RF3: Rural Forest Three

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

One house and one auxiliary dwelling, at most 355 m² of homes in all (s. 7.14.2)

Main uses

Forest management, park, a house; on a lot over 3.75 ha, log booming and storage and wood processing up to 250 m² of buildings, 30 m from lot lines

Smallest lot for a subdivision

Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (s. 4.2): from 1,000 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district

Lot coverage

15% up to 3.5 ha, 10% above

Height limit

11 m; a house on a lot under 750 m² 8.5 m unless the lot's average slope is over 20%; a detached auxiliary dwelling or accessory building 8.5 m (s. 5.11)

Setbacks

5 m from every lot line (s. 7.14.4); 15 m from the sea and 17 m from a creek, lake or wetland (s. 5.16)

No child daycare or real estate sales office, which other zones allow (s. 5.1.1).

Floors of living space at least 0.6 m above the 200-year flood level or 2 m above the natural boundary of the sea, a lake or a stream, whichever is higher (3 m on some named rivers) (s. 5.18).

Uses a zone doesn't list aren't allowed (s. 5.1.2).

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: Sunshine Coast Regional District Zoning Bylaw No. 722 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-02); zone map: Open Government Licence – Sunshine Coast Regional District.