Housing in the ALR & on rural properties

Project state

Active

Update - October 30, 2024

On November 4, staff are presenting a report to Council that outlines recommendations for agricultural and rural properties, that would permit either a secondary suite or detached accessory dwelling on lots less than 1ha and allow both a secondary suite and detached accessory dwelling on properties 1ha or larger. Staff are seeking to engage with the public related to this matter at the upcoming Agricultural Open House on November 2. If Council proceeds with Staff recommendations, a public hearing would be held at a future Council meeting.

Past Updates

We are seeking public input on options staff will be presenting to Council in early 2024. Input from this survey will help inform the options presented to Council.

There are 5 options outlined and an opportunity to provide additional comments. Although 5 options are presented here, the final version may be ‘something in-between’.

Survey deadline: December 15, 2023. There will be future opportunities to provide input before any new bylaws are adopted.

Background

Housing in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) & on rural properties

As a result of provincial changes in legislation for the Agricultural Land Reserve local governments may now consider permitting up to three (3) dwelling units on a single property in the form of:

a principal dwelling,
a secondary suite in the principal dwelling, and
a detached accessory dwelling having a 90m² maximum floor area (cottage or carriage house).

In Central Saanich, this could affect up to approximately 1,097 properties (487 zoned rural and 610 zoned agricultural).

Currently in our Agriculture zones only a secondary suite is permitted and within most of the Rural Estate zones either a secondary suite or detached cottage or carriage house is permitted, with a 90m²maximum floor area.

Discussion