---
title: "C1 zone in Sidney: Downtown Commercial"
place: Sidney, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sidney
zone: C1
bylaw: "Town of Sidney Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (in force July 1, 2024; consolidated for convenience July 21, 2025)"
bylaw_read: 2026-11-07
review: draft
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/zoning/c1/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/zoning/c1.json"
---

# C1 zone in Sidney: Downtown Commercial

A mixture of core commercial uses with a secondary but significant multi-unit residential component.

## Zone rules

- **Purpose:** A mixture of core commercial uses with a secondary but significant multi-unit residential component.
- **Main uses:** Artist Studio (conditional); Assembly Hall; Brew Pub (conditional); Broadcasting Studio (conditional); Cannabis Retail (conditional); Child Care Facility (conditional); Cinema (conditional); Class 1 Restaurant; Class 2 Restaurant (liquor); Convenience Store; Copy/Print Shop (conditional); Dwelling Unit (conditional); Education Facility (conditional); Emergency Services (conditional); Financial Institution; Fitness Centre (conditional); Food or Beverage Manufacturing (conditional); Hotel (conditional); Indoor Amusement (conditional); Library; Liquor Retail; Medical Office (conditional); Museum; Office (conditional); Outdoor Retail (conditional); Parkade (conditional); Parking Lot (conditional); Personal Service Establishment; Pub (conditional); Recreation Rental; Rental Store; Resale Retail (conditional); Retail Sales; Small Appliance Repair (conditional); Temporary Outdoor Amusement (conditional); Travel Agency/Tourism Office
- **Also allowed (secondary uses):** Accessory Building or Structure; Accessory Use; Home Occupation (conditional)
- **Extra uses on specific lots:** Parking Lot: only on Parcel 1 (DD L64107) of Lot A, North Saanich District, Plan 15203; and Lots 1 and 2, Block 7, Section 11, Range 4 East, North Saanich District, Plan 381
- **Minimum lot area:** 250 m²
- **Maximum density:** Lots abutting Beacon Avenue: 2.3 FAR (up to 2.7 FAR with bonus density amenities); lots abutting all other streets: 2.4 FAR (up to 3.0 FAR)
- **Maximum height:** Lots abutting Beacon Avenue: 12.0 m, minimum 2 and maximum 3 storeys; lots abutting all other streets: 15.0 m, minimum 2 and maximum 4 storeys
- **Front setback:** Minimum 1.0 m; maximum 4.5 m (corner lots: see bylaw)
- **Rear setback:** 4.5 m where the rear lot line abuts Neighbourhood Residential, Intensive Neighbourhood Residential or Multi-Unit Residential land as designated by the OCP
- **Interior side setback:** 4.5 m where the interior side lot line abuts Neighbourhood Residential, Intensive Neighbourhood Residential or Multi-Unit Residential land as designated by the OCP
- **Street side setback:** Minimum 1.0 m; maximum 4.5 m
- **Other rules:** On lots abutting Beacon Avenue, many uses (e.g. Artist Studio, Medical Office, Office, Fitness Centre) cannot front the street on the first storey; Dwelling units cannot be in the first storey of a building fronting a street (allowed next to a lane); Cannabis Retail is not allowed with its main entrance on Sidney Avenue or James White Boulevard, or south of the centreline of Bevan Avenue; Hotels and Motels: individuals may stay at most 182 days a year (except residential staff)

## Source

- [Town of Sidney Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (in force July 1, 2024; consolidated for convenience July 21, 2025), s. 4.4](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf#page=32) (read 2026-11-07)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply. All zones in Sidney: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/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/sidney/zoning/c1/_