--- title: "R-7 zone in Lake Cowichan: Multi-unit Residential" place: Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/lake-cowichan zone: R-7 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-7/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/zoning/r-7.json" --- # R-7 zone in Lake Cowichan: Multi-unit Residential Multiple residential dwellings in medium to high density environments. ## Zone rules - **Purpose:** Multiple residential dwellings in medium to high density environments. - **Main uses:** Side by side two-unit dwelling (duplex); Multi-unit dwellings (all types); Lodges and boarding houses - **Also allowed (secondary uses):** Home-based business, accessory to an existing non-conforming single detached dwelling; Secondary suite within an existing non-conforming single detached dwelling; Secondary suite on a duplex lot (corner lot, or garage with tandem parking, or lot of at least 780 m²); Home-based business in a duplex (within the size limit for the suite) - **Extra uses on specific lots:** Rental only tenure for 100% of the units in any quadplex or townhouse on the unsubdivided remainder of Lot A and B, Plan VIP30829, Section 5, Renfrew Land District (124 Elk Road and 130 Elk Road); Rental only tenure for 25% of the apartment or townhouse units on Lot 2, Plan EPP107675, District Lot 48 (Edgewood Drive); Rental only tenure for 25% of the triplex, quadplex, townhouse or apartment units on Lot 2, Plan VIP 60160, Section 6 (corner of Youbou Road and MacDonald Road); Rental only tenure for 50% of units on Lot A, Block 16, Plan 1231 (15 South Shore Road); Rental only tenure for 100% of units on Lot 2, Block 9, Plan VIP 1231, District Lot 12 (172 South Shore Road); Rental only tenure for 100% of units on Lot 1, Block 9, Plan VIP 1231, District Lot 12 (96 Cowichan Avenue); Rental only tenure for 25% of units on Lot B, Plan VIP 44661, District Lot 16 (Cowichan Lake Road); Rental only for 100% of units on Lot 1, Plan VIP 33840, District Lot 12 (61 King George Street North); Rental only tenure for 100% of residential units on Lot 2, Plan VIP 5631, Section 6 (30 North Shore Road); Rental only tenure for 100% of units on Lot 16, Block 6, Plan VIP 1231, District Lot 12 (89 Lakeview Avenue); Rental only tenure for 100% of units on Lot A, Plan VIP 54676, Section 6, Renfrew Land District (201 Cowichan Lake Road); Rental only tenure for 100% of units on Lot 14, Plan VIP6253, Section 6 (68 Stanley Road) - **Minimum lot area:** 667 m² (multi-unit buildings in OCP-designated Downtown and Uptown areas, up to 3 storeys); 1,334 m² (4 and 5 storeys in those areas); no minimum stated for other types - **Maximum lot coverage:** 50% (multi-unit buildings over 10 m², two-unit residential, lodging and boarding house, triplex); 75% (in OCP-designated Downtown and Uptown areas, subject to rezoning to Comprehensive Development or density bonus amenity provisions); accessory structures under 10 m² as provided for the use - **Maximum density:** 100 units per hectare gross density in OCP-designated Downtown and Uptown areas (subject to rezoning to Comprehensive Development or density bonus amenity provisions) - **Maximum height:** 11.0 m (multi-unit buildings over 10 m²; two-unit residential, lodging and boarding house, triplex); 17 m / 5 storeys in OCP-designated Downtown and Uptown areas (subject to rezoning to Comprehensive Development or density bonus amenity provisions); minimum 3 habitable storeys in Downtown and Uptown areas - **Maximum height, accessory buildings:** 4.5 m (accessory structures under 10 m²); 11.0 m for accessory buildings over 10 m² with two-unit residential, lodging and boarding house or triplex - **Front setback:** Minimum 9 m (multi-unit buildings over 10 m²); 3 m (Downtown and Uptown areas, maximum 6 m); 7.5 m (two-unit residential, lodging and boarding house, triplex); accessory structures under 10 m²: as provided for by the use (maximum 7.5 m) - **Rear setback:** 4.5 m - **Interior side setback:** 4.5 m (multi-unit buildings over 10 m²); 1.5 m (Downtown and Uptown areas); 2.0 m (two-unit residential, lodging and boarding house, triplex), or 0.0 m for side-by-side duplex separated only by a common party wall; 0.6 m (accessory structures under 10 m²) - **Street side setback:** Minimum 4.5 m (multi-unit buildings over 10 m²); 3 m (Downtown and Uptown areas, maximum 6 m); 3.0 m (two-unit residential, lodging and boarding house, triplex); 3.0 m (accessory structures under 10 m²) - **Other rules:** Minimum dwelling unit sizes: bachelor apartment 33 m², one-bedroom 59 m², two-bedroom 70 m², three-bedroom 85 m²; More than one principal building is permitted where the principal use is a multi-unit dwelling; Minimum recreation area 4% (not required for accessory structures under 10 m²); Minimum landscaped area 5% (not required for accessory structures under 10 m²) ## 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=30) (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-7/_