R-4 zone in Lake Cowichan: Medium Density Residential

Lake Cowichan, British ColumbiaDraft, not yet reviewedBylaw read 2026-11-08

In short

Single detached dwellings, including manufactured homes, on compact lots at medium density.

Zone rules

Purpose	Single detached dwellings, including manufactured homes, on compact lots at medium density.
Main uses	Single detached Duplex Triplex Quadplex Townhouse
Also allowed (secondary uses)	Secondary suite in 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	Rental only tenure for 100% of units on the 0.89 acre parcel of Lot A, Section 6, District Lot 13, Plan VIP64669 (PID 023-666-056), Point Ideal Drive Rental only tenure for 100% of units on Lot 16, Block 6, Plan VIP 1231, District Lot 12 (PID 007-656-033), 89 Lakeview Avenue
Minimum lot area	500 m² (single dwelling); 600 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); 200 m² (townhouse units with individual fee simple lots)
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	4.5 m for pitched roof, 3.7 m for flat roof (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	3.0 m
Interior side setback	1.5 m
Street side setback	4.0 m
Accessory building setbacks	Accessory structures under 10 m²: front 7.5 m, rear 0.6 m, interior side 0.6 m, exterior side 4.0 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

Source: Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated as of February 24, 2026), s. Part V (read 2026-11-08)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply, and a lot can have site-specific rules. Zone pages are taken from the bylaw text by a research agent and have not yet been reviewed by a person: confirm with the bylaw before you rely on them. How answers are checked.

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