--- title: "Colwood zoning: find your zone and what it allows" question: "How do I find out how my property is zoned and what I can build on it?" place: Colwood, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/colwood category: Building, renovating and your property owner: municipal owner_body: City of Colwood sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/zoning-lookup/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/zoning-lookup.json" --- # Colwood zoning: find your zone and what it allows **Question:** How do I find out how my property is zoned and what I can build on it? **Short answer:** In Colwood, look up your property's zone on the City's online GIS map (Zoning & Development Areas layer), then read that zone's rules in Land Use Bylaw No. 151. A Property Information Request also gives zoning information for a property. **Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Colwood, https://www.colwood.ca) **Cost:** Building information requests are free to the property owner (Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule A). **Where:** - Online: Colwood GIS interactive map (Zoning and Development Areas), https://colwood.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html - Phone: Planning & Development Services, 250-294-8153 - Email: Planning & Development Services, planning@colwood.ca - Phone: City Hall, 250-478-5999 ## Key facts - **How to find your zone:** Use Colwood's online GIS Maps (the Zoning & Development Areas layer). A Property Information Request also gives zoning information for a property. The zones are shown on Schedule A (Zoning Map) of the Land Use Bylaw. - Source: [Maps, Colwood GIS Interactive Map Tool](https://www.colwood.ca/city-hall/maps) - Official wording: "Use Colwood's GIS Maps to view and zoom in on:" … "Zoning & Development Areas" - Source: [Building Permits, How do I access information about my property?](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/building/building-permits) - Official wording: "Complete and submit this Property Information Request to obtain information about the age of your house, the date of occupancy, zoning information" - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 1.3.10](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999) - Official wording: "The location of the zones established by this Bylaw are shown on the said Schedule "A"." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Zoning bylaw:** Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989, consolidated to August 24, 2026 - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), Cover page](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999) - Official wording: "Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989" … "(With amendments to August 24, 2026)" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **What the zone controls:** Each zone sets permitted uses, number of residential buildings, building height, front, side and rear yard setbacks, lot coverage and subdivision sizes. Division 2 general rules (accessory buildings, home occupations, suites, parking) also apply. - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 5.2.01 to 5.2.07 (AR1 zone, example)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999) - Official wording: "5.2.01 Permitted Uses" … "5.2.03 Height of Buildings" … "5.2.04 Yard Requirements" … "5.2.05 Lot Coverage" … "The relevant provisions of Division 2 of this Bylaw shall apply." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Contact:** Planning & Development Services: planning@colwood.ca, 250-294-8153 (also reachable via City Hall 250-478-5999). - Source: [Development, Contact Us](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/development) - Official wording: "please contact the Planning department at 250-294-8153 or planning@colwood.ca" - Source: [Contact Us, Planning & Development Services](https://www.colwood.ca/city-hall/contact-us) - Official wording: "Manager of Parks: Gordon Beauvilier ### Planning & Development Services Email: planning@colwood.ca Phone: 2504785999 The Development Services Department ensures that new development land uses reflect the goals of the community and the best interests of the public.. The department is guided by the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw, and ensures that projects are consistent with all City bylaws and policies. Read about Business & Development in Colwood" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), Cover page](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999) - Official wording: "Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works Every property in Colwood has a zone set out in [Land Use Bylaw No. 151](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999), the City's zoning bylaw. The zones are shown on Schedule A (Zoning Map) of the bylaw. Each zone sets permitted uses, the number of residential buildings, building height, front, side and rear yard setbacks, lot coverage and subdivision sizes. General rules in Division 2 (accessory buildings, home occupations, suites, parking) also apply. Other zones differ, and Comprehensive Development zones have their own rules. ## Steps 1. Open the City's online GIS Maps and turn on the Zoning & Development Areas layer. Find your address to see the zone. 2. Open Land Use Bylaw No. 151 and find that zone's section for permitted uses and the size and siting rules. 3. For zoning information on a specific property, file a Property Information Request. Building information requests are free to the owner. 4. Ask Planning & Development Services (250-294-8153, planning@colwood.ca) if you need help. ## Good to know - The City contact page lists planning@colwood.ca with the main number, 250-478-5999. - The bylaw may have been amended since its latest consolidation, so confirm with Planning before you rely on a rule. ## Zones 96 zones are listed from [Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (with amendments to August 24, 2026)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999). Each zone has its own page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/zoning/index.json Look up the zone of an address: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/zoning/lookup?address=123+Main+St ## Official forms and pages - [Maps, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/city-hall/maps) - [Land Use Bylaw No. 151 (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999) - [Property Information Request](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/application-forms/property-information-request) ## Related questions - [Colwood secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/secondary-suite.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Zoning maps in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/zoning-lookup.md) - [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/zoning-lookup.md) - [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/zoning-lookup.md) - [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/zoning-lookup.md) - [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/zoning-lookup.md) - [Metchosin](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/metchosin/zoning-lookup.md) - [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/zoning-lookup.md) ## Sources - [Maps, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/city-hall/maps) (read 2026-11-05) - [Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF)](https://colwood.civicweb.net/document/1999) (read 2026-11-05) - [Building Permits, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/building/building-permits) (read 2026-11-05) - [Development, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/business-building-development/development) (read 2026-11-05) - [Contact Us, City of Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/city-hall/contact-us) (read 2026-11-05) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Colwood. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/zoning-lookup/_