PlaceDossier / Zoning / Sunshine Coast Regional District
Sunshine Coast Regional District Electoral Area A Zoning Bylaw No. 337
The Sunshine Coast Regional District's zoning bylaw, which applies in Sunshine Coast, Electoral Area A. Our summary of its 21 residential and rural zones, read from the consolidation to 2026-09-10 and checked 2026-10-02. Its other zones aren't summarised here.
The zones side by side
| Zone | Homes allowed | Smallest lot for a subdivision | Lot coverage | Height limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RS-1 Single Family Residential | One house (s. 600.2), up to 300 m²; all buildings at most 400 m² in all | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% | 11 m (s. 512) |
| R-1 Single Family Residential | One house; on a lot over 2,000 m², an auxiliary dwelling (or, at 2,000 m² and up on community sewer, a second home); on 4,000 m² and up, a second house; two homes at most (s. 601). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% | 11 m (s. 512) |
| R-1A Single Family Residential A | One house (s. 602.2). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% | 11 m (s. 512) |
| R-1B Single Family Residential B | One house; a second house on a lot over 1 ha (s. 603). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% | 11 m (s. 512) |
| R-2 Single and Two Family Residential | One house; on a lot over 2,000 m², a duplex or a house with an auxiliary dwelling; over 4,000 m², two houses; two homes at most (s. 611). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% | 11 m (s. 512) |
| R-2A Single and Auxiliary Residential Two | One house (s. 612.2). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% | 11 m (s. 512) |
| R-3 Residential and Auxiliary Commercial | One house; on a lot over 2,000 m², a duplex or a house with an auxiliary dwelling; over 3,500 m², two houses; two homes at most (s. 621). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| R-3A Residential and Auxiliary Commercial A | One house; on a lot over 2,000 m², a duplex or a house with an auxiliary dwelling (a second home on community sewer); on 4,000 m² and up without community sewer, a second house; two homes at most (s. 631). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| R-3B Residential and Auxiliary Commercial B | One house; on a lot over 2,000 m², a duplex or a house with an auxiliary dwelling; on 4,000 m² and up, two houses; two homes at most (s. 641). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| R-3C Residential and Auxiliary Commercial C | One house; on a lot over 2,000 m², a duplex or a house with an auxiliary dwelling; on 4,000 m² and up, two houses; two homes at most (s. 651). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| CR-1 Country Residential | One house; on a lot over 3,500 m², a duplex or a house with an auxiliary dwelling; over 8,000 m², two houses; two homes at most (s. 1001). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| RU-1 Rural Residential | One house; on a lot over 3,500 m², a duplex or a house with an auxiliary dwelling; over 8,000 m², two houses; two homes at most (s. 1011). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| RU-1A Rural Residential A | One house; on a lot of 2 ha or more, a duplex or two houses; two homes at most (s. 1021). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| RU-1B Rural Residential B | One house; on a lot over 3,500 m², a duplex or a house with an auxiliary dwelling; over 8,000 m², two houses; two homes at most (s. 1031). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| RU-1C Rural Residential C | One house; a second home on a lot over 2 ha; two homes at most (s. 1041). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| RU-1D Rural Residential D | One house; on a lot over 3,500 m², a duplex or a house with an auxiliary dwelling; two homes at most (s. 1051). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| RU-2 Rural Resource | One house; on a lot over 1 ha, a duplex or two houses; over 4 ha, a third house and an auxiliary dwelling; four homes at most (s. 1061). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| RU-2A Rural Resource A | None: no permanent buildings (s. 1071.2) | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| RU-3 Rural Agriculture | One house; a second house on a lot over 3,500 m² (s. 1081). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above; greenhouses not counted | 11 m (s. 512) |
| RU-4 Rural Aquaculture | One house; a second house on a lot over 3,500 m² (s. 1091). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
| RU-5 Rural Watershed Protection | One house; on a lot of 2 ha or more, a second house (s. 1100). A secondary suite is allowed where the zone allows only one house or a duplex; a lot can have one secondary suite or one auxiliary dwelling, not both, and neither counts toward the zone's limit on homes (ss. 502, 506). On SCRD sewer a suite needs the SCRD's sign-off on capacity first. | Set by the lot's subdivision district, not its zone (ss. 401, 407): from 640 m² to 100 ha; a lot's report shows its district. Lots on Ruby, Sakinaw, Hotel, Garden Bay and Mixal lakes in the larger districts need 60 m of lakeshore (s. 408) | 35% on a lot of 2,000 m² or less, 15% above | 11 m (s. 512) |
"Not set" means the zone itself sets no figure; general rules elsewhere in the bylaw may still apply. Each zone's page has its uses, setbacks and the general rules that apply to it.
Where the bylaw is unclear
Points we couldn't settle from the bylaw's text. Ask before you rely on them.
- RU-2: The zone lists a cannabis production facility on a lot of 8 ha or more, 60 m from lot lines (s. 1061), but s. 520 bans cannabis production in RU2, so it is unclear; ask the SCRD.
- RU-3: The zone lists a cannabis production facility on a lot of 8 ha or more, 60 m from lot lines (s. 1081), but s. 520 bans cannabis production in RU3, so it is unclear; ask the SCRD.
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 Electoral Area A Zoning Bylaw No. 337 (summarised in our words); zone map: Open Government Licence – Sunshine Coast Regional District.