---
title: "AR1 zone in Nanaimo: Rural Resource"
place: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/nanaimo
zone: AR1
bylaw: Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (consolidated 2026-MAR-23)
bylaw_read: 2026-11-07
review: draft
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/zoning/ar1/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/zoning/ar1.json"
---

# AR1 zone in Nanaimo: Rural Resource

Agriculture and rural uses on larger lots without urban services.

## Zone rules

- **Purpose:** Agriculture and rural uses on larger lots without urban services.
- **Main uses:** Agriculture; Animal Shelter; Animal Training; Boarding Kennels; Campgrounds; Golf Course; Horse Stable; Mobile Home; Pet Daycare; Single Residential Dwelling
- **Also allowed (secondary uses):** Boarding and Lodging; Convenience Store; Daycare; Home Based Business; Office; Restaurant; Secondary Suite; Short-Term Rental
- **Minimum lot area:** 2 hectares; 2 hectares also applies where the lot has no community water system
- **Minimum lot width:** 15 m
- **Maximum lot coverage:** 20% of the lot area, excluding farm buildings
- **Maximum density:** One single dwelling or mobile home; one additional dwelling unit where the lot is over 0.4 hectares; campgrounds up to 30 camping spaces per hectare
- **Maximum height:** 9 m (not including farm buildings)
- **Front setback:** 7.5 m
- **Rear setback:** 7.5 m
- **Interior side setback:** 3 m
- **Street side setback:** 4.5 m
- **Other rules:** Buildings, cages, runs or pens for keeping animals, troughs and manure piles must be at least 15 m from all lot lines; mushroom growing, boarding kennels, animal training, bee, swine or mink keeping at least 30 m; Roadside stands for agricultural products grown on the lot: up to 30 m² Gross Floor Area; Campgrounds: all yard setbacks are 7.5 m

## Source

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. Part 8](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf#page=81) (read 2026-11-07)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply. All zones in Nanaimo: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/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/nanaimo/zoning/ar1/_