Nanaimo: zoning, lots and development

How land is zoned

• Houses, duplexes & small multiplexes72.2%
• Townhouses & apartments14.0%
• Commercial & mixed use8.2%
• Parks, schools & institutional1.8%
• Industrial & employment1.6%
• Agricultural & rural1.0%
• Site-specific (comprehensive development)0.6%
• Other / special0.6%

Share of 47,853 lots by zoning category, from Open Government Licence – Nanaimo. Categories are simplified from the city's own zone codes.

What BC law allows on lots

• 4 homes26,893 lots
• 3 homes (small lots)4,492 lots
• 6 homes (near frequent transit)23 lots

Under BC's Bills 44 and 47 (2023), most house lots inside the urban boundary allow 3 to 6 homes, and land near rapid-transit stations allows taller buildings. Counts are our estimate from lot size, zoning and transit.

Building permits

Nanaimo doesn't publish issued building permits as data.

Rezoning & development applications

80 open applications on the map. Most recent:

• 3469 Uplands Drive Active
  To rezone the subject property from Steep Slope Residential (R10) to Medium Density Residential (R8) with site-specific density (maximum 0.8 Floor Area Ratio) to allow for a multi-family development.
  Rezoning Application · RA000496 on the map
• 5190, 5196 & a portion of 5200 Rutherford Road Active
  To rezone 5190 & 5196 Rutherford Road and a portion of 5200 Rutherford Road from Steep Slope Residential (R10) to Row House Residential (R7) to allow for a multi-family development.
  Rezoning Application · RA000502 on the map
• 950 Phoenix Way Active
  To rezone the subject property from Rural Resource (AR1) to Industrial (I4) with site-specific provisions (use, density, lot area, and lot coverage) and Parks, Recreation and Culture One (PRC-1) to allow a future industrial and agro-industrial development, and parkland dedication on the west side o…
  Rezoning Application · RA000503 on the map
• 6261 Hammond Bay Road Active
  To rezone the subject property from Urban Reserve (AR2) to a Comprehensive Development (CD) zone, to facilitate a mixed-use commercial and residential development in accordance with the Bowers District Master Plan.
  Rezoning Application · RA000505 on the map
• 1901 Northfield Road Active
  To rezone the subject property from Three and Four Unit Residential (R5) to Medium Density Residential (R8) to facilitate a multi-family residential development.
  Rezoning Application · RA000506 on the map
• 1415 Loat Street Active
  To rezone the subject properties from Three and Four Unit Residential (R5) to Row House Residential (R7) to allow for a multi-family development.
  Rezoning Application · RA000507 on the map
• 2080 & 2160 East Wellington Road Active
  To rezone 2080 and 2160 East Wellington Road from R1 (Single Dwelling Residential) and I2 (Light Industrial) to I2 with site-specific accessory industrial office use, to facilitate an industrial subdivision.
  Rezoning Application · RA000509 on the map
• 1821, 1825, 1885 Northfield Road Active
  To rezone the subject property from Three and Four Unit Residential (R5) to Medium Density Residential (R8) to facilitate a multi-family development.
  Rezoning Application · RA000510 on the map
• 2263 Jingle Pot Road Active
  To rezone the subject property to allow a site-specific “Seniors’ Congregate Housing" and accessory dwelling unit use with a site-specific density202 to facilitate the expansion of an existing seniors care facility.
  Rezoning Application · RA000511 on the map
• 319 Eighth Street Active
  To rezone the subject property from Single Dwelling Residential (R1) to a new zone to facilitate a multi-family residential development.
  Rezoning Application · RA000520 on the map
• 2565 Departure Bay Road Active
  To rezone the subject property from Three and Four Unit Residential (R5) to Row House Residential (R7) to facilitate a multi-family development.
  Rezoning Application · RA000521 on the map
• 2335 Departure Bay Road Active
  To rezone the western portion of the subject property from Single Dwelling Residential (R1) to Three and Four Unit Residential (R5) to facilitate a subdivision, and to rezone the eastern portion of the subject property from Single Dwelling Residential (R1) to Medium Density Residential (R8).
  Rezoning Application · RA000523 on the map

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