PlaceDossier / Zoning / Regional District of East Kootenay
Steeples Zoning & Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2615, 2015
The Regional District of East Kootenay's zoning bylaw, which applies in East Kootenay, Electoral Area C, East Kootenay, Electoral Area E. Our summary of its 17 zones, read from the consolidation to 2026-02-13.
The zones side by side
| Zone | Homes allowed | Smallest lot for a subdivision | Lot coverage | Height limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RS-1 Residential (Semi-Rural) | One house (with a secondary suite) or one duplex | 1,670 m² | 30% | Main building 9 m, accessory buildings 5 m |
| RS-1(A) Residential (Semi-Rural Single Family) | One house, with a secondary suite inside it | 1,670 m² | 30% | House 9 m, accessory buildings 5 m |
| RS-4 Residential (Acreage) | 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 |
| 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-1(A) Single Family Residential (Small Lot) | One house, with a secondary suite inside it | 400 m² | 35% | House 9 m, accessory buildings 9 m |
| RR-1(B) Single Family Residential (Medium Lot) | One house, with a secondary suite | 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 |
| 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, other buildings 12 m |
| C-1 Local Commercial | One dwelling, accessory to a business on the lot: a manufactured home up to 5 m tall 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 (s. 1.11(3)) (the zone; s. 1.18(4)) | 0.3 ha | 60% | 10 m |
| C-2 General Commercial | One dwelling, accessory to a business on the lot: a manufactured home up to 5 m tall 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 (s. 1.11(3)) (the zone; s. 1.18(4)) | 0.6 ha | 50% | 12 m |
| C-3 Recreation Commercial | One dwelling, accessory to a business on the lot: a manufactured home up to 5 m tall 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 (s. 1.11(3)) (the zone; s. 1.18(4)) | 0.4 ha | 70% | 12 m |
| P-1 Public Institutional | One dwelling, accessory to a use on the lot: a manufactured home up to 5 m tall 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 (s. 1.11(3)) (the zone; s. 1.18(4)) | 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 up to 5 m tall 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 (s. 1.11(3)) (the zone; s. 1.18(4)) | None set in the zone | Not set | 10 m |
| P-3 Public Works and Utility | None: the zone lists no dwelling | None set in the zone | Not set | 10 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-1: The bylaw doesn't list vacation or short-term rental as a use; a bed and breakfast (up to four guest rooms in a house, breakfast for those guests only) is allowed as a home based business (ss. 1.8(9), 3.3). Section 1.28 also allows one bed and breakfast cabin on residential lots in part of the Wardner townsite (its Figure 3), but this zone doesn't list cabins (though s. 1.8(9) counts a cabin as part of a bed and breakfast, a home based business), so whether one is allowed here is unclear. Ask the RDEK before renting a home short term.
- RS-1(A): The bylaw doesn't list vacation or short-term rental as a use; a bed and breakfast (up to four guest rooms in a house, breakfast for those guests only) is allowed as a home based business (ss. 1.8(9), 3.3). Section 1.28 also allows one bed and breakfast cabin on residential lots in part of the Wardner townsite (its Figure 3), but this zone doesn't list cabins (though s. 1.8(9) counts a cabin as part of a bed and breakfast, a home based business), so whether one is allowed here is unclear. Ask the RDEK before renting a home short term.
- RS-4: The bylaw doesn't list vacation or short-term rental as a use; a bed and breakfast (up to four guest rooms in a house, breakfast for those guests only) is allowed as a home based business (ss. 1.8(9), 3.3). The zone lists bed and breakfast cabins (each at most 5 m tall and 50 m², and needing the Agricultural Land Commission's approval inside the ALR), but s. 1.28 sets their number only for the rural zones (two) and residential lots in part of the Wardner townsite (one, its Figure 3); whether an RS-4 lot outside that area may have one at all is unclear. Ask the RDEK before renting a home short term.
- RR-1(A): The bylaw doesn't list vacation or short-term rental as a use; a bed and breakfast (up to four guest rooms in a house, breakfast for those guests only) is allowed as a home based business (ss. 1.8(9), 3.3). Section 1.28 also allows one bed and breakfast cabin on residential lots in part of the Wardner townsite (its Figure 3), but this zone doesn't list cabins (though s. 1.8(9) counts a cabin as part of a bed and breakfast, a home based business), so whether one is allowed here is unclear. Ask the RDEK before renting a home short term.
- RR-1(B): The bylaw doesn't list vacation or short-term rental as a use; a bed and breakfast (up to four guest rooms in a house, breakfast for those guests only) is allowed as a home based business (ss. 1.8(9), 3.3). Section 1.28 also allows one bed and breakfast cabin on residential lots in part of the Wardner townsite (its Figure 3), but this zone doesn't list cabins (though s. 1.8(9) counts a cabin as part of a bed and breakfast, a home based business), so whether one is allowed here is unclear. Ask the RDEK before renting a home short term.
- C-1: Section 1.17 bans vehicle wrecking, outdoor repair and stored derelict vehicles, allowing one derelict vehicle out of the front yard in the residential, rural, P-1 and P-2 zones; whether the ban reaches this zone at all is unclear, so ask the RDEK.
- C-2: Section 1.17 bans vehicle wrecking, outdoor repair and stored derelict vehicles, allowing one derelict vehicle out of the front yard in the residential, rural, P-1 and P-2 zones; whether the ban reaches this zone at all is unclear, so ask the RDEK.
- C-3: Section 1.17 bans vehicle wrecking, outdoor repair and stored derelict vehicles, allowing one derelict vehicle out of the front yard in the residential, rural, P-1 and P-2 zones; whether the ban reaches this zone at all is unclear, so ask the RDEK.
- P-3: Section 1.17 bans vehicle wrecking, outdoor repair and stored derelict vehicles, allowing one derelict vehicle out of the front yard in the residential, rural, P-1 and P-2 zones; whether the ban reaches this zone at all is unclear, so ask the RDEK.
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: Steeples Zoning & Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2615, 2015 (summarised in our words); zone map: Open Government Licence – Regional District of East Kootenay.