North Cowichan 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 in North Cowichan?
In North Cowichan, type your address into the Municipality's Interactive GIS Map and click inside your property boundary to see its zone. The rules for each zone are in Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950. PDF zoning maps are also on the Municipality's website. Planning can help.
Zoning map
AgriculturalRuralResidentialCommercialIndustrialPublicComprehensive development
Search an address or click a lot on the map to see its zone and what it allows.
Zoning shown from the Municipality of North Cowichan's North Cowichan Interactive Web Map data, downloaded 2026-11-07. The Municipality says the best way to find a property's zone is its Interactive GIS Map; the PDF Zoning Maps (North and South Half) are the Schedule C versions.
Zones in North Cowichan
From Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (consolidation current to September 14, 2026). The cover says the bylaw was consolidated by the Corporate Officer; the repealed zones CD3, CD5 and CD7 are not listed. Suffix a or b on a zone code (for example W2a) marks a sub-zone with additional uses (s. 44). 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.
Agricultural zones
Rural zones
Residential zones
- R1 Residential Rural
- R1-U Urban Residential Rural
- R1-BM Bell McKinnon Residential Rural
- R2 Residential Restricted
- R2-R Rural Residential Restricted
- R3 Residential One and Two-Family
- R3-R Rural Residential One and Two-Family
- R3-S Residential Small Lot Single-Family
- R3-MF Residential Medium Density Multi-Family
- R4 Residential Small Lot Mobile Home
- R5 Residential Mobile Home Park
- R6 Residential Townhouse
- R7 Residential Multi-Family
- R7-A Residential Ground-Oriented Multi-Family
- R8 Residential Multi-Family Apartment
- W1 Private Residence Water Lot
Commercial zones
- W2 Light Commercial Water Lot
- W3 Mixed Use Commercial Water Lot
- MA1 Upland Tourist Commercial Marine
- MA2 Upland Tourist Commercial / Residential Marine
- C1 Commercial Local
- C2 Commercial General
- C3 Commercial Service
- C4 Commercial Recreational
- C6 Commercial Professional
- C7 Commercial Rural Hospitality
- C8 Commercial Rural Recreation
- C9 Chemainus Commercial
Industrial zones
Public zones
Comprehensive development zones
- CD1 The Cliffs Comprehensive Development
- CD2 Chemainus Quay Comprehensive Development
- CD4 Comprehensive Development - Mixed Family
- CD6 Chemainus Artisan Village Comprehensive Development
- CD8 Maple Bay School Site Comprehensive Development
- CD9 Multi-Family Comprehensive Development
- CD10 Urban Medium Density Comprehensive Development
- CD11 Community Services (Health Care) Comprehensive Development
- CD12 Residential Two-Family Comprehensive Development
- CD13 Ground-Oriented Urban Residential Comprehensive Development
- CD14 University Village Mid-Rise Residential Comprehensive Development
- CD15 Mixed Use Residential
- CD16 Mixed Use Commercial Core
- CD17 Congregate Housing Comprehensive Development
- CD18 Kingsview Comprehensive Development
- CD18-R Rural Kingsview Comprehensive Development
- CD19 University Village Mixed Commercial / Residential Comprehensive Development
- CD20 The Commons Comprehensive Development
- CD21 Motorsport Circuit Comprehensive Development
- CD22 Paddle Road North Comprehensive Development
- CD23 Ford Road South Comprehensive Development
- CD24 Village Residential Infill Comprehensive Development
- CD25 Gilana Place Two-Family Detached Comprehensive Development
- CD26 Drinkwater Road Multi-Family Comprehensive Development
- CD27 Highland Avenue Comprehensive Development
- CD28 Adelaide Street Comprehensive Development
Key facts
| How to find your zone | Use North Cowichan's Interactive GIS Map. Type the civic address in the search box, click the address, then click inside the property boundary to see its details, including the zone (for example R1). PDF North Half and South Half Zoning Maps are also on the Zoning Bylaw and Maps page.Zoning Bylaw and Maps, Zoning maps; New Secondary Suite Guide 2025, Zoning Requirements · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe best way to find out which zone applies to a property is to refer to North Cowichan's Interactive GIS Map. North Half Zoning Map South Half Zoning Map type in the civic address in the search box and hit the search icon. click within the property boundary and you will be provided with the property details, including the property zoning |
|---|---|
| Zoning bylaw | Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950, consolidation current to September 14, 2026 (last amended September 8, 2026).Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF, current to September 14, 2026), cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingZONING BYLAW 1997 No. 2950 CONSOLIDATION Current to September 14, 2026 Last amended on September 8, 2026 |
| What the zone controls | The zones regulate how a property can be used, flood level requirements, lot and building size and layout (setbacks, site coverage, density), building type, landscaping and parking requirements.Zoning Bylaw and Maps · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingregulate how a particular property can be used, flood level requirements, lot and building size and layout (setbacks, site coverage, density, etc.), building type, landscaping and parking requirements. |
| Contact | Planning, 250-746-3104, planning@northcowichan.ca.Zoning Bylaw and Maps, Contact information · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPhone: 250-746-3104 E-mail: planning@northcowichan.ca |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950.Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF, current to September 14, 2026), cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingZONING BYLAW 1997 No. 2950 |
How it works
North Cowichan's zoning is set by Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (current to September 14, 2026). Each zone controls how a property can be used, flood level requirements, lot and building size and layout (setbacks, site coverage, density), building type, landscaping and parking. Chemainus parking also follows the Cash in Lieu of Parking bylaw, Bylaw 2838.
Steps
- Open the Interactive GIS Map from the Municipality's maps page.
- Type your civic address in the search box and click the address.
- Click inside the property boundary to see its details, including the zone (for example R1).
- Look up that zone's section in the Zoning Bylaw to see permitted uses and limits.
- Questions: call Planning at 250-746-3104 or email planning@northcowichan.ca.
Good to know
- North Half and South Half zoning maps are also available as PDFs on the Zoning Bylaw and Maps page.
- Questions about the maps can also go to the Engineering Department.
- Zoning is only one layer. Development permit areas and building permits may also apply to your project.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Duncan · Ladysmith · North Saanich · Sidney · Lake Cowichan · Central Saanich
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw and Maps, Municipality of North Cowichan (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950 (PDF, current to September 14, 2026) (read 2026-11-06)
- New Secondary Suite Guide 2025 (PDF), Municipality of North Cowichan (read 2026-11-06)
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.