zone; s. 1.18(3)) | 0.3 ha | 60% | 10 m |
| C-3 General Commercial | One dwelling, accessory to a business on the lot: a manufactured home on a non-permanent foundation, or a self-contained unit built into the main building above the first storey or behind the main use, with its own outside door (the zone; s. 1.18(3)) | 0.4 ha | 50% | 10 m |
| C-4 Service Commercial | One dwelling, accessory to a business on the lot: a manufactured home on a non-permanent foundation, or a self-contained unit built into the main building above the first storey or behind the main use, with its own outside door (the zone; s. 1.18(3)) | 4,000 m² | 50% (75% for greenhouses with closed waste and storm water systems) | 12 m |
| C-5 Recreation Commercial | One dwelling, accessory to a business on the lot: a manufactured home on a non-permanent foundation, or a self-contained unit built into the main building above the first storey or behind the main use, with its own outside door (the zone; s. 1.18(3)) | 4,000 m² | 70% | 12 m |
| C-6 Golf Course Commercial | One dwelling, accessory to the golf course: a manufactured home on a non-permanent foundation or a self-contained unit (s. 4.22(4)) | 20 ha | 70% | Dwelling 10 m, other buildings 12 m |
| C-7 Tourist Commercial | One dwelling, accessory to a business on the lot: a manufactured home on a non-permanent foundation, or a self-contained unit built into the main building above the first storey or behind the main use, with its own outside door (the zone; s. 1.18(3)) | 4,000 m² | 70% | 12 m |
| I-1 Industrial | None: the zone lists no dwelling | 4 ha | 70% | 70 m |
| P-1 Public Institutional | One dwelling, accessory to a use on the lot: a manufactured home on a non-permanent foundation, or a self-contained unit built into the main building above the first storey or behind the main use, with its own outside door (the zone; s. 1.18(3)) | None set in the zone | 25% | 10 m |
| P-2 Parks and Open Space | One dwelling, accessory to a use on the lot: a manufactured home on a non-permanent foundation, or a self-contained unit built into the main building above the first storey or behind the main use, with its own outside door (the zone; s. 1.18(3)) | None set in the zone | Not set | 10 m |
| P-3 Parks and Open Space (Campground) | One dwelling, accessory to a use on the lot: a manufactured home on a non-permanent foundation, or a self-contained unit built into the main building above the first storey or behind the main use, with its own outside door (the zone; s. 1.18(3)) | None set in the zone | Not set | 10 m |
| P-4 Public Works and Utility | None: the zone lists no dwelling | None set in the zone | Not set | 10 m |
| WP-1 Watershed Protection | A dwelling accessory to forestry, mining, conservation or ALR farming on the lot (not to wildland use); how many is unclear, as the zone sets no number, so ask the RDEK. The zone lists no secondary suite | 125 ha | 10% | 12 m |
"Not set" means the zone itself sets no figure; general rules elsewhere in the bylaw may still apply. Each zone's page has its uses, setbacks and the general rules that apply to it.
Where the bylaw is unclear
Points we couldn't settle from the bylaw's text. Ask before you rely on them.
- RS-4: The zone list (s. 4.01) names this zone Residential (Acreage); the heading of s. 4.06 calls it Residential (Semi-Rural), like RS-1. Which name is meant is unclear; the rules are the same either way.
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: Electoral Area E Zoning and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2502, 2014 (summarised in our words); zone map: Open Government Licence – Regional District of East Kootenay.