What Is RU1 Zoning in BC? Lot Sizes in the Okanagan, City by City
RU1 sounds like the same zone everywhere, but it is a 450 m² city lot in Kelowna and a 5,000 m² country lot in West Kelowna. Here are RU1, RU2, RU3 and the RR rural zones compared across the Okanagan.
The short answer
- 4 Okanagan cities in this comparison that use RU1, RU2 and RU3 codes
- 255 m² to 2 ha range of minimum lot areas across the RU zones compared below
- 9.5 to 11 m range of maximum building heights in the RU zones
RU usually stands for residential urban, and RR for rural residential. In the Okanagan, Kelowna, Lake Country, Summerland and West Kelowna all use RU1, RU2 and RU3, and Kelowna, Lake Country and Peachland use RR1 and RR2. There is no provincial RU1 zone. Each municipality writes its own zoning bylaw, so the same code can mean a small-lot house site in one city and a country acreage in the next.
The numbers also do not run in the same direction. In Kelowna and Summerland, RU1 to RU3 move toward smaller lots. In West Kelowna, RU1 to RU3 move toward larger ones.
RU1 zoning by city
ZoneScout reads the minimum lot area, minimum frontage and maximum height from each city's zoning bylaw. RU1 is a 450 m² large lot in Kelowna, a 500 m² lot in Lake Country, a 260 m² infill lot in Summerland and a 5,000 m² country lot in West Kelowna.
| City | Zone name | Minimum lot area | Minimum frontage | Maximum height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelowna | Large Lot Housing | 450 m² | 16.5 m | 11 m |
| Lake Country | Small-Scale Multiple Housing | 500 m² | 15 m | 9.5 m |
| Summerland | Residential Urban Infill Zone | 260 m² | 11 m | 11 m |
| West Kelowna | Country Residential | 5,000 m² | 30 m | 11 m |
Kelowna RU1 · Lake Country RU1 · Summerland RU1 · West Kelowna RU1
RU2 and RU3 by city
The pattern repeats for RU2 and RU3. In Kelowna the lots get smaller (350 m² then 255 m²), in Summerland RU2 and RU3 get larger (460 m² then 800 m²), and in West Kelowna they jump to 10,000 m² and 20,000 m².
| City | Zone name | Minimum lot area | Minimum frontage | Maximum height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelowna | Medium Lot Housing | 350 m² | 13 m | 11 m |
| Lake Country | Small Lot Small-Scale Multiple Housing | 400 m² | 13.5 m | 9.5 m |
| Summerland | Residential Urban Zone | 460 m² | 12 m | 11 m |
| West Kelowna | Rural Residential Small Parcel | 1 ha | 30 m | 11 m |
| Kelowna | Small Lot Housing | 255 m² | 8.5 m | 11 m |
| Summerland | Residential Sub-Urban Zone | 800 m² | 18 m | 9.5 m |
| West Kelowna | Rural Residential Medium Parcel | 2 ha | 30 m | 11 m |
Kelowna RU2 · Lake Country RU2 · Summerland RU2 · West Kelowna RU2 · Kelowna RU3 · Summerland RU3 · West Kelowna RU3
RR1, RR2 and RR3 rural residential zones
The RR zones are the rural counterpart: large lots, lower coverage and often a servicing or ALR question. The minimum lot area ranges from 2,000 m² to 4 ha.
| City | Zone name | Minimum lot area | Minimum frontage | Maximum height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelowna (RR1) | Rural Residential 1 | 4 ha | 36 m | 10 m |
| Kelowna (RR2) | Rural Residential 2 | 1 ha | 18 m | 10 m |
| Lake Country (RR1) | Rural Residential 1 | 4 ha | 40 m | 9.5 m |
| Lake Country (RR2) | Rural Residential 2 | 1 ha | 40 m | 9.5 m |
| Lake Country (RR3) | Rural Residential 3 | 2,500 m² | 30 m | 9.5 m |
| Peachland (RR1) | Rural Residential | 4,055 m² | 30 m | 9.1 m |
| Peachland (RR2) | Country Residential | 2,000 m² | 30 m | 9.1 m |
Kelowna RR1 · Kelowna RR2 · Lake Country RR1 · Lake Country RR2 · Lake Country RR3 · Peachland RR1 · Peachland RR2
Why a lot's unit count is not in the code
Under Bill 44, many of these zones now allow more than one home on a lot, but the number often depends on servicing, the Urban Containment Boundary and lot size rather than on the RU or RR label. Two RU1 lots in different cities, or even on different streets, can have different answers.
If your lot is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, the Agricultural Land Commission adds its own rules on top of the zone.
Rural and acreage zones in BC compared · Okanagan Valley Bill 44 map
Check your own lot
Zone codes on listings and old documents are often out of date. Enter an address in ZoneScout to see the zone that applies to that lot today, with its minimum lot area, height and the rules that cap its unit count.
Frequently asked questions
What does RU1 zoning mean in BC?
RU1 is a residential urban zone defined by each municipality's own bylaw. In Kelowna it is Large Lot Housing with a 450 m² minimum lot area; in West Kelowna it is Country Residential with a 5,000 m² minimum. Always read the zone name together with the city.
Is RU1 a bigger lot than RU2 and RU3?
Not everywhere. In Kelowna RU1 is larger than RU2 and RU3. In Summerland RU1 is the smallest of the three, and in West Kelowna RU1 is the smallest and RU3 the largest.
What is the difference between RU and RR zoning?
RU zones are residential urban zones, usually on smaller serviced lots. RR zones are rural residential, with larger minimum lots, lower coverage and more often a servicing or ALR question.
How do I find out which zone my lot is in?
Enter the address in ZoneScout or check your city's official zoning map. The zone, not the neighbourhood, sets the minimum lot area and height.