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RA-4 zone in North Saanich: Rural Agricultural 4

North Saanich, British ColumbiaDraft, not yet reviewedBylaw read 2026-11-07

In short

Rural lots with agricultural, residential and limited commercial uses, on community water but not community sewer

Zone rules

PurposeRural lots with agricultural, residential and limited commercial uses, on community water but not community sewer
Main uses
  • Farm uses
  • Nurseries & Commercial Greenhouses
  • Single family residential
Also allowed (secondary uses)
  • Farm Retail Sales
  • Farm Worker Housing
  • Guest Cottage
  • Home Occupation
  • Breeding and Boarding of Cats or Dogs
  • Accessory Uses
  • Accessory Buildings and Structures
  • Agri-Tourism Activity
  • Secondary Suite
Minimum lot area8000 m²
Minimum lot width10% of the perimeter of the lot
Maximum lot coverage25% if lot is under 4000 m²; no restriction otherwise (greenhouses are exempt)
Maximum height11.5 m
Maximum height, accessory buildings5.6 m
Front setback7.6 m
Rear setback7.6 m
Interior side setback7.6 m; 3 m for a single family dwelling if the two interior setbacks total at least 7.6 m or the lot is a corner lot
Street side setback7.6 m
Accessory building setbacksfront 7.6 m, rear 7.6 m, interior side 7.6 m, exterior side 7.6 m; 3 m for all if used for Farm Retail Sales
Other rules
  • One single family dwelling per lot
  • Single family dwelling floor area limit: 465 m² if lot is under 4000 m²; 500 m² if 4000 m² or more and in the ALR; 588 m² if 4000 m² or more and not in the ALR
  • In the ALR, the farm residential footprint must be within 60 m of the front lot line (lots narrower than 33 m are exempt) and is limited to 2000 m² plus 1000 m² for a guest cottage plus 35 m² for each farm worker housing space

Source: District of North Saanich Zoning Bylaw No. 1255 (consolidated for convenience only, as of February 2023), s. 501.4 (read 2026-11-07)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply, and a lot can have site-specific rules. The District says this consolidation is for convenience only and anyone using it should confirm the content against the original bylaws; it covers amendments through Bylaw 1538/1535 as of February 2023, so later amendments (if any) are not in it. The District's Zoning page says Bylaw 1255 remains in force while a rewrite (draft Zoning Bylaw No. 1606) is under Council review as of October 2026; the draft is not adopted and is not used here. Zone C-6 and CD-5 to CD-7 are in the text but not in the bylaw's own zone list (s. 500). Zone pages are taken from the bylaw text by a research agent and have not yet been reviewed by a person: confirm with the bylaw before you rely on them. How answers are checked.

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