Land Use and Development Procedures Bylaw, 2025, No. 10215
Saanich, British Columbia
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THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SAANICH
BYLAW NO. 10215
TO ESTABLISH LAND USE PROCEDURES
The Municipal Council of The Corporation of the District of Saanich enacts as follows:
PART 1: DEFINITIONS AND SCOPE
Definitions
1. In this Bylaw, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "ALC" means the Agricultural Land Commission.
(b) "ALC Use or Subdivision Application" means an application for permission to carry
out a use or subdivision within the Agricultural Land Reserve which requires,
pursuant to the Agricultural Land Commission Act, a referral or approval of the
District, but excludes an ALR Application.
(c) "ALR Inclusion/Exclusion Application" means an application to Council for the
purposes of including or excluding land within the Agricultural Land Reserve.
(d) "Approving Officer" means the person appointed by Council to be the approving
officer, and includes the deputy approving officer.
(e) "Board of Variance" means the Board of Variance as established by the District's
Board of Variance Bylaw, 2004, No. 8599, as amended or replaced from time to
time.
(f) "Building Inspector" means the building inspector employed by the District, and
includes any employee authorized to act on their behalf.
(g) "Corporate Officer" means the Corporate Officer employed by the District and
includes any employee authorized to act on their behalf.
(h) "Council" means the elected council of the District.
(i) "Delegate" means the staff member delegated by Council through Section 56 of this
Bylaw.
(j) "Delegated Permit Application" means a permit or approval for which the authority to
approve or reject has been delegated by Council to specified staff through Section
56 and Schedule "A" of this Bylaw.
(k) "Director" means the Director of Planning employed by the District.
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(l) "District" means the Corporation of the District of Saanich.
(m) "LCRB" means the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch established by the
Liquor Control and Licensing Act.
(n) "Official Community Plan Bylaw" or "OCP Bylaw" means the District's Official
Community Plan Bylaw, 2024, No. 10000, as amended or replaced from time to time.
(o) "Preapplication" means an informal review and comment by the District of preliminary
application materials, which will support a future formal application.
(p) "Zoning Bylaw" means the District's Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, as amended or
replaced from time to time.
Scope
2. This Bylaw applies to the following applications:
(a) Bylaw applications to:
i. Amend the OCP Bylaw;
ii. Amend the Zoning Bylaw;
iii. Secure or amend a Phased Development Agreement through bylaw;
iv. Secure or amend a Heritage Designation through bylaw;
v. Remove a Heritage Designation through bylaw;
vi. Secure or amend a Heritage Revitalization Agreement through bylaw.
(b) Permit applications to:
i. Issue, amend, or discharge a development permit;
ii. Issue, amend or discharge a development variance permit;
iii. Issue, amend, discharge or extend a temporary use permit;
iv. Issue, amend or discharge a heritage alteration permit.
(c) Delegated Permit Applications
(d) Applications for Provincial Referrals for:
i. ALR Inclusion/Exclusion Applications;
ii. ALC Use or Subdivision Applications;
iii. Issuance or amendments to Liquor, Cannabis Licensing Applications.
(e) Miscellaneous Applications for:
i. Strata conversion of a previously occupied building;
ii. Inclusion in, or removal from, the heritage register;
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iii. Amendment or discharge of a covenant;
iv. Antenna applications.
(f) Board of Variance Applications for:
i. Application for variance;
ii. Application for time extension.
(g) Information Applications:
i. Zoning Comfort Letters
ii. Preapplications.
PART 2: APPLICATION PROCESS
General Application Requirements
3. Each application described in Section 2 of this Bylaw shall be made to the Director, and
shall be:
(a) Signed by the owner of the lands involved or by a person authorized in writing by the
owner to act as their agent;
(b) Submitted in a format prescribed by the Director;
(c) Accompanied by the information required by the Director; and
(d) Accompanied by the applicable application fee as set out in Section 22.
4. Notwithstanding Section 3, any person may apply for a Zoning Comfort Letter which will
be processed and provided by the Director once the application fee is paid.
Incomplete Applications
5. If an incomplete application is submitted, the application shall not be considered
accepted until the Director has received all required information to process the
application. Incomplete applications will not be referred and circulated until they have
been deemed complete by the Director.
General Application Process
6. Every complete application described in Section 3 of this Bylaw shall be processed by the
Director, as follows:
(a) If Council approval is required, present a report to Council for its consideration;
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(b) Forward all Delegated Permit Applications to the Delegate in accordance with Section
56 of this Bylaw;
(c) Forward all Board of Variance Applications to the Board of Variance; and
(d) Refer any covenant modification or discharge to the decision maker who authorized
the original covenant, which may include the Building Inspector, Council, or Approving
Officer.
Application Lapse for Failure to Provide Information
7. In the event that the applicant fails to submit outstanding information for an application
file for any six (6) month period commencing on the date the request for information was
made, then the applicant shall be notified in writing that their application will be deemed
abandoned if no written response is received within thirty (30) days.
8. When an applicant receives a notice pursuant to Section 7 of this Bylaw, the applicant
may preserve the application by responding to and providing the outstanding information
within thirty (30) days.
9. The Director may, in their sole discretion, grant an extension to the applicant if all of the
following requirements are met:
(a) The applicant has requested an extension prior to the date that the application file is
deemed to be abandoned in accordance with Section 7;
(b) The applicant has provided reasonable and sufficient reasons for requiring the
extension; and
(c) The applicant has demonstrated that they are in good faith working to respond to the
outstanding information on their application file.
10. Failure by the applicant to respond under Section 8 of this Bylaw or secure an extension
under Section 9 of this Bylaw will result in the application being deemed abandoned and
the application file will be closed.
11. At the end of the extension granted in accordance with Section 9, if there is still
outstanding information, notice will be provided in accordance with Section 7. If the
applicant does not provide the information within thirty (30) days, the application will be
deemed abandoned.
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Application Lapse for Failure to Secure Bylaw Adoption
12. In the event that the applicant fails to secure adoption of any bylaws listed in Subsection
2(a) of this Bylaw within one year after the date of Council third reading, then the
applicant shall be notified in writing that their application will be deemed abandoned if no
written response is received within thirty (30) days:
13. When an applicant receives a notice pursuant to Section 12 of this Bylaw, the applicant
may preserve the application by responding to and providing the outstanding information
necessary to move the file forward within thirty (30) days.
14. The Director may, in their sole discretion, grant an extension to the applicant if all of the
following requirements are met:
(a) The applicant has requested an extension prior to the date that the application file is
deemed to be abandoned in accordance with Section 12;
(b) The applicant has provided reasonable and sufficient reasons for requiring the
extension; and
(c) The applicant has demonstrated that they are in good faith working to secure bylaw
adoption for their application file.
15. Failure by the applicant to respond under Section 13 of this Bylaw or secure an
extension under Section 14 of this Bylaw will result in the application being deemed
abandoned, and the application file will be closed.
16. At the end of the extension granted in accordance with Section 14, if there is still
outstanding information, notice will be provided in accordance with Section 12. If the
applicant does not provide the information within thirty (30) days, the application will be
deemed abandoned.
Reapplication
17. If an application is deemed abandoned and cancelled, the applicant can resubmit a new
application.
18. If the content of an active application has changed significantly respecting proposed use
or density, the Director may require submission of a new application.
19. If an application under Section 2 has been rejected by Council, a person must not submit
the same or substantially similar application within six months immediately following the
date of refusal.
20. Notwithstanding Section 19, Council may amend the six-month window for
reapplications for Zoning Bylaw amendments or OCP Bylaw amendments, through an
affirmative vote of at least 2/3 of Council members.
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21. In any event of reapplication, all applicable fees must be paid.
PART 3: FEES
Application Fees
22. At the time of application, the applicant must pay any applicable application fees as set
out in the Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2025, No. 10229.
23. Despite Section 22, all application fees under Schedule "A" are waived for municipal
projects conducted by or on behalf of the District, on property owned or managed by the
District.
24. Where an application to secure a bylaw, bylaw amendment, or temporary use permit is
withdrawn prior to its publication on a Council agenda, 50% of the application fee shall
be refunded.
25. Except as permitted in Section 24, hereof, no application fees paid shall be refunded,
irrespective of the result of the application.
26. All fees established under this Bylaw shall increase by 3% annually for five years,
rounded down to the nearest $5.00, commencing on January 1, 2027, with the final
increase occurring on January 1, 2031.
Advertising Fees
27. Where an application requires notice to be published, the applicant must pay the
advertising fee as set out in the Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2025, No. 10229.
28. The advertising fee must be paid before notice of the application is published in the
newspaper.
29. Despite Section 27:
(a) the advertising fee is reduced to five hundred ($500.00) dollars for applications for
Temporary Use Permits for sale of home-grown and value-added fruits, flowers,
vegetables, and homemade crafts at roadside stands.
(b) the advertising fee is waived for municipal projects conducted by or on behalf of the
District, on property owned or managed by the District.
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30. For greater certainty, if Council forwards a Zoning Bylaw amendment to public hearing
pursuant to Section 49(a) of this Bylaw, the applicant will be responsible for payment of
the advertising fees for both first reading and public hearing.
PART 4: PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
Bylaw Notifications by District
31. In accordance with the Local Government Act, the District will mail or otherwise deliver
individual notices for applications under Subsection 2(a) of this Bylaw to all owners and
tenants of the subject property for which an application is being made, and all owners
and tenants of properties that are within a 90-metre radius to which the application
pertains, advising of:
(a) A public hearing; or
(b) A scheduled Council meeting for first reading if a public hearing is not required or
prohibited under the Local Government Act.
32. Notices will be mailed or otherwise delivered not less than ten days prior to the date of
Council consideration at first reading or public hearing, as applicable.
33. Section 31 does not apply if 10 or more parcels owned by 10 or more persons are
subject of the bylaw alteration.
34. Notice for applications under Subsection 2(a) of this Bylaw shall be published in not less
than 2 consecutive issues of a newspaper, the last publication to appear not less than 3
and not more than 10 days before the first reading or public hearing, as applicable.
35. Where an application is submitted under Subsection 2(a) of this Bylaw, the applicant
shall prepare and post notification signs on the lands involved, and shall:
(a) Erect one sign on each street frontage of the proposed development, where the sign
can be safely installed and where the sign can be seen from the street, within five
weeks of the application being submitted;
(b) Prepare and post the signs in accordance with the sign specifications prescribed by
the Director and provide written and visual confirmation to the satisfaction of the
director that the signs have been erected;
(c) Maintain and/or replace the signs as necessary; and
(d) Remove the signs within one week of the application being refused or approved by
the delegate or council, or within one week of the application being withdrawn by the
applicant.
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36. Failure to post the required signs in accordance with this Bylaw will result in the
postponement of consideration of the application by Council or the Delegate. All costs
incurred by the District for public notification as a result of such postponement will be the
responsibility of the applicant.
37. If the applicant fails to remove the signs in accordance with Subsection 35(d) of this
Bylaw, the District may enter upon the land(s) to remove the signage at the expense of
the applicant, with an additional administrative cost of 20% of the expense incurred.
Permit Notifications by District
38. The District will mail or otherwise deliver individual notices for applications for issuance
of permits under Subsection 2(b) of this Bylaw to all owners and tenants of the subject
property, and all owners and tenants of properties that are within a 50 metre radius to
which the application pertains, advising of a scheduled Council meeting.
39. Notices will be mailed or otherwise delivered not less than ten days prior to the date of
Council consideration.
40. As additional notification for temporary use permits:
(a) Notices for issuance of temporary use permits shall be published in a newspaper not
less than 3 and not more than 14 days before the adoption of the resolution to issue
the permit.
(b) The applicable radius for the notice requirements under Section 38 of this Bylaw is
increased to 90 metres.
41. As additional notification for Delegated Permit Applications for Non-Market Housing, the
sign posting requirements under Sections 35-37 of this Bylaw shall apply.
42. Where the issuance of a permit under Subsection 2(b) of this Bylaw is being considered
alongside an OCP Bylaw amendment or Zoning Bylaw amendment requiring a public
hearing, the notice required under Section 38 of this Bylaw may be incorporated into the
public hearing notice.
43. For greater certainty, the notice requirements set out above do not apply to:
(a) Amendment or discharge of permits under Subsection 2(b) of this Bylaw; or
(b) Delegated Permit Applications, however, the Delegate may, if they determine it is in
the public interest, notify by mailout, delivery or any other means, the owners and
tenants of the subject property, and any adjacent property owners up to within a 50-
metre radius of the application, to invite written comments on the Delegated Permit
Applications.
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PART 5: REFERRAL
Application Referral
44. When processing an application, the Director may refer the application to other agencies,
associations, Advisory Committees and District staff.
Referral- Advisory Design Panel
45. Without limiting the generality of the above section, the Director or Council may refer plans
submitted in support of an application to rezone lands or for the issuance of a development
permit to the Advisory Design Panel for review.
46. Following its review of the application, the Advisory Design Panel will vote on the
application by recommending, in the form of a resolution based on the information
presented, one of the following to the referring authority:
(a) Approval;
(b) Approval with considerations; or
(c) Rejection of the proposed design plans and/or development permit.
47. By way of additional resolution, the Advisory Design Panel may make any other
recommendations or comments to the referring authority.
PART 6: COUNCIL AND DELEGATE CONSIDERATION
Applications under Section 2(a) [Bylaw Applications]
48. Subject to Section 49, a public hearing shall be held before Council for all applications
under Subsection 2(a) of this Bylaw.
49. As an exception to Section 48:
(a) When an application to a Zoning Bylaw amendment is consistent with the Official
Community Plan, a public hearing shall not be held, unless otherwise directed by
Council.
(b) When an application to a Zoning Bylaw amendment meets all of the following criteria,
a public hearing is prohibited:
i.
The bylaw is consistent with the OCP;
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ii.
The sole purpose of the bylaw is to permit a development that is, in whole or
in part, a residential development; and
iii.
The residential component of the development accounts for at least half of
the gross floor area of all buildings and other structures as part of the
development;
(c) When an application to a Zoning Bylaw amendment is for the sole purpose of
complying with Section 481.3 of the Local Government Act, a public hearing is
prohibited.
(d) When an application is for a heritage revitalization agreement bylaw, and the scope
of the agreement will not affect use, density, or residential tenure, a public hearing
shall not be held, unless otherwise directed by Council.
50. Subject to Section 49, every application under Subsection 2(a) of this Bylaw shall be
considered at a Council meeting at which time Council may:
(a) Forward the application to a Public Hearing;
(b) Amend and then forward the application to a Public Hearing; or
(c) Reject the application.
51. Where there are multiple applications under Subsection 2(a) of this Bylaw, all
applications will be considered at the same public hearing.
52. After considering an application under Subsection 2(a) of this Bylaw, and following any
required public hearing, Council may:
(a) Adopt the bylaw;
(b) Subject to Section 470(1)(b) of the local government act, alter and then adopt the
bylaw; or
(c) Defeat the bylaw.
53. Council may adopt the Zoning Bylaw amendment bylaw or Official Community Plan
Bylaw amendment bylaw, or Phased Development Agreement Bylaw at the same
Council meeting at which third reading was given, providing all outstanding conditions
relevant to the adoption of the bylaw have been met.
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Applications under Section 2(b) [Permit Applications]
54. Every application under Subsection 2(b) of this Bylaw shall be considered at a Council
meeting or a public hearing at which time Council may:
(a) Authorize the issuance of a permit;
(b) Authorize the issuance of a permit as amended by council in its resolution; or
(c) Refuse to authorize the issuance of a permit.
55. Where an application for issuance of a permit requires a bylaw amendment, the
application for the issuance for a permit will be considered concurrent with the required
bylaw amendment.
Applications under Section 2(c) [Delegated Permit Applications]
56. Council delegates to the staff member named in Column 1 of Tables 1, 2 and 3 of
Schedule "A" the authority to issue the types of permits and approvals listed in Tables 1,
2 and 3 of Schedule "A", in accordance with the powers and restrictions scoped within
those tables.
57. The Delegate may, in their sole discretion, make any of the following decisions, all of which
must be communicated to the owner who applied for the Delegated Permit Applications:
(a) Approval of the Delegated Permit Application;
(b) Referral to Council for Council's consideration, if the Delegate determines that it would
be in the public interest to do so ("Delegate Referral"); or
(c) Rejection of the Delegated Permit Application. If the Delegate refuses to issue the
permit, the Delegate must provide reasons in writing to the applicant.
58. If the Delegate opts for a Delegate Referral under Subsection 57(b) of this Bylaw, then the
Delegate will provide the Corporate Officer with the original application within ten (10) days
of their decision to refer.
59. If the Delegate rejects the Delegated Permit Application under Subsection 57(c) of this
Bylaw, then the applicant may apply to have the decision reconsidered by Council by
applying in writing to the Corporate Officer within ten (10) days after the decision of the
Delegate has been communicated in writing to the Applicant (the "Reconsideration
Application"). The applicant must include the following information in its Reconsideration
Application:
(a) The permit application as it appeared before the Delegate;
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(b) A copy of the reasons for permit refusal provided by the Delegate;
(c) The reasons why the applicant wishes Council to reconsider the decision; and
(d) The new decision the applicant requests Council to make, with brief reasons to support
the new decision.
60. When the Corporate Officer receives either a Delegate Referral or Reconsideration
Application, the Corporate Officer must:
(a) Schedule the item on the agenda of a Regular Meeting of Council in accordance with
Section 62; and
(b) Deliver to each Council member a copy of the information that was provided under
Sections 57 and 59 above.
61. For both the Delegate Referral and Reconsideration Application:
(a) the Applicant is not required to pay an additional fee to have the item appear before
Council;
(b) Waiver of notice for delegated development variance permits under Section 499(1.1)
of the Local Government Act and Section 43(b) of this Bylaw does not apply, and the
municipality is required to follow the notice requirements for development variance
permits as set out under Section 499.1 of the Local Government Act.
62. Council must hear the Delegate Referral or Reconsideration Application within ten (10)
weeks after the date of delivery to the Corporate Officer.
Applications under section 2(d) [Referrals]
63. The following process is followed for an ALR Inclusion/Exclusion Application:
(a) Upon receipt of a complete ALR Inclusion/Exclusion Application, the application may
be referred by the Director to the Peninsula and Area Agricultural Commission
("PAAC") for review. PAAC shall make a recommendation to the Director for approval
or rejection of the ALR Inclusion/Exclusion Application and may make any other
recommendations or comments they consider advisable.
(b) The Director will forward the ALR Inclusion/Exclusion Application, Report, and any
recommendation from PAAC to Council, who will consider the report and may pass a
resolution to:
i. Reject the ALR Inclusion/Exclusion Application; or
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ii. Direct the ALR Inclusion/Exclusion Application proceed to a public hearing.
(c) After considering at a public hearing an ALR Inclusion/Exclusion Application, Council
may pass a resolution to:
i.
Submit an ALR Inclusion/Exclusion Application to the ALC on behalf of the
applicant; or
ii.
Not submit an ALR Inclusion/Exclusion Application to the ALC.
(a) Where Council resolves to support the submission of an ALR Inclusion/Exclusion
Application under Subsection 63(c)(i) of this Bylaw, the applicant must pay the
additional ALR Application fee.
(b) The District shall notify the applicant of the ALC decision regarding the ALR
Inclusion/Exclusion Application once a decision by the ALC has been reached.
64. The following process is followed for an ALC Use or Subdivision Application:
(a) Upon receipt of a complete ALC Use or Subdivision Application, the application may
be referred by the Director to the Peninsula and Area Agricultural Commission
("PAAC") for review. The PAAC shall make a recommendation to the Director for
approval or rejection of the ALC Use or Subdivision Application, and may make any
other recommendations or comments they consider advisable.
(b) The Director will forward the ALC Use or Subdivision Application Report, and any
recommendation from PAAC to Council who will consider the Report and may pass a
resolution to:
i.
Authorize the application to proceed to the ALC; or
ii.
Not authorize the application to proceed to the ALC.
65. The following process is followed for a liquor or cannabis licence application:
(a) The application shall be processed in accordance with the Liquor Control and
Licensing Act and the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act, as may be amended or
replaced from time to time.
(b) Upon receipt of a report from the Director respecting an application for liquor and
cannabis licence or amendment, Council may:
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i.
Forward the application to the LCRB with comments;
ii.
Not forward the application to the LCRB.
Applications under Section 2(e) [Miscellaneous Applications]
66. Every application under Subsection 2(e) of this Bylaw shall be considered at a Council
meeting or a public hearing at which time Council may, by resolution:
(a) Approve the application; or
(b) Reject the application.
67. Where an application under Subsection 2(e) of this Bylaw requires a bylaw amendment,
the application will be considered concurrent with the required bylaw amendment.
PART 7: GENERAL
Suspension
68. Any one or more of the procedures in this Bylaw, except those that are governed by
statutory provisions, may be temporarily suspended by unanimous vote of the Council
present.
Commencement
69. This Bylaw comes into force on January 2, 2026.
Repeal and citation
70. Bylaw No. 9650, being the "Land Use and Development Procedures Bylaw, 2020",
including all amendments, is hereby repealed except insofar as it repeals any other
bylaw.
71. Bylaw No. 9649, being the "Delegation Authorization Bylaw (Development Permits),
2020", including all amendments, is hereby repealed except insofar as it repeals any
other bylaw.
72. Bylaw No. 10121, being the "Delegation Authorization Bylaw (Development Variance
Permits), 2025", including all amendments, is hereby repealed except insofar as it
repeals any other bylaw.
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73. Bylaw No. 9216, being the "Delegation Authorization Bylaw (Modification and Discharge
of Covenants), 2013", including all amendments, is hereby repealed except insofar as it
repeals any other bylaw.
74. Bylaw No. 9219, being the "Delegation Authorization Bylaw (Strata Conversions), 2013",
including all amendments, is hereby repealed except insofar as it repeals any other
bylaw.
75. This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT
PROCEDURES BYLAW, 2025, NO. 10215."
Read a first time this 1st day of December, 2025.
Read a second time this 1st day of December, 2025.
Read a third time this 1st day of December, 2025.
Adopted by Council, signed by the Mayor and Corporate Officer and sealed with the Seal of the
Corporation on the 8th day of December, 2025.
"Angila Bains"
"Dean Murdock"
Corporate Officer
Mayor
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SCHEDULE "A"
DELEGATED PERMIT APPLICATIONS
Table 1: Development Permits and Development Permit Amendments
Staff Delegate
Permit Type
Powers
Scope and Conditions for
Delegation
Director of Planning, or,
in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Environmental
Protection
(Category "A")
DP
Issue, amend,
discharge
Land must be within a "P"
zone.
Director of Planning, or,
in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Streamside
Development
Permit Area
(SDPA) Permit
Issue, amend,
discharge
n/a
Manager of Inspection
Services, or, in their
absence, Director of
Planning
Rural Saanich
Interface Fire
Hazard
Development
Permit Area
Permit
Issue, amend,
discharge
n/a
Manager of Current
Planning, or, in their
absence, Director of
Planning or Manager of
Community Planning
Form and
Character
Development
Permit
Issue, amend,
discharge
Proposal must be for non-
market housing, as defined by
the Zoning Bylaw
Manager of Current
Planning, or, in their
absence, Director of
Planning or Manager of
Community Planning
Form and
Character
Development
Permit
Issue, amend,
discharge
Proposal must be for
Houseplex, as defined by the
Zoning Bylaw.
Director of Planning, or
in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Form and
Character
Development
Permit
Issue, amend,
discharge
DP only contemplates signs
Director of Planning, or
in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Form and
Character
Development
Permit
Amend
Where:
(a) The original
Development Permit
includes requirements
respecting the
character of the
development, including
landscaping and the
siting, form, exterior
design and finish of
buildings and
structures, and
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(b) The application is to
allow repairs,
alterations or
improvements to the
exterior design or finish
of a building which has
suffered or may in the
future suffer water
penetration damage.
Director of Planning, or
in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning or Manager of
Community Planning
Form and
Character
Development
Permit
Amend
The amendment:
(a) Is consistent with the
applicable DP
Guidelines;
(b) Is for the purpose of
approving a variance
that is considered a
'minor variance' under
Table 2 below; and
(c) The amendment
results in no material
change to the form and
character of the
development.
Manager of Current
Planning, or in their
absence, Director of
Planning or Manager of
Community Planning
Garden Suite
DP
Amend, discharge
Must only contemplate garden
suite under the (now repealed)
Garden Suite DPA
Director of Planning
All DPs
Discharge
Must only discharge if the DP
has expired in accordance with
the terms of the permit.
Director of Planning
All DPs
Amend
Amendment is:
a) Only for the purpose of
changing the expiration
date of the DP
b) The permit has not
lapsed at time of
application
c) The amendment does
not extend the
expiration beyond a
further period of two (2)
years
Land Use and Development Procedures Bylaw, 2025, No. 10215
Page 18 of 23
Table 2: Development Variance Permits
Staff Delegate
Type of Variance
Powers
Scope and Conditions
for Delegation
Director of Planning,
or, in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Fence Height, where the
amendment is for a variance no
greater than 25% of the maximum
fence height as set out in the
Zoning Bylaw;
May approve
minor variance,
as established in
Schedule A.1
The Delegate must apply
the guidelines for minor
variances in Schedule A.2
Director of Planning,
or, in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Signage
May approve
minor variance,
as established in
Schedule A.1
The Delegate must apply
the guidelines for minor
variances in Schedule A.2
Director of Planning,
or, in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Off-street vehicle parking, where
the proposed variance:
a) Does not reduce the
number of required
accessible parking stalls;
b) Does not reduce the
required number of off-
street parking stalls by
more than 10 stalls;
c) Does not increase the
maximum permitted
number of off-street
parking stalls by more than
33%
May approve
minor variance,
as established in
Schedule A.1
The Delegate must apply
the guidelines for minor
variances in Schedule A.2
Director of Planning,
or, in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Off-street loading, where the
proposed variance does not
reduce the number of required
loading stalls by more than 2
stalls.
May approve
minor variance,
as established in
Schedule A.1
The Delegate must apply
the guidelines for minor
variances in Schedule A.2
Director of Planning,
or, in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Bicycle parking, where the
proposed variance:
a) Does not reduce the
number of required bicycle
parking stalls by more than
5 stalls; or
b) Alters the type of bicycle
parking provided but does
not reduce the total
May approve
minor variance,
as established in
Schedule A.1
The Delegate must apply
the guidelines for minor
variances in Schedule A.2
Land Use and Development Procedures Bylaw, 2025, No. 10215
Page 19 of 23
number required under the
Zoning Bylaw.
Director of Planning,
or, in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Landscape screening
requirements
May approve
minor variance,
as established in
Schedule A.1
The Delegate must apply
the guidelines for minor
variances in Schedule A.2
Director of Planning,
or, in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Projection into required yard
setback
May approve
minor variance,
as established in
Schedule A.1
The Delegate must apply
the guidelines for minor
variances in Schedule A.2
Director of Planning,
or, in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Setbacks, where the proposed
variance:
a) Results in a setback that
remains greater than or
equal to 1.2m; or
b) For combined setbacks,
the proposed variance is
for less than or equal to a
25% increase of
requirement as set out in
the Zoning Bylaw; or
c) The proposed variance is
to accommodate an
existing building or
structure where no change
to the siting of the building
or structure is proposed.
May approve
minor variance,
as established in
Schedule A.1
The Delegate must apply
the guidelines for minor
variances in Schedule A.2
Director of Planning,
or, in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Building separation, where the
proposed variance is for less than
or equal to a 10% increase of the
requirement as set out in the
Zoning Bylaw
May approve
minor variance,
as established in
Schedule A.1
The Delegate must apply
the guidelines for minor
variances in Schedule A.2
Director of Planning,
or, in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Height, where the proposed
variance:
a) Is for less than or equal to
a 10% increase of the
permitted height in metres
as set out in the Zoning
Bylaw; or
May approve
minor variance,
as established in
Schedule A.1
The Delegate must apply
the guidelines for minor
variances in Schedule A.2
Land Use and Development Procedures Bylaw, 2025, No. 10215
Page 20 of 23
b) The proposed variance is
to accommodate an
existing building or
structure where no change
to the height of the building
or structure is proposed
Director of Planning,
or, in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Lot coverage, where the proposed
variance:
a) is for less than or equal to
a 10% increase of the
permitted lot coverage as
set out in the Zoning
Bylaw; and
b) does not vary the
permitted lot coverage for
accessory buildings as set
out in the Zoning Bylaw
May approve
minor variance,
as established in
Schedule A.1
The Delegate must apply
the guidelines for minor
variances in Schedule A.2
Director of Planning,
or, in their absence,
Manager of Current
Planning
Siting for Farm Residential
Footprints, as set out in the
Zoning Bylaw, where the proposed
variance:
a) is associated with a new
residential use;
b) is due to physical site
characteristics1 that render
the Farm Residential
Footprints unachievable;
c) the resulting Farm
Residential Footprint is
oriented around the single
family dwelling; and
d) the proposed variance
does not involve
decommissioning an
existing single family
dwelling and establishing a
new Farm Residential
Footprint elsewhere on the
property.
May approve
minor variance,
as established in
schedule A.1
The Delegate must apply
the guidelines for minor
variances in Schedule A.2
1 Physical site characteristics include: easements for utilities, steep slopes, watercourses with riparian setbacks,
suitable ground for septic tank and field location, floodplains or other hazardous areas.
Land Use and Development Procedures Bylaw, 2025, No. 10215
Page 21 of 23
Table 3: Miscellaneous Delegations
Delegate
Type
Area
Powers
Scope and
Conditions
Director of
Planning, or in
their absence,
Manager of
Current Planning
Strata
conversions
n/a
Approve strata
conversion
applications
Applies to all strata
conversion
applications except
for those
applications that
involve apartments
Director of
Planning, or in
their absence,
Manager of
Current Planning
Security for all
delegated permit
applications
within Table 1
(development
permits) and
Table 2
(development
variance
permits)
n/a
Require security
for up to 120%
of the estimated
cost of
landscaping for
any delegated
permit
applications for
a land use
permit.
Security must only
be applied in
accordance with
Section 502 of the
Local Government
Act
Land Use and Development Procedures Bylaw, 2025, No. 10215
Page 22 of 23
SCHEDULE "A-1"
DELEGATED PERMIT APPLICATIONS
CRITERIA FOR DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMIT - MINOR VARIANCES
A permit for or with minor variances related to size, siting, or dimensions of a building, structure
or use that is permitted on the land, may be considered by the Director if the variance is minor
pursuant to the following criteria.
A variance is minor if:
1. The proposed variance is not associated with another development application type
that must be considered by Council.
2. The proposed variance will not create an unsafe condition.
3. The proposed variance does not apply to a property that is on the Saanich Heritage
Register, is designated heritage property, or for which a heritage revitalization
agreement is in effect.
Land Use and Development Procedures Bylaw, 2025, No. 10215
Page 23 of 23
SCHEDULE "A-2"
DELEGATED PERMIT APPLICATIONS
GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMITS - MINOR VARIANCES
These guidelines are intended to provide a framework for the Director when reviewing a
development variance permit for minor variances related to siting, size, and dimensions of a
building, structure, or use permitted on the land, in conjunction with the specific circumstances of
the proposal including the site conditions, constraints, and context.
The Director must consider the following guidelines when deciding whether to issue any
development variance permit application for minor variances:
1. The proposed variance is necessary to address a physical or legal constraint associated
with the site (e.g. unusual parcel shape, topographical feature, statutory right-of-way, etc.);
2. The proposed variance is consistent with the general purpose or intent of the applicable
bylaws and policies, including the Official Community Plan; and,
3. There is a community or environmental benefit to the larger community in granting the
variance.