PlaceDossier / Zoning / City of Victoria
Zoning Bylaw 2018, No. 18-072
The City of Victoria's zoning bylaw, which applies in Victoria. Our summary of its 4 General Residential District-1 (GRD-1, also in a Priority Growth Area), Local Village District-1 (LVD-1) and Old Town District-1 (OTD-1) zones, read from the consolidation to 2026-07-30 and checked 2026-10-05. Its other zones aren't summarised here.
The zones side by side
| Zone | Homes allowed | Smallest lot for a subdivision | Lot coverage | Height limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRD-1 General Residential District-1 Zone | No set number of homes: anything from one house to an apartment building, with secondary suites and a garden suite, as long as the density, height, siting and lot rules fit. With fewer than 3 homes on the lot, floor space ratio 0.5; with 3 or more, 1.6 (Schedule C's higher densities need a lot in a Priority Growth Area or a Transit Oriented Area). The bylaw doesn't use the Province's small-scale multi-unit housing wording; 3 or more homes need at least 360 m² of lot (s. 4.1.2, 4.1.7) | No subdivision minimum as such: the minimum lot by what is built is 460 m² with fewer than 3 homes, 360 m² for 3 or more homes in 3 storeys or less, 540 m² taller (none for heritage conserving infill); street frontage at least 10.0 m (taller than 3 storeys: 15.0 m up to 4 storeys, 30.0 m for 5, 36.0 m for more) (s. 4.1.7) | With fewer than 3 homes 40%, heritage conserving infill 50%, 3 or more homes in 3 storeys or less 45%, taller 55%; open lot space at least 30%; landscape area at least 35 m² (3 or more homes in 3 storeys or less: 6% of the lot or 35 m², whichever is more, up to 612 m², 10% on bigger lots; taller: 10%) (s. 4.1.6) | With fewer than 3 homes 7.6 m; 3 or more homes in 3 storeys or less 12.0 m; taller 14 m and 4 storeys. Buildings over 4 storeys only in a Priority Growth Area (the GRD-1 (PGA) lots) or a Transit Oriented Area (Schedule E): there 17 m for 5 storeys and 20.5 m for 6, or 32 m and 10 storeys in a Transit Oriented Area's 200 m tier (s. 4.1.3). Whether a lot is in a Transit Oriented Area we don't check: ask the City |
| GRD-1 (PGA) General Residential District-1 Zone, Priority Growth Area | No set number of homes: anything from one house to an apartment building, with secondary suites and a garden suite, as long as the density, height, siting and lot rules fit. With fewer than 3 homes on the lot, floor space ratio 0.5; with 3 or more, 1.6 before density benefits; in this Priority Growth Area up to 2.6 or 2.75 under Schedule C (below), in buildings up to 6 storeys. The bylaw doesn't use the Province's small-scale multi-unit housing wording; 3 or more homes need at least 360 m² of lot (s. 4.1.2, 4.1.7) | No subdivision minimum as such: the minimum lot by what is built is 460 m² with fewer than 3 homes, 360 m² for 3 or more homes in 3 storeys or less, 540 m² taller (none for heritage conserving infill); street frontage at least 10.0 m (taller than 3 storeys: 15.0 m up to 4 storeys, 30.0 m for 5, 36.0 m for more) (s. 4.1.7) | With fewer than 3 homes 40%, heritage conserving infill 50%, 3 or more homes in 3 storeys or less 45%, taller 55%; open lot space at least 30%; landscape area at least 35 m² (3 or more homes in 3 storeys or less: 6% of the lot or 35 m², whichever is more, up to 612 m², 10% on bigger lots; taller: 10%) (s. 4.1.6) | With fewer than 3 homes 7.6 m; 3 or more homes in 3 storeys or less 12.0 m; up to 4 storeys 14 m; in a Priority Growth Area also 17 m for 5 storeys and 20.5 m for 6, or 32 m and 10 storeys in a Transit Oriented Area's 200 m tier (s. 4.1.3). A building over 4 storeys also needs 30.0 m of street frontage for 5 storeys, 36.0 m for more (s. 4.1.7) |
| LVD-1 Local Village District-1 Zone | No set number of homes: apartments over shops, held by the density and height limits; homes aren't allowed on the first storey except beside a flanking street lot line (s. 4.2.1) | 540 m² and 15.0 m wide at least (s. 4.2.7) | 80%; landscape area at least 6% of the lot (s. 4.2.6) | 14.0 m; parapets may rise 1.2 m and rooftop structures 3.6 m above it (s. 4.2.3) |
| OTD-1 Old Town District-1 Zone | 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) | No minimum set in the zone (s. 4.8.7) | None set in the zone (s. 4.8.6) | 15.0 m; parapets may rise 1.0 m and rooftop structures 5.0 m above it (s. 4.8.3) |
"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.
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: Zoning Bylaw 2018, No. 18-072 (summarised in our words); zone map: Open Government Licence – City of Victoria.