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Nanaimo zoning: find your zone and what it allows

How do I find out how my property is zoned and what I can build on it?

Nanaimo, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Zoning map

ResidentialRuralMixed useCommercialPublicIndustrialComprehensive development

Search an address or click a lot on the map to see its zone and what it allows.

Zoning shown from the City of Nanaimo's NanaimoMap data, downloaded 2026-11-07. The City says to contact Current Planning staff if you need help confirming your zoning.

Zones in Nanaimo

From Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (consolidated 2026-MAR-23). The bylaw is organised by part (one part per zone family, with shared use and regulation tables), so zone line ranges cover the whole part. CD3 is deleted in the bylaw. Zones R1a and R1b are subzones of R1 (R1 / R1a / R1b). Each zone has its own page with its uses, lot sizes, heights and setbacks. Zone pages are drafts taken from the bylaw text and not yet reviewed by a person.

Residential zones

Rural zones

Mixed use zones

Commercial zones

Public zones

Industrial zones

Comprehensive development zones

  • CD1 Comprehensive Development District Zone One
  • CD2 Comprehensive Development District Zone Two
  • CD4 Comprehensive Development District Zone Four
  • CD5 Comprehensive Development District Zone Five
  • CD6 Comprehensive Development District Zone Six
  • CD7 Comprehensive Development District Zone Seven
  • CD8 Comprehensive Development District Zone Eight
  • CD9 Comprehensive Development District Zone Nine
  • CD10 Comprehensive Development District Zone Ten
  • CD11 Comprehensive Development District Zone Eleven
  • CD12 Comprehensive Development District Zone Twelve
  • CD13 Comprehensive Development District Zone Thirteen

Key facts

How to find your zoneCheck your property's zoning on NanaimoMap, the City's interactive map, using its Zoning layer. Staff in Current Planning can help confirm your zone.Planning and Development General Inquiries; Zoning Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
check your property’s zoning using NanaimoMap (“Zoning” layer)
Please contact Current Planning staff if you require assistance to confirm zoning.
Zoning bylawZoning Bylaw No. 4500; the City's consolidated copy is dated March 23, 2026 (2026-MAR-23).Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), Page 2; Zoning Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
This consolidated version of the Zoning Bylaw is dated 2026-MAR-23.
Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (Updated March 23, 2026).
What the zone controlsThe 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.Zoning Bylaw, What is Zoning?; Planning and Development General Inquiries · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
contains information on required watercourse setbacks, accessory building allowances, secondary suites, fence height, short-term rentals, home-based businesses, and more.
ContactCurrent Planning Section, 250-755-4429 ext. 4509, planning@nanaimo.ca. The general line is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Zoning Bylaw, Contact Us; Planning and Development General Inquiries, Contact Us · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Current Planning Section 250-755-4429 ext. 4509 planning@nanaimo.ca
Planning and Development General Inquiries 250-755-4429 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 4500Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), Page 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Zoning Bylaw No. 4500

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; 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.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Lantzville · Ladysmith · Parksville · Sechelt · Qualicum Beach · Lake Cowichan

Zoning maps in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Planning and Development General Inquiries, City of Nanaimo (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Zoning Bylaw, City of Nanaimo (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01) (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. How answers are checked.