RS5: Low Density Residential West Bench

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

One house; the zone lists no secondary suite or accessory dwelling (s. 16.5.4)

Main uses

One single detached house; home occupation, short-term rental

Smallest lot for a subdivision

2 ha, unless the new lots are on community sewer and stormwater management (s. 16.5.2)

Lot coverage

30%

Height limit

10 m; accessory buildings 4.5 m

Setbacks

Front 7.5 m, rear 7.5 m, sides 1.5 m (4.5 m beside a road); accessory buildings 1 m from the rear, 1.5 m from the sides

The zone is for houses on the West Bench above Penticton (s. 16.5). The house is at least 5 m wide (s. 16.5.8).

Short-term rental (s. 7.11) is a listed use: in a home someone lives in, or on a lot with a home someone lives in; up to 2 guests per bedroom; one rental unit per lot in Areas E and F (Naramata, Okanagan Lake West and West Bench), two in Areas A, C, D and I; in Areas A, C and E the operator lives in the same home and is there during the stay. In the ALR only as far as provincial law or the Agricultural Land Commission allows.

New lots must be at least a quarter as wide as they are deep.

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 RDOS's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Section 16.5 of Okanagan Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 2800, 2022 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05); zone map: Open Government Licence – Regional District Okanagan Similkameen.