Central Saanich is guided by its Official Community Plan (OCP), which sets the vision for how our community grows and develops. To keep this vision current and effective, we’re updating key planning tools to align with the OCP, incorporate best practices, and meet recent provincial legislation requirements.
What is Being Updated
- Zoning Bylaw: Modernizing the zoning to align with the District’s OCP.
- OCP Development Permit Area (DPA) Guidelines: Updating form and character and environmental design guidelines.
- OCP: Administrative updates to add necessary policy language to match the Province's specific requirements of Bill 44.
Updates
At the December 15 Council meeting staff presented What We Heard from Phase 1 Engagement and a revised approach to the zoning bylaw update. Council provided direction for staff to continue moving forward with the Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw update, with a few important adjustments.
- Council supported continuing to align zoning with the Official Community Plan land use designations in Brentwood Bay along Dignan Road and Stelly’s Cross Road, but not within Saanichton Village.
- Council also asked staff to explore options to better support small-scale agriculture in certain rural areas that contain sensitive ecosystems.
To learn more please review the December 15, 2025 Council Agenda.
To learn more about the initial proposed approach please review the September 17, 2025 Special Council Agenda.
Next Steps
Based on Council’s direction, work will continue on refining the bylaw, with a discussion draft of the updated Zoning Bylaw expected to be brought to Committee of the Whole early in the new year.
Learn more and follow the project at LetsTalkCentralSaanich.ca/CommunityPlanning