How many homes can I build in Nanaimo?
What BC's housing laws and Nanaimo's own zones allow on house lots, counted lot by lot from public data. To check one lot, find it on the map and open its card.
What BC law requires
Under BC's Bill 44 (2023), lots zoned for houses or duplexes inside the urban containment boundary must allow at least 3 homes on lots up to 280 m², 4 homes on larger lots, and 6 homes on lots of at least 281 m² near a frequent bus stop. Under Bill 47, land near SkyTrain stations and bus exchanges is a transit-oriented area where the city can't refuse taller buildings on height or density grounds alone (up to 20 storeys right next to a SkyTrain station).
The city's own zones can allow more than this. Lots in the Agricultural Land Reserve, outside the urban boundary, or on hazard land are treated differently.
Lots in Nanaimo by homes allowed
- 4 homes (lots over 280 m²)26,893 lots
- 3 homes (lots up to 280 m²)4,492 lots
- 6 homes (near frequent transit)23 lots
Our estimate per lot from lot size, distance to frequent transit and SkyTrain, the urban boundary and the farmland reserve.
House lots by size
| Up to 280 m² (3,014 ft²) | 4,487 lots |
| 280–557 m² (3,014–6,000 ft²) | 3,478 lots |
| 557–1,000 m² (6,000–10,764 ft²) | 17,455 lots |
| Over 1,000 m² (10,764 ft²) | 9,104 lots |
Lot size decides the 3- versus 4-home threshold and, in most zones, how much floor space you can build.
What Nanaimo's zones allow
| Zone | Lots | Homes allowed (city bylaw) |
|---|---|---|
| R5 | 25,672 | 3 dwelling units; 4 where the lot is 280 m2 or more (s.7.3.1), in at most two principal buildings (s.7.2.1); secondary suites only where no more than two principal units exist (s.7.2.3.1) |
| R10 | 2,955 | 16 dwelling units per ha (excluding leave strips and park) (s.7.3.1) |
| R6 | 2,749 | No unit cap; FAR 0.45 (up to 0.70 with Schedule D) |
| R1 | 1,615 | 1 single residential dwelling + up to 2 secondary suites (one may be in an accessory building) = 3 units (s.7.3.1, s.6.15.2.1); corner lots >700 m2 that cannot subdivide: 2 dwellings or a duplex (no suites); lots >0.4 ha: one more dwelling |
| R14 | 872 | Up to 4 dwelling units (s.7.3.1); a 5th where a pre-1975 house is kept and converted (s.7.3.1.1); suites only with no more than 2 principal units |
| R7 | 92 | Row house lots: 1 unit per lot; multiple-family lots (>=1,500 m2): FAR 0.70 (up to 1.05 with Schedule D) |
| R2 | 34 | 1 single residential dwelling + 1 secondary suite (two suites not allowed in R2, s.6.15.2.1) |
| R4 | 21 | 2 dwelling units (s.7.3.1) plus one secondary suite per unit (s.6.15) |
Zoning changes in progress
- Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2026 No. 4500.252 first reading 2026-05-04 (public hearing prohibited); adoption not verified
Allows two dwelling units on 39 listed lots that were R4 (two-unit) before being put in the Interim Corridor Area in 2024, which had cut them to one dwelling. source ↗ - Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2026 No. 4500.260 - 1821/1825/1885 Northfield Road drafted; readings blank in the posted copy
R5 to R8. source ↗
Sources: BC Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act 2023 (Bill 44) and Bill 47; City of Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw 2011 No. 4500 (consolidated version dated 2026-03-23; last amendment in table 4500.213 adopted 2026-03-23) ↗; ParcelMap BC; the city's open zoning data. Estimates only: confirm with Nanaimo before buying or designing. Page rebuilt October 25, 2026.