SSMUH in Oak Bay

The District of Saanich covers 2,575 acres. They report a population of 18,015 in 2011. Oak Bay projects a population increase of 2,000 residents between 2020 and 2038, needing and additional 680 dwelling units. Some of those will be in-fill such as Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH). Oak Bay consistently follows the Province’s lead and uses the phrase SSMUH to refer to this new type of density infill.

Zoning for SSMUH in Oak Bay

The District of Oak Bay has 19 zones which permit residential development. The Zoning By-laws have been modified to permit SSMUH development in 18 of those zones.

There are no Transit Oriented Areas in Oak Bay.

Helpful Documents

The District of Oak Bay has developed a few documents explaining how SSMUH works in Oak Bay. Together with the Official Community Plan (OCP) and the Zoning By-laws, these documents form a comprehensive set of resources to navigate developing an SSMUH on a residential lot in The District of Oak Bay.

Additionally, Oak Bay has an interactive map that includes zoning and engineering services.

Oak Bay Planning has included a Q&A on Connect Oak Bay (scroll to the bottom). There is also a recording of a webinar (scroll to the bottom) on this new infill housing program.

Additional Documents

The homeowner or developer will need to complete other documents. A Building Permit, Form & Character Development Permit and Development Cost Charge analysis are some examples. Depending on the particular site, a Development Permit, a Heritage Permit or a Tree Permit may be necessary.

Action Plan: SSMUH in Oak Bay

If you are ready to assess the potential for SSMUH in Oak Bay, the first step is contacting us for a consultation.

If you’re ready to realize the cash potential of building a Small-Scale-Multi-Unit Houseplex on your property, you have options. We can buy your property, or partner with you to develop it.