R5 zone in Nanaimo
Three and Four Unit Residential Zone. Small-scale multiple family dwellings of up to four units compatible with single-family areas; the City's SSMUH zone applied to about 22,000 former R1/R2/R4 lots in June 2024 (Bylaw 4500.223).
The rules
| Name | Three and Four Unit Residential Zone |
|---|---|
| Homes allowed | 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) |
| Floor space notes | No FAR in R5 (removed by 4500.223). A single residential dwelling in R5 follows R1 setbacks, coverage and height (s.7.5.7, s.7.6.4). 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 | 10.5 m (34 ft) |
| Height notes | s.7.6.1: 9 m flat roof (<4:12), 10.5 m sloped roof (>=4:12). |
| Lot coverage | 50% |
| Coverage notes | Lot coverage 50% (s.7.6.1). |
| Setbacks | front 3 m (10 ft), side 1.5 m (5 ft), rear 7.5 m (25 ft), flank 2.5 m (8 ft) |
| Setback notes | s.7.5.1: front 3.0, side 1.5, flanking 2.5, 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). Lane lots 550 m2. |
| Bylaw sections | Part 7 (s.7.1-7.6) for R5; s.6.15 |
What you can use it for
Multiple family dwelling (up to 4 units)DuplexSingle residential dwellingSecondary suiteDaycareHome based businessShort-term rental
What BC law allows on these lots
- 4 homes (lots over 280 m²)22,989 lots
- 3 homes (lots up to 280 m²)2,633 lots
- 6 homes (near frequent transit)9 lots
Our estimate per lot under BC's Bills 44 and 47, from lot size, transit distance and the urban boundary.
Example lots in R5
No addressed lots in this zone on the map.
Other zones in Nanaimo
R8R10R6COR1R1R14COR3COR2DT5R9CC4R15AR2AR1CC3DT2CC2R7DT1CC5R12DT3R2R4
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.