RU2: Rural Residential Two

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

Area E: one house under 8,000 m², two houses (or a house and a community care facility) above. Areas B and D: one house under 1 ha, two houses up to 4 ha, three houses and an auxiliary dwelling of up to 55 m² above 4 ha. Area F: one house under 1.5 ha, two houses above (s. 7.11.4). A secondary suite of up to 55 m² is allowed in each house, on top of the zone's count of homes (s. 5.24); on SCRD sewer it needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first.

Main uses

Houses, farming, garden nursery, livestock on a lot over 3,500 m² (up to 50 pigs over 1.75 ha), forestry, and on a lot over 1.75 ha a campground (10 sites a hectare), sawmill or shake mill, construction camp, equipment repair, small manufacturing or storage, animal shelter (kennels only in Areas E and F) and horse boarding; wildlife rehabilitation, cannabis production over 8 ha, short-term rental, home business

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

35% up to 3,500 m², 15% 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 a road; 1.5 m from other lot lines for buildings up to 8.5 m tall, 4 m above that; 15 m from the sea and 17 m from a creek, lake or wetland (32 m from some named rivers) (ss. 5.14, 5.16); campgrounds, kennels, sawmills, horse facilities, pigs and the other rural business uses 15 m (s. 7.11.5)

Land the zoning map doesn't place in a zone is RU2 (s. 4.1.2).

An auxiliary dwelling, attached or detached, is up to 90 m² of floor area (55 m² where more than two houses are allowed) (s. 5.2).

Short-term rental (s. 5.3): run by someone living on the property, up to two bedrooms per dwelling and two guests per bedroom, not in a secondary suite or in an auxiliary dwelling over 55 m², on approved water and sewage systems.

On a lot under 1,500 m², all buildings together are at most 40% of the lot area or 450 m², whichever is less (s. 5.13).

Accessory buildings together are at most 5% of the lot or 300 m², whichever is less (75 m² on a lot under 1,500 m²), with no sleeping or cooking in them (s. 5.10).

While the house is built, you can live in a building or RV on the lot under a temporary building permit, until the house is occupied (s. 5.22).

Poultry and rabbits: none under 1,000 m²; up to 10 (no roosters) and 2 beehives up to 1,500 m²; no limit above, with coops 10 m from lot lines (s. 5.5).

Livestock only on a lot over 3,500 m², with pens, troughs and manure 20 m from lot lines (s. 5.6).

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.