Denman by the Numbers
A data portrait of Denman Island, BC, assembled from public records (ParcelMap BC, Islands Trust, BC Agricultural Land Commission, BC Assessment). Tax figures are estimates. Based on 1,014 mapped lots.
- 1,014 total lots; 12,239 acres of zoned land
- 808 residences; 96 vacant lots
- 259 lots in the Agricultural Land Reserve
- Total assessed value $921,596,054 (median $864,500)
- Estimated island property tax $4,259,888/yr
Lots by zone
| Zone | Lots | Area |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | 440 | 908 acres |
| R2 | 266 | 2,684 acres |
| A | 152 | 5,039 acres |
| W3 | 43 | 423 acres |
| PK | 22 | 2,143 acres |
| F | 15 | 673 acres |
| IN | 15 | 23 acres |
| CN | 14 | 489 acres |
| W1 | 12 | 9,418 acres |
| C | 11 | 5 acres |
| W2 | 10 | 10 acres |
| RE | 7 | 134 acres |
| AQ | 4 | 135 acres |
| R4 | 1 | 3 acres |
| L | 1 | 4 acres |
By neighbourhood
| Area | Lots | Median value | Est. tax/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | 223 | $959,500 | $995,560 |
| South End | 226 | $938,000 | $1,029,315 |
| North End | 296 | $842,500 | $1,483,534 |
| Little Burnaby | 59 | $765,250 | $197,083 |
| Village / Downtown | 163 | $758,200 | $546,948 |
| Marine / Foreshore | 47 | $543,800 | $7,448 |
Buildings & valuation
From satellite building footprints reconciled against BC Assessment records.
- 1,003 structures on 603 lots; 233 lots have 2+ buildings
- Total measured building footprint 131,407 m²
- Total LandIntelVal (our market estimate) $1,147,392,741 across 904 assessed lots
- 52 lots show a likely farm-class assessment pattern (ALR + land value far below market)
- If land assessed far below our market estimate (mainly parcels showing a Class 9 farm pattern) were assessed at market and taxed at the residential rate, the additional tax would total roughly ~$877,305/yr — foregone under the provincial farm-class framework (analysis)
- Building siting measured on 594 lots; 82 show a building that appears within the LUB 186 minimum lot-line setback (a measurement, not a determination of non-compliance — see each lot)
Permitted density & build-out
How many homes Land Use Bylaw 186 allows across the island, versus how many exist today.
- 1,048 principal dwellings permitted by right across 1,013 zoned lots (vs. ~808 built today) — roughly 240 more by-right homes
- Up to 2,628 at the theoretical maximum (adding secondary suites, discretionary Temporary Use Permit secondary dwellings, and ALR additional residences — none guaranteed)
Per LUB 186 Table 3. By-right is the defensible figure; the maximum leans on discretionary permits. Site-specific zones may vary.
Property-tax and LandIntelVal figures are estimates (assessed value × 2025 CVRD Area A rural rates including Denman service-area levies; market value from comps + measured footprints), not actual bills or appraisals. DenmanIsland.co is a free, non-commercial, public-interest resource. View the interactive version.