RU3: Residential Sub-Urban

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

Up to four homes inside the Urban Containment Boundary, three outside it (s. 10.3.5); at most two main homes, both in one building (a duplex), the rest secondary suites or carriage houses (s. 10.3.7)

Main uses

Houses, duplexes, manufactured homes; secondary suites, carriage houses, home occupations, small child care and group homes, short-term rental

Smallest lot for a subdivision

800 m², 18 m wide and 30 m deep (half for each side of a side-by-side duplex) (s. 10.3.4)

Lot coverage

40%; floor area up to 0.8 times the lot area

Height limit

The lesser of 9.5 m or 2 storeys; accessory buildings 4.5 m or 1 storey

Setbacks

Front and rear 6 m, sides 1.5 m (3 m on one side without a way to the back of the lot), 4.5 m beside a street; accessory buildings 1.5 m from the side and rear (6 m from the rear on a lakefront lot)

The zone is for houses and duplexes on lots with full urban services, in and near the Urban Containment Boundary (s. 10.3.1).

Accessory buildings up to 90 m² or a quarter of the allowed coverage, whichever is more (s. 10.3.7).

A carriage house (a home in an accessory building, s. 7.4) is no larger than the main home and must be on municipal water and sewer, unless the lot is 1 ha or more and has a septic system; a secondary suite (s. 7.3) is one in the house, no larger than the rest of it.

Short-term rental is allowed (s. 7.2): one home on the lot, run by someone living on the lot as their primary residence (in the house, the suite or the carriage house), up to four bedrooms and eight guests.

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 District of Summerland's development services department before you buy or build.

Source: Section 10.3 of Zoning Bylaw No. 2000-450 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05); zone map: Open Government Licence – District of Summerland.