Bylaw Enforcement
Municipal bylaws around land use, parking, noise, building standards, signs, business licencing and more help maintain a healthy and safe environment for the community. Bylaw enforcement staff aim to educate Central Saanich citizens about bylaws and obtain voluntary compliance or, if necessary, enforce the bylaws in a fair and consistent manner. Complaints are reviewed based on severity, hazard and resource availability.
To make a complaint
Bylaw Complaint Form
The District of Central Saanich requires all complaints in writing by the form above or delivered to Municpial Hall. Information about the Complainant is kept confidential and is protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Unless a complaint becomes a matter for the courts, the information will remain confidential.
You can search for frequently requested bylaws in the resource library or contact the municipal hall for assistance.
Staff review each issue based on safety hazard, extent of violation, history, community impact as well as costs of enforcement. When there is a violation of a building regulation, a request may be made to Council to place a notice on the land title record of the property, to protect the District as well as any future owners of a property. This is referred to as a Section 57 under the Community Charter, which is a provincial regulation. Further action, such as municipal ticketing or legal action, may also be taken.
The Animal Control Bylaw is enforced by the Capital Regional District (CRD) in Central Saanich. Please contact the CRD office at (250) 478-0624 or see CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services for further information.
In general, the policy is:
We receive one complaint from a complainant whose property is located within 100 metres of the subject property; or
- We receive two complaints from unrelated complainants whose properties are located within the District of Central Saanich; or
- The complaint is classified as High Priority.
You can read the entire enforcement policy located in Related Documents section at the right side of this page.
Residential parking is permitted for 72 hours at a time.
No person shall park a commercial vehicle having a gross vehicle weight in excess of 5,500 kilograms, or a length in excess of seven meters, or a height in excess of 2.4 meters, on a property within the General Residential Zones (R or RCH), or Multi-Unit Residential Zones (RM or RP).
Unlicensed vehicles, trailers or other such vehicles can be reported to the Central Saanich Police Department for towing (250-652-4441).
The truck route is a designated combination of roads throughout the District of Central Saanich to funnel commercial traffic. The map is included in the Traffic & Highways Bylaw as Schedule C.
The District of Central Saanich Land Use Bylaw, No 2072 regulates allowance of secondary suites.
A building permit is required to confirm compliance with the Land Use Bylaw and the BC Building Code to authorize a secondary suite.
Secondary suite use is typically not permitted in a Duplex, Multifamily or as Short Term Vacation Rentals
Please visit https://www.centralsaanich.ca/home-property-development/land-use-current-planning/infill-housing/accessory-cottages-carriage for information.
“Accessory Dwelling Unit” means a self-contained dwelling unit which is secondary to a principal residential dwelling; includes secondary suites within the principal dwelling or detached units in the form of cottages or carriage houses.
Most residential zones ('R' and 'RE' zones) would now be permitted to construct a detached accessory dwelling unit. With any detached accessory dwelling unit a covenant is registered on title to ensure compliance with the District’s bylaws and policies.
With a building permit, one secondary suite is allowed on many properties. You may have a secondary suite either fully contained within the single family dwelling or in a carriage house or cottage (built with permit).
You must apply for a building permit and the review process will determine if your property is eligible for a suite. https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/guide_suites_0.pdf
Please see the Tree Removal and Planting page for the Tree Management Bylaw, which came into effect June 28, 2021.
Tree removal on lands within the ALR remains exempt from the requirement for a permit. However, a written statement from the owner declaring the trees are to be removed for an agricultural use is now required.
Please see centralsaanich.ca/trees
Section 5 (3) of the Tree Management Bylaw allows for EMERGENCY removal of a high hazard tree BEFORE obtaining a permit: nothing in the bylaw or tree permit process delays you from removing a legitimate, immediate hazard. You would then submit a tree permit within 24 hours of the removal (or the next business day if the removal occurs on a weekend or statutory holiday).
Please see centralsaanich.ca/trees
You need a permit when you want to:
- Prune branches on a permit tree that are more than 10 cm (4”) in diameter
- Remove any species greater than 30 cm (12”) diameter at breast height
- Remove "permit trees" (including hazardous, dead or dying trees)
"Permit trees" include:
- Arbutus
- Pacific Dogwood
- Pacific Yew
- Garry Oak
- Shore Pine
- Trembling Aspen
- Municipal trees
- Replacement trees
- Trees protected by a covenant or located within a development permit area
- Nesting trees
- Trees within the Erosion Control District of Central Saanich
- Trees within an Environmentally Sensitive Area
The application can be found online: https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/tree_application_july_22_2021.pdf You or a designated representative can submit the permit application, but you as the property owner are always ultimately responsible.
You need to include:
- Rationale Letter with number of trees, types of trees, reasons for removal/pruning and support for application
- Land Title Search (within last 30 days)
- Certified Arborist Report
- Tree Survey
- Tree Protection Plan per Tree Management Bylaw
- Consent from Adjacent Property Owner (if applicable)
- Permit Fees (listed at the bottom of the permit application)
