--- title: "North Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows" question: "How do I find out how my property is zoned and what I can build on it?" place: North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/north-saanich category: Building, renovating and your property owner: municipal owner_body: District of North Saanich sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/zoning-lookup/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/zoning-lookup.json" --- # North Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows **Question:** How do I find out how my property is zoned and what I can build on it? **Short answer:** Look up your address on the District of North Saanich's online GIS map to see its zone, then read that zone's rules in Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255. For a written record, request Property File Information from the District for $75 plus GST. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of North Saanich, https://www.northsaanich.ca) **Cost:** Online map and bylaw are free. A Property Information Request is $75 plus GST (from January 1, 2026). **How long:** A Property Information Request may take 10-15 days. **Where:** - Online: North Saanich GIS mapping tool, https://northsaanich.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=7457a1e62fcc4ae9aa0a236f3b79321b - Email: Property File Information requests, pir@northsaanich.ca - Phone: Planning and Community Services, 250-655-5470 ## Key facts - **How to find your zone:** Use the District's online GIS mapping tool: enter an address to find the property and its permitted uses under the Zoning Bylaw. It also shows parks, water, sewer, storm drains and contours. - Source: [Mapping (GIS), Mapping (GIS) page](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/mapping-gis) - Official wording: "North Saanich GIS tool allows you to enter an address to find property and then the permitted uses within the Zoning Bylaw." - Source: [Zoning, Zoning page](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/zoning) - Official wording: "To view an interactive zoning map for North Saanich, visit our GIS Mapping page." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Zoning bylaw:** Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (2011). Latest consolidation is dated February 2023 (amendments to 1535). Later amendments exist: No. 1552 (adopted December 2023) and No. 1570 (2024). The District says 1255 remains in effect while a rewrite is prepared. - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), Cover](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "as of February 2023" - Source: [Zoning, Zoning Bylaw](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/zoning) - Official wording: "staff will continue to use Zoning Bylaw No.1255 (2011), and the bylaw currently remains in effect." - Source: [Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1552, Amendment Bylaw No. 1552 (2022), adoption](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-12552011-Amendment-Bylaw-2022-No.-1552_Final_Signed.pdf) - Official wording: "FINALLY PASSED AND ADOPTED the 4th day of December, 2023." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **What the zone controls:** Each zone sets land uses and density, structure siting, size and dimensions, marine surface-water uses (to 300 m from the shore), and subdivision lot shape and size. - Source: [Zoning, Zones](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/zoning) - Official wording: "Land: the uses and density of land, buildings and other structures" … "Structures: siting, size and dimensions of structures; and" … "Subdivision: the shape, dimensions, and area of parcels that may be created by subdivision." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Contact:** Planning and Community Services Department, 250-655-5470; pir@northsaanich.ca for property file information requests. - Source: [Property Information, Property Information page](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/property-information) - Official wording: "For questions or assistance, please contact Planning & Community Services at 250-655-5470 or email pir@northsaanich.ca" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), Title](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf) - Official wording: "DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT BYLAW NO. 1255" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works The District of North Saanich divides land into zones under [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf). Each zone controls land uses and density, where buildings sit, their size and dimensions, marine surface-water uses (to 300 m from shore), and the shape and size of new lots. The zone tables list permitted uses, lot coverage, floor area ratio, building height, setbacks and fence height. The District says Bylaw 1255 remains in effect while a rewrite is prepared. ## Steps 1. Open the District's online GIS mapping tool and enter your address to see its zone and permitted uses. The map also shows parks, water, sewer, storm drains and contours. 2. Find your zone in Bylaw 1255 and read its rules. 3. For a written record of zoning, permits and violations, send a Property Information Request to pir@northsaanich.ca and pay the fee. 4. Call Planning and Community Services at 250-655-5470 before you design. ## Good to know - The bylaw PDF on the District's site is the February 2023 consolidation. Amendments since then include No. 1552 (adopted December 2023) and No. 1570 (2024), so confirm the current rules for your zone with the District. - The Zoning page said the rewrite was meant to be adopted before January 2026, so it may be out of date. Check the page for the current status. ## Zones 44 zones are listed from [District of North Saanich Zoning Bylaw No. 1255 (consolidated for convenience only, as of February 2023)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf). Each zone has its own page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/zoning/index.json Look up the zone of an address: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/zoning/lookup?address=123+Main+St ## Official forms and pages - [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255, consolidated 2023 (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf) - [Property Information](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/property-information) ## Related questions - [North Saanich secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/secondary-suite.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Zoning maps in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/zoning-lookup.md) - [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/zoning-lookup.md) - [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/zoning-lookup.md) - [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/zoning-lookup.md) - [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/zoning-lookup.md) - [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/zoning-lookup.md) - [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/zoning-lookup.md) ## Sources - [Zoning, District of North Saanich](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/zoning) (read 2026-11-05) - [Mapping (GIS), District of North Saanich](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/mapping-gis) (read 2026-11-05) - [Property Information, District of North Saanich](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/property-information) (read 2026-11-05) - [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1552 (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-12552011-Amendment-Bylaw-2022-No.-1552_Final_Signed.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of North Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/zoning-lookup/_