---
title: "W2 zone in Nanaimo: Harbour Waterfront"
place: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/nanaimo
zone: W2
bylaw: Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (consolidated 2026-MAR-23)
bylaw_read: 2026-11-07
review: draft
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/zoning/w2/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/zoning/w2.json"
---

# W2 zone in Nanaimo: Harbour Waterfront

Active marine uses such as ship yards, fishing fleet support, float homes, moorage and water-based transportation, plus marine retail, tourism, recreation and medium density residential up to four storeys

## Zone rules

- **Purpose:** Active marine uses such as ship yards, fishing fleet support, float homes, moorage and water-based transportation, plus marine retail, tourism, recreation and medium density residential up to four storeys
- **Main uses:** Boat Construction and Repair; Boat and Marine Sales, Service and Rental; Canoe and Kayak Rental; Convention Centre; Cruise Ship Terminal; Ferry Terminal; Floats and Wharves; Hotel; Marina; Marine Equipment Sales; Marine Fueling Station; Moorage; Multiple Family Dwelling; Museums; Neighbourhood Pub; Piers and Walkways; Public Markets; Recreational Facility; Research Facility; Restaurant; Retail; Seaplane Terminal; Seafood Sales; Tourist Facility; Water Taxi; Yacht Club
- **Also allowed (secondary uses):** Float Homes; Office; Seafood Processing; Single Family Dwelling; Short-Term Rental
- **Extra uses on specific lots:** Cannabis Retail Store: 1840 Stewart Avenue (lease PL220, Nanaimo District)
- **Minimum lot area:** 900 m²
- **Minimum lot width:** 30 m
- **Maximum lot coverage:** 50%
- **Maximum density:** 1.00 base; +0.25 where at least 50% of the required parking is underground; +0.25 for continuous tourist accommodation, tourist facilities or public markets (at least 10% of total floor area) with another permitted use; +0.15 where dedicated public access to the waterfront is provided
- **Maximum height:** 11 m (an additional 3 m where at least 60% of the required parking area is below or beneath a building)
- **Front setback:** 4.5 m
- **Rear setback:** 10 m (no rear setback for a restaurant or neighbourhood pub extending no more than 50% of the lot width)
- **Interior side setback:** 3 m on one side and 6 m on the other
- **Street side setback:** 4 m
- **Other rules:** Minimum lot depth 30 m; Each retail store is limited to 500 m² Gross Floor Area; Float homes only in a marina, on no more than 50% of its moorage space, and no taller than 8.25 m above the water

## Source

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. Part 15](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf#page=125) (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/w2/_