--- title: "Port Alberni zoning: find your zone and what it allows" question: "How do I find out how my property is zoned and what I can build on it?" place: Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/port-alberni category: Building, renovating and your property owner: municipal owner_body: City of Port Alberni sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/zoning-lookup/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/zoning-lookup.json" --- # Port Alberni zoning: find your zone and what it allows **Question:** How do I find out how my property is zoned and what I can build on it? **Short answer:** In the City of Port Alberni, find your zone on the Zoning Map (Schedule A of Zoning Bylaw 5105, 2024), posted as a PDF on the City's Zoning page and the Municipal Mapping page. Development Services at 250-720-2835 can also confirm a zone. **Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Alberni, https://www.portalberni.ca) **Where:** - Online: Zoning page, https://www.portalberni.ca/zoning - Online: Municipal mapping, https://www.portalberni.ca/municipal-mapping - Phone: Development Services, 250-720-2835 - Email: Development Services, DevelopmentServices@portalberni.ca - In person: Development Services, Upper, 4835 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 1V9 ## Key facts - **How to find your zone:** The Zoning Map (Schedule A of the Zoning Bylaw) is a PDF on the City's Zoning page and under Land Use Maps on the Municipal Mapping page. Planning staff can also confirm a zone. - Source: [Zoning, Zoning page](https://www.portalberni.ca/zoning) - Official wording: "ZONING MAP (Schedule A)" - Source: [Municipal Mapping, Municipal Mapping, Land Use Maps](https://www.portalberni.ca/municipal-mapping) - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw (Schedule A Zoning Map)" - Source: [Business Licensing FAQ, How do I find out if I have the right zoning](https://www.portalberni.ca/business-licensing-faq) - Official wording: "visit Upper - 4835 Argyle St to consult with the Planning Technician" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Zoning bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, adopted by Council on June 10, 2024. The posted copy is the file named "Oct 2026 Update". - Source: [Zoning, Zoning page](https://www.portalberni.ca/zoning) - Official wording: "The current Zoning Bylaw was adopted by Council on June 10, 2024." - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 1](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf) - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024”" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **What the zone controls:** Each zone lists permitted principal and accessory uses and site rules: minimum lot area and frontage, maximum coverage, front, rear and side setbacks, maximum height and floor area ratio. Parking is set in Section 7. - Source: [Zoning, Zoning page](https://www.portalberni.ca/zoning) - Official wording: "specifies the uses or activities that can take place on that property as well as other regulations including building size, siting on the property and parking requirements." - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 5.7](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf) - Official wording: "5.7.2 Site Development Regulations" … "Minimum Lot Area 2 ha (4.94 ac)" … "Maximum Coverage 40%" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Contact:** Development Services (Community Planning), Upper - 4835 Argyle Street. Phone 250-720-2835, email DevelopmentServices@portalberni.ca. - Source: [Zoning, Contact block](https://www.portalberni.ca/zoning) - Official wording: "Upper - 4835 Argyle Street Port Alberni BC V9Y 1V9 #### Telephone 250-720-2835 #### Email DevelopmentServices@portalberni.ca" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024, s. 1](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf) - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works Every lot has a zone. [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf) was adopted by Council on June 10, 2024. The posted copy is the file named "Oct 2026 Update". Each zone lists permitted principal and accessory uses and site rules: minimum lot area and frontage, maximum coverage, front, rear and side setbacks, maximum height and floor area ratio. Parking is set in Section 7. ## Steps 1. Open the Zoning Map (Schedule A of the bylaw) from the City's Zoning page, or under Land Use Maps on the Municipal Mapping page, and find your property. 2. Note the zone code and read that zone's section in the bylaw. 3. If you are unsure, call Development Services at 250-720-2835 or email DevelopmentServices@portalberni.ca with your address. ## Good to know - The posted bylaw shows no "current to" date, and the amendments table may lag it, so confirm recent changes with Development Services. - The City's business licensing FAQ gives 250-720-2850 for the Planning Technician; the Zoning page gives 250-720-2835. ## Zones 32 zones are listed from [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (October 2026 update)](https://portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf). Each zone has its own page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/zoning/index.json ## Official forms and pages - [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf) ## Related questions - [Port Alberni secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/secondary-suite.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Zoning maps in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/zoning-lookup.md) - [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/zoning-lookup.md) - [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/zoning-lookup.md) - [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/zoning-lookup.md) - [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/zoning-lookup.md) - [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/zoning-lookup.md) - [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/zoning-lookup.md) ## Sources - [Zoning, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/zoning) (read 2026-11-05) - [Municipal Mapping, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/municipal-mapping) (read 2026-11-05) - [Business Licensing FAQ, City of Port Alberni](https://www.portalberni.ca/business-licensing-faq) (read 2026-11-05) - [Zoning Bylaw No. 5105, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/5105_Zoning_Bylaw_No_5105_2024_Oct%202026%20Update.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Port Alberni. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/zoning-lookup/_