---
title: "R1 zone in Nelson: Small-Scale Residential Zone"
place: Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/nelson
zone: R1
bylaw: Zoning Bylaw No. 3652, 2026 (adopted April 14, 2026)
bylaw_read: 2026-11-07
review: draft
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/zoning/r1/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/zoning/r1.json"
---

# R1 zone in Nelson: Small-Scale Residential Zone

Small-scale residential development of 1 to 4 dwelling units, up to 3 storeys, in a variety of configurations (Missing Middle Housing).

## Zone rules

- **Purpose:** Small-scale residential development of 1 to 4 dwelling units, up to 3 storeys, in a variety of configurations (Missing Middle Housing).
- **Main uses:** Care Services (for no more than 8 persons); Small-Scale Residential; Transition House
- **Also allowed (secondary uses):** Short-Term Rental (Subject to the use-specific conditions in Part 4.)
- **Minimum lot area:** 370 m²
- **Minimum lot width:** 12 m
- **Maximum lot coverage:** 35% (1 dwelling unit); 40% (2 or 3 dwelling units); 45% (4 dwelling units, Care Services or Transition House); add 5% on lots under 370 m²
- **Maximum density:** 3 dwelling units on lots 280 m² or less; 4 dwelling units on lots over 280 m²
- **Maximum height:** 10 m and no more than 3 storeys
- **Maximum height, accessory buildings:** 4.5 m (accessory building); 5.8 m (laneway house); 6.1 m (above-garage suite)
- **Front setback:** 3 m
- **Rear setback:** 3 m
- **Interior side setback:** 1.2 m (lots with a front lot line greater than 9.2 m); 1 m (lots with a front lot line less than 9.2 m); 0 m on one side where a common party wall exists
- **Street side setback:** 1.2 m (lots with a front lot line greater than 9.2 m); 1 m (lots with a front lot line less than 9.2 m)
- **Accessory building setbacks:** Carport: front 1.5 m, rear 1.5 m, side 1.2 m or 1 m depending on lot; other accessory building: front 3 m, rear 1.5 m, side 1.2 m or 1 m depending on lot
- **Other rules:** At least 30% of the lot must be permeable surface.; Where a common party wall exists, one interior side setback may be reduced to 0 m if one interior side setback is kept per lot.

## Source

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 3652, 2026 (adopted April 14, 2026), s. 10.1](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/31803/#page=68) (read 2026-11-07)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply. All zones in Nelson: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/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/nelson/zoning/r1/_