C1 zone in Sidney: Downtown Commercial

Sidney, British ColumbiaDraft, not yet reviewedBylaw read 2026-11-07

In short

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 (read 2026-11-07)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply, and a lot can have site-specific rules. The Town says the consolidation is for convenience only and is not admissible in court under the Evidence Act; certified copies come from the Corporate Administrator. The consolidation lists amendments to 2025 only. Zone pages are taken from the bylaw text by a research agent and have not yet been reviewed by a person: confirm with the bylaw before you rely on them. How answers are checked.

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