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RR3 zone in Bowen Island
Rural Residential 3. Residential and agricultural use of land within a rural setting (s.4.1 information note).
The rules
| Name | Rural Residential 3 |
|---|---|
| Homes allowed | 2 (one detached house + one secondary suite OR one detached secondary suite) |
| Floor space notes | The bylaw sets NO floor space ratio or floor-area cap for the principal dwelling in this zone; size is controlled by lot coverage, 9 m height and setbacks. Accessory residential use (s.3.57): only ONE per lot - either a secondary suite or a detached secondary suite. Detached secondary suite max floor area = 65 m2 + 0.625% of lot area, capped at 140 m2 (s.3.57.3). Secondary suite max = greater of 90 m2 or (65 m2 + 0.625% of lot area, capped at 140 m2) (s.3.57.4, as replaced by Bill 44 Bylaw 653). One extra parking space per suite (s.3.57.2). Detached suites in the Detached Secondary Suite DPA need a development permit (s.3.58, s.7.6). Accessory buildings to a dwelling: total floor area max 160 m2 on lots up to 0.4 ha; 4% of lot area max 400 m2 on 0.4-4 ha; 4% max 1,000 m2 on 4 ha+ (s.3.13 Table 3-1). Subdivision: Min individual lot 1 ha without community water; no average set (s.4.1.3). Variations RR3(a)-(e): (a)/(d) 1 dwelling unit per 2 ha, (d) 8 ha min lot; (b) no average lot area; (c) 1 ha average lot area; (e) detached suite up to 132 m2 with 3 m east setback (s.4.1.4). |
| Height | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Height notes | 9 m max for any building or structure (s.4.1.2). No storey limit stated. Height measured from the lower of average natural or average finished grade to the roof high point (flat) or mean roof height (pitched) (s.1.1 'Height', s.3.12). |
| Lot coverage | 3.5% |
| Coverage notes | Max combined lot coverage of all buildings and structures = 100 m2 + 3.5% of lot area, max 1,500 m2 (s.4.1.2) - encoded as pct 3.5 + plus_m2 100, cap_m2 1500 (cap reached at 4 ha). Coverage excludes eaves up to 1.25 m and structures under 0.6 m (s.1.1). |
| Setbacks | front 7.5 m (25 ft), side 7.5 m (25 ft), rear 7.5 m (25 ft), flank 7.5 m (25 ft) |
| Setback notes | 7.5 m from all lot lines (s.4.1.2). Portable saw mill 30 m from watercourses and 25 m from lot lines abutting residential lots. General (Part 3): no building within 30 m of the natural boundary of the sea (s.3.16; reducible to 15 m, or 7.5 m with bedrock/engineered protection, by neighbour averaging, s.3.17), 30 m from watercourses/wetlands (s.3.18), 50 m from lakes/reservoirs (s.3.19), 30 m from active raptor/heron nest trees (s.3.22). Projections: bay windows etc. 0.6 m, uncovered decks 1.25 m (max 20% of side setback), eaves 1.0 m (s.3.23). Small accessory buildings <=2.5 m high and <=10 m2 may sit at 0 m from lot lines (s.3.31). |
| Bylaw sections | s.4.1.1-4.1.4, s.3.13, s.3.16-3.23, s.3.57, s.3.59, s.1.1 |
What you can use it for
Detached dwelling (1 primary)Secondary suite or detached secondary suite (one accessory residential use)AgricultureStableKennelHome occupation (incl. bed and breakfast)Residential guest accommodation (short-term rental, principal residence only, maDomestic agriculturePortable saw mill and mini-storage on lots 2 ha+
What BC law allows on these lots
- House + suite or laneway home (towns under 5,000 people)22 lots
Our estimate per lot under BC's Bills 44 and 47, from lot size, transit distance and the urban boundary.
Example lots in RR3
No addressed lots in this zone on the map.
Other zones in Bowen Island
SR2RR1CD6CD2CD4SR1CD18CD12RR2CD1CD16CD15CD8CD3CD7VR1CD9CD10CD19CD17
Read from Bowen Island Municipality Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (consolidated for convenience November 2025; last listed amendment Bylaw 674 adopted 2025-03-10; later adopted bylaws 666, 672, 673, 694, 721, 722 applied from their own text) ↗, checked 2026-10-21. Summaries are our reading of the bylaw: confirm with Bowen Island before buying or designing. Page rebuilt October 25, 2026.