--- title: "Wells zoning: find your zone and what it allows" question: "How do I find out how my property is zoned in Wells and what I can build on it?" place: Wells, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/wells category: Building, renovating and your property owner: municipal owner_body: District of Wells sources_read: 2026-11-08 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/zoning-lookup/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/zoning-lookup.json" --- # Wells zoning: find your zone and what it allows **Question:** How do I find out how my property is zoned in Wells and what I can build on it? **Short answer:** In Wells, your zone is shown on two zoning maps, Upper Wells and Lower Wells, posted as PDFs on the District's Planning Bylaws page. No online address search is mentioned. The Zoning Bylaw sets the rules for each zone. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Wells, https://www.wells.ca) **Cost:** No fee is stated. **How long:** Not applicable. **Where:** - Online: Planning Bylaws and zoning maps, https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/bylaws/planning-bylaws (Zoning Map Upper Wells and Zoning Map Lower Wells (Schedule B).) - Phone: District Office, 250-994-3330 - Email: District Office, clerk@wells.ca - In person: District Office, 4243 Sanders Ave, Wells, BC V0K 2R0 (Office hours are not stated on the District website.) ## Key facts - **How to find your zone:** The District posts two zoning maps (Schedule B) on its Planning Bylaws page: Zoning Map Upper Wells and Zoning Map Lower Wells. No online lookup tool or address search is mentioned. - Source: [Planning Bylaws, Planning Bylaws page](https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/bylaws/planning-bylaws) - Official wording: "Zoning Map Lower Wells" … "Zoning Map Upper Wells" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Zoning bylaw:** District of Wells Zoning Bylaw, Bylaw No. 26, 2000, amended by Bylaw No. 123, 2013 and Bylaw No. 125, 2013. The posted copy is not consolidated and states no 'current to' date. - Source: [Planning Bylaws, Planning Bylaws page](https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/bylaws/planning-bylaws) - Official wording: "Bylaw No. 26, 2000 Zoning Bylaw" … "Bylaw No. 123, Zoning and Tree Protection Amending Bylaw" … "Bylaw No. 125, 2013, Zoning and Tree Protection Amending Bylaw" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **What the zone controls:** For each zone, the permitted uses, minimum lot area, yard setbacks, lot coverage and building height (for example R 1: lot coverage 50%, height 10.67 m, front yard 4.5 m). - Source: [District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 4.8.2 (R 1 zone)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "LOT COVERAGE (maximum): = 50%" … "HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS (maximum): = 10.67 metres (35 feet)" … "Front Yard - Setback = 4.5 metres (14.76 feet)" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Contact:** District of Wells office: 250-994-3330, clerk@wells.ca. - Source: [Contact, Contact page footer](https://www.wells.ca/contact) - Official wording: "4243 Sanders Ave PO Box 219 Wells, BC V0K 2R0 Tel: 250-994-3330 Email: clerk@wells.ca - -" … "PO Box 219 Wells, BC V0K 2R0 Tel: 250-994-3330 Email: clerk@wells.ca - - © DISTRICT OF WELLS" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Bylaw:** District of Wells Zoning Bylaw (Bylaw No. 26, 2000; the amending bylaws call it the Zoning and Tree Protection Bylaw), as amended by Bylaws No. 123 and 125, 2013 - Source: [Planning Bylaws, Planning Bylaws page](https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/bylaws/planning-bylaws) - Official wording: "Bylaw No. 26, 2000 Zoning Bylaw" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 ## How it works The District posts two zoning maps (Schedule B) on its [Planning Bylaws page](https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/bylaws/planning-bylaws): Zoning Map Upper Wells and Zoning Map Lower Wells. No online lookup tool or address search is mentioned. The rules for each zone are in section 4 of the [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf), as amended by Bylaws No. 123 and No. 125, 2013. For each zone it sets permitted uses, minimum lot area, yard setbacks, lot coverage and building height. For example, the R 1 zone has lot coverage of 50%, height of 10.67 m and a front yard of 4.5 m. The posted bylaw is not consolidated and states no "current to" date, so ask the District whether other amendments exist. ## Steps 1. Open the Planning Bylaws page and find your lot on the Upper Wells or Lower Wells map. 2. Note the zone, then read that zone's section in the Zoning Bylaw. 3. If you cannot read the map or are unsure, call or email the District Office to confirm your zone. ## Good to know - Other rules in the Zoning Bylaw apply across zones, such as ancillary buildings, home occupations and bed and breakfasts. - Wells' Official Community Plan also applies to development, including a development permit in the 1930's Mining Town area. ## Zones 19 zones are listed from [District of Wells Zoning and Tree Protection Bylaw No. 26, 2000 (with Amending Bylaws No. 123 and 125, 2013 not consolidated)](https://www.wells.ca/download_file/view/176/379). Each zone has its own page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/zoning/index.json ## Official forms and pages - [Planning Bylaws, District of Wells](https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/bylaws/planning-bylaws) - [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000 (PDF)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf) ## Related questions - [Wells tree removal rules and permits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/tree-removal.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Zoning maps in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/zoning-lookup.md) - [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/zoning-lookup.md) - [Williams Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/zoning-lookup.md) - [McBride](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/zoning-lookup.md) - [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/zoning-lookup.md) - [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/zoning-lookup.md) - [Valemount](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/zoning-lookup.md) ## Sources - [Planning Bylaws, District of Wells](https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/bylaws/planning-bylaws) (read 2026-11-08) - [District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000 (PDF)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Contact, District of Wells](https://www.wells.ca/contact) (read 2026-11-08) _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 District of Wells. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/zoning-lookup/_