OTD-1: Old Town District-1 Zone

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

No set number of homes: apartments over the street-level uses, held by the density and height limits; homes and hotel rooms aren't allowed on the first storey unless they sit right beside, and open onto, a lane, alley, through-block walkway or inner courtyard (s. 4.8.1.1)

Main uses

Homes, home occupations, hotel, retail trade, retail liquor sale, personal service, food and beverage service, drinking establishment, brew pub, office (on the first storey not within 6 m of a wall on a street or walkway), financial service, studio, art and cultural facility, assembly, civic facility, assisted living and care facilities, equipment rental (rental sports gear and vehicles other than cars may be shown outdoors), dock, pier and wharf, utility (s. 4.8.1)

Smallest lot for a subdivision

No minimum set in the zone (s. 4.8.7)

Lot coverage

None set in the zone (s. 4.8.6)

Height limit

15.0 m; parapets may rise 1.0 m and rooftop structures 5.0 m above it (s. 4.8.3)

Setbacks

None set in the zone; balconies, cornices, eaves and the like may project 0.6 m and wall cladding and insulation 0.13 m (s. 4.8.4)

Density: floor space ratio 3.0 for all uses, and office at most 1.0 in any building built after 1914 (s. 4.8.2); Schedule C's density benefits are for GRD-1 only.

A brew pub's brewing or distilling: not above the first storey, not within 6 m of a wall on a street or walkway unless run with retail or food service, and at most 35% of its first-storey floor area (s. 4.8.1.1). A liquor store at most 275 m² (Part 3 s. 32).

Parking: cars only on a lot of 1,100 m² or more, all inside a building (s. 4.8.5); there (Part 5, Table 1) apartments by size (rental 0.50, 0.60 or 1.0 a home under 45 m², to 70 m², over 70 m²; others 0.65, 0.80 or 1.20; affordable 0.20, 0.50 or 0.75) plus 0.1 for visitors; hotel 0.50 a room; retail 1 space per 80 m², office 1 per 70 m², food and beverage 1 per 40 m².

The zone's site-specific table (88 entries) gives named lots other uses, parking, heights up to 43.0 m or densities up to 5.5:1, and wins where it differs (Part 1 s. 5); ask the City whether a lot is listed.

Every home at least 33 m²; in buildings of 3 storeys or less at least 30% of the homes with three bedrooms or more; in taller buildings at least 10% with three bedrooms and another 20% with two (15% with the density of Schedule C e.); not for assisted living or affordable housing developments (Part 3 s. 30).

Short-term rental (under 30 nights) and bed and breakfast only as a home occupation in the operator's principal residence: at most two guest bedrooms, never a whole home, except the whole residence while the operator is away for no more than 160 nights a calendar year; no liquor for guests (Part 3 s. 20(e), (i)).

Home occupations: residents of the home, a City business licence, no sales on the premises except as part of the business, no nuisance beyond the home, at most three in a home and only one with customers coming (Part 3 s. 20).

Fences: 1.22 m in the front yard setback and 1.83 m in other setbacks on a lot with homes (Part 3 s. 25).

A building legally built before this zone came in may keep a density over today's limit until it is damaged beyond 75% of its value (Part 1 s. 20).

Parts 1, 2, 3 (general regulations) and 5 (parking) and Schedules B (urban agriculture) and C (density benefits) also apply.

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 City of Victoria's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Part 4.8 of Zoning Bylaw 2018, No. 18-072 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05); zone map: Open Government Licence – City of Victoria.