CD.3: Cottonwoods Comprehensive Development

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

Up to 49 seasonal single family houses of up to 100 m² each

Main uses

Seasonal cabins at Mabel Lake and Tsuius Creek, each with one shed of up to 25 m²

Smallest lot for a subdivision

60 ha; frontage 10% of the lot's perimeter

Lot coverage

10%

Height limit

Measured from the water, not the ground: cabins 10.3 m and sheds 8 m above Mabel Lake's natural boundary on the lakefront; 9.3 m and 7 m above Tsuius Creek's natural boundary on its north-east side; 8.3 m and 6 m above natural ground on its south-west side

Setbacks

8 m from every lot line and access road; 3 m between buildings

Seasonal means no one stays more than 182 days in a calendar year (s. 2, seasonal use).

Cabins need community sewer; sewage tanks and mains below 398.3 m (Mabel Lake's flood level) are flushed or sealed during the yearly flood (s. 18.3(8), (15)). Beside Tsuius Creek the floodplain setback is 15 m on the north-east side, and floors sit 2 m above the creek's natural boundary there and 1 m above natural ground on the south-west side (s. 18.3(14)).

Written for one site; public parks aren't automatically allowed in comprehensive development zones (s. 3.2(3)).

Heights are measured from finished grade to the highest point of the building (s. 2); antennas, spires and fire towers are exempt, and chimneys, stair and elevator towers and rooftop equipment may rise 2.5 m above the limit (s. 4.3). Eaves, steps, decks and balconies may reach 1 m into a setback, chimneys and bay windows 0.6 m; sheds under 10 m² and 2.5 m tall that don't drain onto a neighbour are exempt from side and rear setbacks (s. 4.4).

Public parks and playgrounds are allowed in every zone except the comprehensive development zones (s. 3.2(3)). Banned everywhere (s. 3.3): living in a cellar; living or working in a tent, RV, park model or container, except one tent or one RV up to 10 m for 30 days a year outside a campground; storing wrecked vehicles in the open; pulp mills; and sewage plants that discharge to surface water.

Floodplain (s. 6.1): floors for living, business or storing goods sit above the flood construction level: the provincial floodplain maps where they exist; 351.1 m beside Mara Lake, 393.2 m beside Kalamalka Lake and 604.72 m beside Sugar Lake; 3 m above the natural boundary of Mabel Lake and of the Shuswap River between Shuswap Falls and Sugar Lake; 1.5 m above the natural boundary of any other stream, lake, marsh or pond. Buildings and fill stay 30 m from the Shuswap and Kettle rivers and Ashton, Bessette, Cherry, Duteau, Ferry, Kingfisher, Monashee, Tsuius and Wap creeks, and 15 m from other water bodies and dykes. Garages, carports, entrance foyers, renovations and most farm buildings are exempt from the level; the RDNO Board may grant exemptions on an engineer's report.

Streamside (s. 6.2): no development in the riparian assessment area (generally 30 m from a stream, lake or wetland under the provincial Riparian Areas Protection Regulation) unless a qualified environmental professional's assessment sets a smaller setback or the province approves.

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 RDNO's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Regional District of North Okanagan Zoning Bylaw No. 3000, 2023 (summarised in our words); zone map: RDNO Digital Data Files terms of use; Source: Regional District of North Okanagan GIS Department.