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City of Victoria Zoning Regulation Bylaw No. 80-159
The City of Victoria's zoning bylaw, which applies in Victoria. Our summary of its 4 single family R1-A, R1-B and R1-G and two family R-2 zones, read from the consolidation to 2026-05-28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1-B Single Family Dwelling District | A house with one of a secondary suite, a garden suite or up to 4 roomers or boarders; or more homes under s. 52 or Schedule P (below): up to 4 housing units on a lot over 280 m² (3 on smaller lots, 6 near a frequent bus stop), or a houseplex or corner townhouse in the Residential Fabric. Whether a lot qualifies we don't check: ask the City | 460 m², 15 m wide on average (s. 1.2.2); a panhandle lot 600 m², 18 m wide (Schedule H) | 40% (s. 1.2.6); under s. 52 or Schedule P, 40% with 45% open site space | House 7.6 m and 2 storeys, no roof deck; public building 11 m and 2½ storeys; garden suite 3.5 m (4.2 m on a plus site); accessory buildings 3.5 m; under s. 52 or Schedule P, 11 m (12 m with a pitched roof) |
| R1-G Gonzales Single Family Dwelling District | A house with one of a secondary suite, a garden suite or up to 4 roomers or boarders; or more homes under s. 52 or Schedule P (below): up to 4 housing units on a lot over 280 m² (3 on smaller lots, 6 near a frequent bus stop), or a houseplex or corner townhouse in the Residential Fabric. Whether a lot qualifies we don't check: ask the City | 460 m², 15 m wide on average (s. 1.6.2); a panhandle lot 600 m², 18 m wide (Schedule H) | 30%, with open site space of 50% of the lot and of the front yard (s. 1.6.6); under s. 52 or Schedule P, 40% with 45% open site space | House 7.6 m and 2 storeys (1½ with a basement), no roof deck; garden suite 3.5 m (4.2 m on a plus site); accessory buildings 3.5 m; under s. 52 or Schedule P, 11 m (12 m with a pitched roof) |
| R1-A Rockland Single Family Dwelling District | A house with one of a secondary suite, a garden suite or up to 4 roomers or boarders; or attached or semi-attached homes, each with 835 m² of the lot (s. 1.1.1, 1.1.2); or a houseplex or corner townhouse in the Residential Fabric (Schedule P, below). Because the zone allows attached homes, whether s. 52's small-scale multi-unit housing applies here is unclear: ask the City | 740 m², 24 m wide on average; 835 m² a home with attached or semi-attached homes; a lot with a pre-1970 building fit for conversion 2,800 m² or 3.63 times its floor area, whichever is less (s. 1.1.2); a panhandle lot 850 m², 24 m wide (Schedule H) | 40%; 25% with attached or semi-attached homes (s. 1.1.6); Schedule P as it sets | House and attached homes 7.6 m and 2½ storeys, no roof deck; public building 11 m; garden suite 3.5 m (4.2 m on a plus site); accessory buildings 3.5 m; Schedule P 11 m (12 m with a pitched roof) |
| R-2 Two Family Dwelling District | A duplex (two homes), or anything the R1-B zone allows under its rules; or more homes under s. 52 or Schedule P (below): up to 4 housing units on a lot over 280 m² (3 on smaller lots, 6 near a frequent bus stop), or a houseplex or corner townhouse in the Residential Fabric. Whether a lot qualifies we don't check: ask the City | 555 m², and 277.5 m² a home; 15 m wide on average (s. 2.1.2); a panhandle lot 700 m², 18 m wide (Schedule H) | 40%, with open site space of 30% of the lot and 33% of the rear yard (s. 2.1.6); under s. 52 or Schedule P, 40% with 45% open site space | Duplex 7.6 m and 2 storeys (1½ with a basement), no roof deck; public building 11 m (or the lot's width if less) and 2½ storeys; garden suite 3.5 m (4.2 m on a plus site); accessory buildings 3.5 m; under s. 52 or Schedule P, 11 m (12 m with a pitched roof) |
"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.
- R1-B, R1-G, R1-A, R-2: Small-scale multi-unit housing (general regulations s. 52, the Province's rules): in a zone limited to a house or duplex with suites, up to 4 housing units (homes, secondary suites and garden suites counted) on a lot over 280 m², 3 on a lot of 280 m² or less, 6 on a lot over 280 m² any part of which is within 400 m of a bus stop meeting the Province's frequent-service test (no car parking needed then, bar one van-accessible space and six long-term bicycle spaces). A garden suite may then sit beside a suite or a duplex. Height, setbacks and coverage then follow Schedule P ss. 3.2 to 3.4: 11 m with a flat roof, 12 m otherwise; front and other street sides 4 m, sides 1.5 m, rear 10 m or 25% of the lot's depth, whichever is more, 5 m between buildings; coverage 40%, open site space 45%. Which floor area limit then applies is unclear. Not on a lot off City water or sewer, in a transit-oriented area (Schedule T), over 4,050 m², under 230 m² or narrower than 7.5 m on average, or on heritage-designated or protected land.
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: City of Victoria Zoning Regulation Bylaw No. 80-159 (summarised in our words); zone map: Open Government Licence – City of Victoria.