R1 zone in Merritt: Low Density Residential

Merritt, British ColumbiaDraft, not yet reviewedBylaw read 2026-11-07

In short

Compact, pedestrian-oriented single detached, semi-detached, townhome and apartment dwellings on serviced parcels.

Zone rules

Purpose	Compact, pedestrian-oriented single detached, semi-detached, townhome and apartment dwellings on serviced parcels.
Main uses	Dwelling, Multiple Unit Apartment Dwelling, Multiple Unit Townhome Dwelling, Single Detached Dwelling, Semi-Detached Daycare Centre, Minor Commercial Conversion
Also allowed (secondary uses)	Accessory Building Bed and Breakfast Community Care Facility, Minor Dwelling, Detached Secondary Home-based Business Secondary Suite Urban Agriculture Short-Term Rental (discretionary) Short-Term Rental needs approval from the Development Approving Officer.
Extra uses on specific lots	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
Minimum lot area	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
Minimum lot width	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
Maximum lot coverage	75% (up to 90% with permeable surfaces on at least 15% of the Parcel Area) for Apartment and Townhome
Maximum density	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
Maximum height	Lesser of 14 metres or 3 storeys
Maximum height, accessory buildings	Accessory Building: lesser of 5 metres or 1.5 storeys; Detached Secondary Dwelling: lesser of 10.5 metres or 2 storeys
Front setback	3 metres (lane access); 5 metres (front access, corner, pie-shaped); 3 metres excluding the panhandle access (panhandle)
Rear setback	5 metres (lane access); 3 metres (front access, corner, panhandle, pie-shaped); 5 metres for a Daycare Centre, Minor
Interior side setback	1.2 metres; 0 metres between shared Parcel Line units of Semi-Detached or Townhome dwellings
Street side setback	2.8 metres (corner parcels, pie-shaped, panhandle); not applicable on lane and front access parcels; 6 metres for Apartment/Townhome corner parcels
Accessory building setbacks	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
Other rules	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

Source: Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (consolidated to January 2026), s. 7.3 (read 2026-11-07)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply, and a lot can have site-specific rules. 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. 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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