--- title: "Nanaimo zoning: find your zone and what it allows" question: "How do I find out how my property is zoned and what I can build on it?" place: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/nanaimo category: Building, renovating and your property owner: municipal owner_body: City of Nanaimo sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/zoning-lookup/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/zoning-lookup.json" --- # Nanaimo zoning: find your zone and what it allows **Question:** How do I find out how my property is zoned and what I can build on it? **Short answer:** Look up your property's zone in the "Zoning" layer of NanaimoMap, the City of Nanaimo's online map, then read that zone's rules in Zoning Bylaw 4500. Current Planning staff can confirm your zone at 250-755-4429 ext. 4509. **Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nanaimo, https://www.nanaimo.ca) **Cost:** Free to look up online. A Letter of Zoning Confirmation Request is $100 in the Fees and Charges Bylaw 7336. **Where:** - Online: NanaimoMap (use the Zoning layer), https://nanmap.nanaimo.ca/Html5Viewer/index.html?viewer=NanaimoMap - Phone: Current Planning, 250-755-4429 ext. 4509 - Email: Current Planning, planning@nanaimo.ca ## Key facts - **How to find your zone:** Check your property's zoning on NanaimoMap, the City's interactive map, using its Zoning layer. Staff in Current Planning can help confirm your zone. - Source: [Planning and Development General Inquiries](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/development-applications/general-inquiries) - Official wording: "check your property’s zoning using NanaimoMap (“Zoning” layer)" - Source: [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/land-use-bylaws/zoning) - Official wording: "Please contact Current Planning staff if you require assistance to confirm zoning." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Zoning bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 4500; the City's consolidated copy is dated March 23, 2026 (2026-MAR-23). - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), Page 2](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) - Official wording: "This consolidated version of the Zoning Bylaw is dated 2026-MAR-23." - Source: [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/land-use-bylaws/zoning) - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (Updated March 23, 2026)." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **What the zone controls:** The Zoning Bylaw sets the permitted use of land in each zone, plus form, density, height, yard setbacks, lot coverage and lot size. It also covers watercourse setbacks, accessory buildings, secondary suites, fence height, short-term rentals and home-based businesses. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, What is Zoning?](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/land-use-bylaws/zoning) - Official wording: "The Zoning Bylaw establishes the permitted use of land within the City as well as form, density, height, yard setbacks, lot coverage, and lot size." - Source: [Planning and Development General Inquiries](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/development-applications/general-inquiries) - Official wording: "contains information on required watercourse setbacks, accessory building allowances, secondary suites, fence height, short-term rentals, home-based businesses, and more." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Contact:** Current Planning Section, 250-755-4429 ext. 4509, planning@nanaimo.ca. The general line is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, Contact Us](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/land-use-bylaws/zoning) - Official wording: "Current Planning Section 250-755-4429 ext. 4509 planning@nanaimo.ca" - Source: [Planning and Development General Inquiries, Contact Us](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/development-applications/general-inquiries) - Official wording: "Planning and Development General Inquiries 250-755-4429 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), Page 1](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 4500" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works Every property in Nanaimo has a zone that sets what it can be used for, plus building form, density, height, yard setbacks, lot coverage and lot size. The City of Nanaimo publishes these rules in [Zoning Bylaw 4500](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf); the City's consolidated copy is dated March 23, 2026. The bylaw also covers watercourse setbacks, accessory buildings, secondary suites, fence height, short-term rentals and home-based businesses. ## Steps 1. Open NanaimoMap and turn on the "Zoning" layer to see your property's zone. 2. Open the matching chapter of the Zoning Bylaw from the City's Zoning Bylaw page. 3. Read the general regulations too, for the topics listed above. 4. To confirm your zone, email planning@nanaimo.ca or call Current Planning at 250-755-4429 ext. 4509. The general line is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ## Good to know - To use land for something your zone does not allow, or to add density, you need a rezoning. To vary setbacks or height, you need a variance. - The Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw calls this bylaw "Zoning Bylaw 2011 No. 4500"; it is the same bylaw. ## Zones 64 zones are listed from [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (consolidated 2026-MAR-23)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf). Each zone has its own page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/zoning/index.json Look up the zone of an address: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/zoning/lookup?address=123+Main+St ## Official forms and pages - [Zoning Bylaw page (chapters by zone)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/land-use-bylaws/zoning) - [Zoning Bylaw 4500 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) - [Planning and Development General Inquiries](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/development-applications/general-inquiries) ## Related questions - [Nanaimo secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/secondary-suite.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Zoning maps in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/zoning-lookup.md) - [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/zoning-lookup.md) - [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/zoning-lookup.md) - [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/zoning-lookup.md) - [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/zoning-lookup.md) - [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/zoning-lookup.md) - [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/zoning-lookup.md) ## Sources - [Planning and Development General Inquiries, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/development-applications/general-inquiries) (read 2026-11-05) - [Zoning Bylaw, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/land-use-bylaws/zoning) (read 2026-11-05) - [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/zoning-lookup/_