SSMUH in Saanich

The District of Saanich covers 25,561 acres. Just under half of that, 49%, is in the Urban Containment Boundary (UCB). Only lots within the UCB are eligible for SSMUH development. About a third of people in the CRD live in Saanich: 117735 people in 2021. That population is expected to grow by 29.5% in the next 21 years. By 2046, Saanich is projected to need 15,400 net new housing units. Some of those will be in-fill such as Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH). Saanich consistently follows the Province’s lead and uses the phrase SSMUH to refer to this new type of density infill.

Zoning for SSMUH in Saanich

Saanich has 39 residential zones in six zone classifications. Twenty-two of those residential zones are eligible for an SSMUH development. Saanich planning has added SSMUH as a permitted use in all the zones designated for a single family dwellings and two family dwellings. Some lots in these eligible zones have further restrictions, such as minimum density and minimum number of stories, which prohibit SSMUH developments.

Three Transit Oriented Areas (TOA): the Royal Oak exchange, Uptown, and UVic are within Saanich’s UBC. Provincial legislation prohibits SSMUH developments in any TOAs. The residential lots inside of a TOA are zoned for higher densities than the four or six units allowed in an SSMUH development. The new legislation designates a substantial portion of the UCB as a Regular Transit Area (RTA). The Province has designated three areas along Highway 1 as a Transit Proximity Area (TPA).

Helpful Documents

The District of Saanich has developed an application guide for SSMUH developments, a project data table specifically for completing an SSMUH project, a FAQ specific to SSMUH, and a fact sheet to assist in adding more dwelling units to a residentially zoned lot. Together with the Official Community Plan (OCP) and the Zoning By-law, these documents form a comprehensive set of resources to navigate developing an SSMUH on a residential lot in the UCB of Saanich.

Additionally, Saanich has an interactive map with a special layer devoted to SSMUH.

Saanich Planning has assembled together the specific conditions for SSMUH developments in Schedule G of the Zoning Bylaws. Passages relevant to SSMUH throughout the rest of the Zoning By-laws are “tagged” as such for cross-referencing purposes.

Staff Communication

Saanich is large enough to have a dedicated SSMUH staff member in the Planning Department. Saanich held two webinars to explain SSMUH to the public on 14 November 2024. The video of one of those is available.

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 Saanich

If you are ready to assess the potential for SSMUH in Saanich, 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.