---
title: "R-3 zone in Lake Cowichan: Traditional Urban Residential"
place: Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/lake-cowichan
zone: R-3
bylaw: Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated as of February 24, 2026)
bylaw_read: 2026-11-08
review: draft
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/zoning/r-3/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/zoning/r-3.json"
---

# R-3 zone in Lake Cowichan: Traditional Urban Residential

A variety of dwelling types at medium density in an urban setting.

## Zone rules

- **Purpose:** A variety of dwelling types at medium density in an urban setting.
- **Main uses:** Single detached; Duplex; Lodge / boarding house; Triplex; Quadplex
- **Also allowed (secondary uses):** Secondary suite, garden suite or coach house (one of the three on a lot with a single detached dwelling); Secondary suite in a duplex (corner lot, or garage with tandem parking, or lot of at least 780 m²); Home-based business (within the size limits for the suite)
- **Extra uses on specific lots:** Silviculture on Lots 1 to 4, Plan VIP74849, District Lots 10 & 14 (minimum lot size 40,000 m²; leave strips along streams and at least 10 m along the roadway to the Town-owned campground); development and care of forests as accessory use; minimum lot size 40,000 m²; setbacks 30 m front and 15 m rear, exterior side and interior side; Rental only tenure for 25% of all units of any housing type on Lot B, Plan VIP 44661, District Lot 16 (PID 006-130-453), Cowichan Lake Road; Rental only tenure for 100% of units on Lot 3, Section 6, Renfrew Land District, Plan VIP5580 (PID 005-990-254), 118 MacDonald Road; Bed and Breakfast, accessory to principal single detached residential use, on Lot 3, Block 4, Section 5, Plan 1750 only
- **Minimum lot area:** 600 m² (single dwelling); 780 m² (duplex on a single strata lot); 300 m² (duplex, each unit on its own fee simple lot); 780 m² or corner lot (triplex and quadplex)
- **Maximum lot coverage:** 50%
- **Maximum height:** 11.0 m; for all building types except townhouses the third storey must have a minimum roof slope of 8 vertical to 12 horizontal
- **Maximum height, accessory buildings:** 7.5 m (accessory buildings over 10 m²); 3.5 m (accessory structures under 10 m²)
- **Front setback:** 6.1 m for single detached, duplex, triplex and quadplex (dwelling front face may extend 1.5 m into the setback); 4.5 m to dwelling front face and garage front face for townhomes (porches may extend into the setback)
- **Rear setback:** 4.5 m
- **Interior side setback:** 1.5 m
- **Street side setback:** 3.0 m
- **Accessory building setbacks:** Accessory structures under 10 m²: front 7.5 m, rear 0.6 m, interior side 0.6 m, exterior side 3.0 m
- **Other rules:** Maximum 3 storeys; One accessory dwelling unit is permitted on a lot; Secondary suite: at most 40% of the principal dwelling's floor area or 85 m² (whichever is less); at least 30 m²; at most 2 bedrooms; Garden suite and coach house: at most 40% of the principal dwelling's floor area or 60 m² (whichever is less); at least 30 m²; at most 2 bedrooms

## Source

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated as of February 24, 2026), s. Part V](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl//1055-2021%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20Consolidated%2026-02-24.pdf#page=21) (read 2026-11-08)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply. All zones in Lake Cowichan: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/zoning/index.json

_Draft: taken from the bylaw text by a research agent and not yet reviewed by a person. Gov Handbook is an independent guide. Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/zoning/r-3/_