---
title: "C-1 zone in Oak Bay: Local Commercial Use"
place: Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/oak-bay
zone: C-1
bylaw: Zoning Bylaw 3531, 1986 (office consolidation to June 8, 2026)
bylaw_read: 2026-11-07
review: draft
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/zoning/c-1/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/zoning/c-1.json"
---

# C-1 zone in Oak Bay: Local Commercial Use

Main uses: Retail sale and storage of groceries, meat, fish, bakery goods and sundry household and garden items, Barbers, hairdressers and beauty shops, Service business use.

## Zone rules

- **Main uses:** Retail sale and storage of groceries, meat, fish, bakery goods and sundry household and garden items; Barbers, hairdressers and beauty shops; Service business use
- **Also allowed (secondary uses):** Up to four apartment dwelling units (with the retail or barber/hairdresser uses)
- **Minimum lot area:** 558 sq. m
- **Maximum lot coverage:** 25% (principal building); 5% (accessory buildings and structures)
- **Maximum density:** Floor area ratio 0.5 (total of all buildings); up to four dwelling units
- **Maximum height:** Up to two dwelling units: 7.3 m, 2 storeys. Three or four dwelling units: 8.5 m, 3 storeys
- **Maximum height, accessory buildings:** Accessory buildings 3.0 m; accessory structures 4.6 m
- **Front setback:** 7.6 m
- **Rear setback:** 7.62 m
- **Interior side setback:** 1.5 m; not required where the side lot line abuts a parcel zoned for commercial use
- **Street side setback:** 3.7 m
- **Accessory building setbacks:** Accessory buildings: front 7.6 m, rear 1.5 m, interior side 1.5 m, exterior side 3.7 m. Accessory structures: front 7.6 m, rear 1.52 m, interior side 1.5 m, exterior side 3.7 m
- **Other rules:** Retail and barber/hairdresser uses limited to 62 sq. m gross floor area; Storey closest to grade serves a principal use only; No liquor retail sale; 3 m clear space between buildings and structures

## Source

- [Zoning Bylaw 3531, 1986 (office consolidation to June 8, 2026), s. Part 9](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3531-Oak-Bay-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf#page=119) (read 2026-11-07)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply. All zones in Oak Bay: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/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/oak-bay/zoning/c-1/_