R1 zone in Nanaimo

Single Dwelling Residential Zone. Low density single residential dwellings, with two principal dwellings on certain corner lots (s.7.1).

1,615lots in this zone on the map

1,956 m²median lot size (21,054 ft²)

51–129,242 m²smallest to largest lot

9 mmaximum height (30 ft)

The rules

Name	Single Dwelling Residential Zone
Homes allowed	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
Floor space notes	No FAR (s.7.3.1). Secondary suites (s.6.15): one per principal unit; a single residential dwelling may have two (one in the house, one in an accessory building) except in R2/R3; in-house suite max 40% of habitable floor space up to 100 m2; detached suite only on R5/R14, corner, lane, through or >=500 m2 lots, max 100 m2.
Height	9 m (30 ft)
Height notes	s.7.6.1: 7 m flat roof (<4:12), 9 m sloped roof (>=4:12). Perimeter wall height 7.32 m. Lots <1,666.66 m2 also measured from curb: 3 m flat / 5.5 m sloped (s.7.6.3).
Lot coverage	40%
Coverage notes	Lot coverage 40% (s.7.6.1).
Setbacks	front 4.5 m (15 ft), side 1.5 m (5 ft), rear 7.5 m (25 ft), flank 4 m (13 ft)
Setback notes	s.7.5.1: front 4.5, side 1.5, flanking 4.0, rear 7.5 m. Garage doors facing a street 6 m (s.7.5.3). Extra 2.5 m on unwidened major roads (s.7.5.4). Accessory buildings rear 1.5 m (1.0 m to lane) in R1-R7, R10, R14 (s.6.6.3). Front may drop to 4 m where one side yard is 3 m or more (s.7.5.6). Lane lots 450 m2 / 10 m frontage.
Bylaw sections	Part 7 (s.7.1-7.6) for R1; s.6.15

Single residential dwellingDuplex (corner lots per s.7.2.2)Secondary suite (up to 2)Boarding and lodgingDaycareHome based businessShort-term rental

Our estimate per lot under BC's Bills 44 and 47, from lot size, transit distance and the urban boundary.

No addressed lots in this zone on the map.

Read from City of Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw 2011 No. 4500 (consolidated version dated 2026-03-23; last amendment in table 4500.213 adopted 2026-03-23) ↗, checked 2026-10-23. Summaries are our reading of the bylaw: confirm with Nanaimo before buying or designing. Page rebuilt October 25, 2026.