Development Planning & Approvals

Central Saanich's Zoning Bylaw regulates how land, buildings and other structures may be used and located on a property. The District is divided into areas or "zones" and each of these zones have particular designations, such as single family residential, multi-family, industrial or commercial. The following is regulated within these zones:

• use and density of land, buildings and other structures,
• setbacks, height, lot coverage and maximum floor areas,
• location of uses on the land, and;
• shape, dimensions and area of all parcels of land created by subdivision.

The Land Use Bylaw also contains provisions for

• on site parking, loading and screening,
• subdivision servicing and improvements to municipal rights-of-ways, and
• sign regulations.

Under the Local Government Act section 875, an Official Community Plan (OCP) is a statement of objectives and policies to guide decisions on planning and land use management.

Proposed developments also need to comply with any provincial and federal regulations. Separate applications (through other authorities) may be required for provincial archeological sites, Agricultural Land Reserve, Federal water leases, Island Health etc.

It is also important for property owners to review any encumbrances (such as rights-of-way, covenants, easements, building schemes, etc.) registered on their land title as they may impact development.

If you generally comply with the current zoning, but perhaps not the setbacks or building height, a variance application may be possible. 

The Board of Variance can rule on minor variances to the Land Use Bylaw related to setbacks and height, however, their decision must be based on a hardship. For further information about this process, please check out the Board of Variance Guide [PDF/518KB].

If the variance is not considered minor, or not based on a hardship, Council could review a variance application, as a Development Variance Permit.

Alternatively, if the proposal does not meet the lot coverage or floor area ratio calculations, a rezoning application would be necessary.