RM-2: Multi-Family Residential Two

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

Houses, duplexes and multi-family buildings (three or more homes), at least 640 m² of site area for each home; at most 30 homes in multi-family buildings in the whole zone (ss. 711.1 to 711.3, 404). Whether a secondary suite is allowed is unclear: s. 502(1)(g) allows one in any zone that allows a house, but s. 506(a) only where the zone lists just one house or just a duplex; ask the SCRD

Main uses

Houses, duplexes, multi-family buildings; recreation facilities and a yacht club serving the houses and duplexes, with dining and licensed premises serving the yacht club (s. 711.1); plus what every zone allows: parks and playgrounds, public schools, daycare and other public buildings, horticulture and forest management, public utilities, home business, accessory buildings (s. 502(1))

Smallest lot for a subdivision

Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report gives its district in "What you can build (zoning)", under "The record", as "Subdivision district (smallest new lot)". Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408); and at least 640 m² of site area for each home (s. 711.2)

Lot coverage

35%, public utility buildings on lots under 100 m² aside (s. 711.6)

Height limit

11 m (s. 512)

Setbacks

7.5 m from every lot line (s. 711.5); 15 m from the sea, 30 m from Garden Bay, Hotel, Ruby and Waugh lakes, 20 m from other lakes, 17 m from a swamp, pond or other stream (s. 515)

Parking: what s. 518 requires plus one visitor space for every three homes (s. 711.4).

The zone lists no bed and breakfast, and the bylaw has no other short-term rental use, so ask the SCRD before renting a home by the night (our reading; ss. 509, 711.1).

No livestock, poultry or rabbits, and no storing or repairing of licensed fishing boats and gear, in this zone (ss. 503, 504).

A multi-family building here is often a strata: what an owner may do with a home is in the strata's bylaws as well, so read them (our reading).

Accessory buildings together at most 150 m² on a lot under 1,500 m², 250 m² up to 1 ha, 350 m² above, with no sleeping in them unless an auxiliary dwelling is allowed (s. 505).

While the house is built, you can live in a mobile home or RV on the lot under a temporary building permit, until the house is occupied (s. 510).

Floors of living space at least 0.6 m above the 200-year flood level or 1.5 m above the natural boundary of the sea, a lake, swamp or pond, whichever is higher (s. 515).

Uses the bylaw doesn't list aren't allowed (s. 302).

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 SCRD's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Section 711 of Sunshine Coast Regional District Electoral Area A Zoning Bylaw No. 337 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-06); zone map: Open Government Licence – Sunshine Coast Regional District.