{"title":"R1 zone in Merritt: Low Density Residential","code":"R1","slug":"r1","name":"Low Density Residential","group":"Residential","section":"7.3","site_specific_zone":false,"summary":"Compact, pedestrian-oriented single detached, semi-detached, townhome and apartment dwellings on serviced parcels.","fields":{"purpose":{"value":"Compact, pedestrian-oriented single detached, semi-detached, townhome and apartment dwellings on serviced parcels.","quotes":["The Low Density Residential zone is oriented towards the development of compact,"]},"primary_uses":{"value":["Dwelling, Multiple Unit Apartment","Dwelling, Multiple Unit Townhome","Dwelling, Single Detached","Dwelling, Semi-Detached","Daycare Centre, Minor","Commercial Conversion"],"quotes":["Dwelling, Multiple Unit Apartment;","Dwelling, Multiple Unit Townhome;","Dwelling, Single Detached;","Dwelling, Semi-Detached;","Daycare Centre, Minor, subject to Section 7.3.6.b;","Commercial Conversion, as outlined in Section 4.31."]},"secondary_uses":{"value":["Accessory Building","Bed and Breakfast","Community Care Facility, Minor","Dwelling, Detached Secondary","Home-based Business","Secondary Suite","Urban Agriculture","Short-Term Rental (discretionary)"],"note":"Short-Term Rental needs approval from the Development Approving Officer.","quotes":["Accessory Building;","Bed and Breakfast;","Community Care Facility, Minor;","Dwelling, Detached Secondary;","Home-based Business;","Secondary Suite;","Urban Agriculture.","Short-Term Rental."]},"site_specific":{"value":["Mobile Home is also a permitted principal use on listed parcels on Houston Street / Douglas Street (1102 Houston St to 1498 Douglas St) and on Telemon Place","Lots on Cowley Street and Duncan Street (Plan 27196 and Plan 28057): single detached minimum parcel area 530 m2; semi-detached 750 m2","1826 Quilchena Avenue, 2414 Spring Bank Avenue and 2426 Spring Bank Avenue: special rules for a Detached Secondary Dwelling"],"quotes":["Notwithstanding the regulations in 7.3.2, Mobile Home is a permitted principal","use on the parcels on Houston Street / Douglas Street legally described as:","use on the parcels on Telemon Place legally described as:","i. Minimum Parcel Area for Single Detached Dwelling is 530 m2;","ii. Minimum Parcel Area for Semi-Detached Dwelling is 750 m2, except in","(1826 Quilchena Avenue) must:","Spring Bank Avenue) and Lot 3, DL 121 Plan KAP63309, KDYD (2426 Spring"]},"min_parcel_area":{"value":"Single Detached: 270 m² (330 m² corner); Semi-Detached: 540 m² (630 m² corner); Apartment or Townhome: 360 m² (420 m² corner); Daycare Centre, Minor: 450 m²","quotes":["Lane Access 270 m2 9 metres 30 metres","Corner 330 m2 11 metres 30 metres","Lane Access 540 m2 18 metres 30 metres","Corner 630 m2 21 metres 30 metres","Lane Access 360 m2 18 metres 20 metres","Corner 420 m2 21 metres 20 metres","all Parcel types 450 m2 15 metres 30 metres"]},"min_parcel_width":{"value":"Single Detached: 9 metres (11 metres corner); Semi-Detached: 18 metres (21 metres corner); Apartment or Townhome: 18 metres (21 metres corner); Daycare Centre, Minor: 15 metres","quotes":["Lane Access 270 m2 9 metres 30 metres","Corner 330 m2 11 metres 30 metres","Lane Access 540 m2 18 metres 30 metres","Corner 630 m2 21 metres 30 metres","Lane Access 360 m2 18 metres 20 metres","Corner 420 m2 21 metres 20 metres","all Parcel types 450 m2 15 metres 30 metres"]},"max_parcel_coverage":{"value":"75% (up to 90% with permeable surfaces on at least 15% of the Parcel Area) for Apartment and Townhome","quotes":["75%,","Parcel Coverage may be","increased to a maximum of 90% with use of permeable surface materials for","driveways and/or pathways on at least 15% of the total Parcel Area."]},"max_density":{"value":"Single Detached or Semi-Detached: 3 dwelling units on parcels up to 280 m2, or 4 dwelling units or 40 per hectare (whichever is greater) on larger parcels; Apartment or Townhome: 3 units up to 280 m2, or 4 units or 60 per hectare (whichever is greater) on larger parcels","quotes":["280 m2: 3","Units or 40","Units or 60","whichever"]},"max_height":{"value":"Lesser of 14 metres or 3 storeys","quotes":["Lesser of 14","metres or 3"]},"max_height_accessory":{"value":"Accessory Building: lesser of 5 metres or 1.5 storeys; Detached Secondary Dwelling: lesser of 10.5 metres or 2 storeys","quotes":["Lesser of 5","1.5 storeys","10.5 metres","or 2 storeys"]},"setback_front":{"value":"3 metres (lane access); 5 metres (front access, corner, pie-shaped); 3 metres excluding the panhandle access (panhandle)","quotes":["3 metres 1.2 metres N/A","5 metres 1.2 metres N/A","5 metres 1.2 metres 2.8 metres","3 metres 1.2 metres 2.8 metres","3 metres, not"]},"setback_rear":{"value":"5 metres (lane access); 3 metres (front access, corner, panhandle, pie-shaped); 5 metres for a Daycare Centre, Minor","quotes":["5","3","5 metres 1.2 metres 2.8 metres","metres or 3"]},"setback_side_interior":{"value":"1.2 metres; 0 metres between shared Parcel Line units of Semi-Detached or Townhome dwellings","quotes":["3 metres 1.2 metres N/A","5 metres 1.2 metres 2.8 metres","is 0 metres","where adjoining units share a Parcel Line."]},"setback_side_exterior":{"value":"2.8 metres (corner parcels, pie-shaped, panhandle); not applicable on lane and front access parcels; 6 metres for Apartment/Townhome corner parcels","quotes":["5 metres 1.2 metres 2.8 metres","5 metres 1.2 metres N/A","5 metres 1.2 metres 6 metres"]},"accessory_setbacks":{"value":"Accessory Building: front Front Building Line, side 1.2 metres, rear 1.2 metres; Detached Secondary Dwelling: front Front Building Line, interior side 1.2 metres, exterior side 2.8 metres, rear 1.2 metres","quotes":["Building 1.2 metres 1.2 metres","Building 1.2 metres 2.8 metres"]},"other":{"value":["If a Parcel has multiple Accesses, the front, exterior side and/or rear setback for a Principal Building is 5 metres","Minimum separation: 3 metres between Principal Buildings; 1.5 metres between Accessory Buildings and other Structures","Private Open Space is required for each Apartment or Townhome unit (5 m2 to 10 m2 depending on bedrooms)","Daycare Centre, Minor is not permitted with Apartment, Townhome or Semi-Detached Dwelling buildings"],"quotes":["the corresponding Front, Exterior Side, and/or Rear Setback for a Principal","Building is 5 metres.","i. 3 metres between Principal Buildings;","iii. 1.5 metres between Accessory Buildings and other Structures; and","i. 10 m2 for each three or more bedroom unit; and","iii. 5 m2 for each one bedroom unit or bachelor unit.","not permitted in conjunction with Multiple Unit Apartment Dwelling, Multiple Unit"]}},"bylaw":{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (consolidated to January 2026)","url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf","accessed":"2026-11-07","note":"The City's consolidation does not have legal force; contact City Hall to confirm the status of the bylaw. Section 7.27 (Comprehensive Development framework) sets rules for creating CD zones and is not itself a zone. Sections 7.5 and 7.9 are deleted."},"source_url":"http://www.merritt.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2284_Zoning-Bylaw_2026.pdf#page=92","place":{"path":"ca/bc/merritt","name":"Merritt","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/zoning/r1/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/zoning/r1.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/zoning/r1.json","index":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/zoning/index.json"}}