Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows
How do I find out how my property is zoned in Saanich and what I can build on it?
Short answer
In Saanich, search your address in SaanichMap and the zoning appears in the details panel. Then read that zone in Zoning Bylaw No. 8200. To confirm, contact the Planning Department at 250-475-5471 or zoning@saanich.ca.
Zoning map
RuralResidentialCommercialIndustrialPublicComprehensive development
Search an address or click a lot on the map to see its zone and what it allows.
Zoning shown from the District of Saanich's SaanichMap data, downloaded 2026-11-07.
Zones in Saanich
From Zoning Bylaw No. 8200 (Saanich, September 2003; office consolidation current on the District website, amendments include B. 10058 2025). The District publishes the whole bylaw as one PDF and a separate Zoning Bylaw Amendment List (https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Planning/Zoning%20Bylaw%208200%20Amendments.pdf). Each zone is a numbered Schedule (e.g. Schedule 101 = zone A-1); the 'section' field holds the schedule number. Each zone has its own page with its uses, lot sizes, heights and setbacks. Zone pages are drafts taken from the bylaw text and not yet reviewed by a person.
Rural zones
- A-1 Rural Zone
- A-1DF Rural Zone (Demonstration Farm)
- A-1P Rural Zone (Pound)
- A-1RV Rural Zone (Recreational Vehicle Storage)
- A-2 Rural Zone (Two Dwellings)
- A-2C Rural Zone (Youth Camp)
- A-3 Rural Zone (Farm Market)
- A-4 Rural Zone (4.0 ha Lot)
- A-5 Rural Zone (Landscape Contractor)
- A-6 Rural Zone (Explosive Storage)
- A-7 Rural Zone (Lots Divided by Roads)
Residential zones
- RS-2 Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-4 Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-6 Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-6A Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-8 Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-8A Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-10 Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-10A Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-10VC Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-11 Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-12 Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-12A Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-12B Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-13 Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-13B Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-14 Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-14A Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-15 Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-16 Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RS-18 Single Family Dwelling Zone
- RD-1 Two Family Dwelling Zone
- RD-1A Two Family Dwelling Zone
- RC-1 Residential Comprehensive Zone
- RC-3 Residential Comprehensive Zone
- RC-5 Residential Comprehensive Zone
- RT-1 Attached Housing Zone
- RT-2 Attached Housing Zone
- RT-3 Attached Housing Zone
- RT-4 Attached Housing Zone
- RT-4A Attached Housing - Accessory Unit Zone
- RT-5 Attached Housing Zone
- RT-6 Attached Housing Zone
- RT-7 Attached Housing Zone
- RM-1 Residential Mixed Zone
- RM-2 Residential Mixed Zone
- RM-3 Residential Mixed Zone
- RM-4 Residential Mixed Zone
- RM-5 Residential Mixed Zone
- RM-6 Residential Mixed Zone
- RM-7 Neighbourhood Residential Mixed Zone
- RA-1 Apartment Zone
- RA-2 Apartment Zone
- RA-3 Apartment Zone
- RA-4 Apartment Zone
- RA-6 Apartment Zone
- RA-7 Apartment Zone
- RA-8 Apartment Zone
- RA-9 Apartment Zone
- RA-10 Apartment Zone
- RA-11 Apartment Zone
- RA-12 Apartment Zone
- RP-1 Residential Personal Care Zone
- RP-2 Residential Personal Care Zone
- RP-3 Residential Personal Care Zone
- RS-1 Single Family Dwelling McKenzie Zone
- RS-1CH Single Family Dwelling Cedar Hill Zone
- RS-1GH Single Family Dwelling Gordon Head Zone
- RS-2CR Single Family Dwelling Cherry Road Zone
- RS-10B Single Family Dwelling Gordon Point Zone
- RS-12SR Single Family Dwelling Sea Ridge Zone
- RS-CA Single Family (Two Dwelling) Crease Zone
- RS-CH1 Single Family Dwelling Christmas Hill Zone
- RS-CH2 Single Family Dwelling Christmas Hill Zone
- RS-EL Single Family Dwelling Elk Lake Zone
- RS-MF Single Family Dwelling Mattick’s Farm Zone
- RS-CR Single Family Dwelling Carey Road
- RM-3TR Residential Mixed Trio Zone
- RM-CH1 Residential Mixed Christmas Hill Zone
- RM-CH2 Residential Mixed Christmas Hill Zone
- RM-SH1 Residential Mixed Sayward Hill Zone
- RM-MQ1 Residential Mixed McKenzie-Quadra Zone
- RT-CH Attached Housing Christmas Hill Zone
- RT-WA Attached Housing Whittier Avenue Zone
- RT-FC Attached Housing Four Corners Zone
- RT-AH Attached Housing Affordable Housing Zone
- MFC-CH Multi-Family Commercial Christmas Hill Zone
- MFI-CH Multi-Family Institutional Christmas Hill Zone
- MFI-RV Multi-Family Institutional Rosalie’s Village Zone
- RA-CA Apartment / Church Avenue Zone
- RM-RG Residential Mixed Richmond Gate Zone
- RM-RH Residential Mixed Rainbow Hill Zone
- RM-CR Residential Mixed Carey Road Zone
- RS-F Single Family Dwelling Fairburn Zone
Commercial zones
- C-1 Local Commercial Zone
- C-1C Local Commercial Aquatic Rental Zone
- C-1CBV Neighbourhood Commercial Cadboro Bay Village Zone
- C-1NC Neighbourhood Commercial Zone
- C-1V Commercial Village Zone
- C-1R Rural Commercial Zone
- C-2 General Commercial Zone
- C-2S General Commercial Shelbourne
- C-2LRS General Commercial / Liquor Retail Zone
- C-2NC General Commercial Neighbourhood Centre
- C-3 Shopping Centre Zone
- C-3UH Shopping Centre University Heights Zone
- C-3B Shopping Centre / Bingo Hall Zone
- C-3U Shopping Centre Uptown Zone
- C-3L Shopping Centre / Major Liquor Zone
- C-3LRS Shopping Centre / Liquor Retail Zone
- C-4 Office & Apartment Zone
- C-4B Office Zone
- C-4BR Office / Restaurant Zone
- C-4C Office & Apartment Zone
- C-4D Office & Apartment Zone
- C-4RT Office & Restaurant Zone – Tillicum
- C-5 Civic Core Zone
- C-5LRS Civic Core / Liquor Retail Zone
- C-6 Highway Commercial Zone
- C-6DE Douglas Street East Zone
- C-6UD Uptown Douglas Highway Commercial Zone
- C-7 Drive-in Business Zone
- C-8 Service Station Zone
- C-9 Local Service Station Zone
- C-10 Tourist Accommodation Zone – Low Density
- C-11 Tourist Accommodation Zone – High Density
- C-11LRS Tourist Accommodation High Density / Liquor Retail Zone
- C-12 Commercial Storage Zone
- C-13 School / Commercial Zone
- C-14 Neighbourhood Public House Zone
- C-15 Urban Mixed Use Zone
- C-16 Neighbourhood Mixed Use Zone C-16
- C-17 Neighbourhood Mixed Use Zone C-17
- C-18 West Saanich Mixed Use Zone C-18
- C-2RO Royal Oak Commercial / Apartment Zone
- C-2BW Boleskine Whittier Commercial / Apartment Zone
Industrial zones
- M-1 Industrial Zone
- M-1DW Douglas Street West Zone
- M-2DW Douglas Street West Warehouse & Office Zone
- M-2 Wholesale, Warehouse & Office Zone
- M-3 Industrial Park Zone
- M-4 Lumber & Building Supply Yard Zone
- M-5 Food Processing Zone
- M-7 Industrial / Recycling Zone
- M-3B/D Industrial Park Brewery/Distillery Retail Sales Zone
Public zones
- P-1 Assembly Zone
- P-1A Church Zone
- P-1R Assembly Zone Restricted
- P-1U University Zone
- P-2 Utility Zone
- P-2WL Utility Woodland Zone
- P-3 Personal Care Zone
- P-4 Recreation & Open Space Zone
- P-4HR Recreation, Health Zone – Cedar Hill / Pearkes
- P-4H Recreation & Health Facility Zone
- P-4N Natural Park
- P-4RV Recreation, Open Space, and Recreation Vehicle Storage Zone
- P-4SC Recreation Supervised Camping Zone
- P-5 Conservation Park
- P-6 School / Temporary Tourist Accommodation Zone
- P-7 Funeral Home & Cemetery Zone
- P-9 Communication & Open Space Zone
- P-10 Waste Management Zone
- P-11 Public Institution
- P-12 Institutional / Technology Park Zone
- P-13 Research & Office Zone
- P-14 Personal and Health Care Zone
- P30-R Personal Care, Office and Research Zone
Comprehensive development zones
- CD-1RO Comprehensive Development Royal Oak Zone
- CD-2MV Comprehensive Development Mount View Zone
- CD-3GA Comprehensive Development Gorge Admirals Zone
- CD-4DR Comprehensive Development Dieppe Road Zone
- CD-5AH Comprehensive Development Affordable Housing Zone
- CD-6NV Comprehensive Development Nigel Valley Zone
- CD-7SS Comprehensive Development Shelbourne Stockton Zone
- CD-8NM Comprehensive Development Nellie McClung Zone
- CD-9FE Comprehensive Development Feltham East Zone
Key facts
| How to find your zone | Use SaanichMap (the Saanich GIS map): search the address, select the parcel, and the zoning is listed in the details panel on the left. A Property Information Report (zoning, lot size, school district, tax levies) is generated from the same search. A new SaanichMap is planned for December 2026.Zoning FAQ; SaanichMap · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingYour property’s zoning information can be found by accessing the Saanich GIS Map. the zoning will be listed in the details on the left side of the screen when viewed from a desktop computer A modern, streamlined version of SaanichMap is planned to launch in December 2026. |
|---|---|
| Zoning bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 8200, dated September 2003, with later amendments; the PDF includes amendments up to at least Bylaw 10299 (2026). No 'current to' date is stated.Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, cover page and definitions; Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200, Definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe Corporation of the District of Saanich Zoning B y l a w 8200 September 2003 B. 10299 2026 B. 10299 2026 Manager of Bylaw and Licensing Services - means the Manager of Bylaw and Licensing Services of The District of Saanich or any employee authorized to act on that person's behalf B. 10299 2026 Director of Planning - means the Director of Planning of The District of Saanich or that person's designate. 1.1 This bylaw may be cited as the "Zoning Bylaw, 2003". Saanich Zoning Bylaw 8200 1-1 This page intentionally left blank. |
| What the zone controls | Each zone sets the uses allowed, where buildings may be located, minimum lot size and dimensions for subdivision, and building height and density.Zoning FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe uses that can occur on a property; Where buildings and other structures may be located on a property; Building height, and how much development is allowed on a site (density). |
| Contact | Planning Department: (250) 475-5471, zoning@saanich.caZoning Bylaw 8200, Zoning Bylaw 8200 page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingShare on LinkedIn ## Contact Us Planning Phone: (250) 475-5471 Email: zoning@saanich.ca ## Related Links - Zoning Bylaw Amendment List |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf, Schedule 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingZONING BYLAW, 2003, NO. 8200 |
How it works
Each zone in the Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 sets the uses allowed, where buildings may be located, the minimum lot size and dimensions for subdivision, and building height and density.
SaanichMap is the District's GIS map. Search your address, select the parcel, and the zoning is listed in the details panel on the left. A Property Information Report (zoning, lot size, school district, tax levies) comes from the same search.
Steps
- Open SaanichMap and search your address.
- Select your parcel and read the zoning in the left-hand panel.
- Find that zone in the Zoning Bylaw and read the uses, setbacks, height and density.
- For anything unclear, contact the Planning Department.
Good to know
- The Zoning Bylaw is dated September 2003, with later amendments. The PDF does not state a "current to" date, so ask Planning if the exact current wording matters.
- Saanich says a new SaanichMap is planned for December 2026, so the steps above may change. Check the SaanichMap page.
- The Zoning Bylaw is separate from building permit rules; see the building-permit answer.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Oak Bay · Esquimalt · Victoria · View Royal · Central Saanich · Colwood
Sources
- SaanichMap, District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning FAQ, District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw 8200, District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw, 2003, No. 8200 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf (read 2026-11-06)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.