Background

Thank you for your interest in the District of Oak Bay’s Secondary Suites Study and for taking the time to participate in the public engagement process. This project is now complete.

The District of Oak Bay’s Secondary Suites Study concluded in fall 2021. Since then, the Zoning bylaw and other bylaw have been updated to allow for Secondary Suites as of September 21, 2022. Building Permit applications for Secondary Suites can now be made.

The study was initiated in 2018, and involved five phases of analysis including a variety of public engagement opportunities. For more detailed information about the Secondary Suites Study, please see the project website.

Policy Direction

Council has endorsed the following ten Guiding Attributes to form the foundation of a Secondary Suites Program in Oak Bay:

  1. That the Secondary Suites Program address both new and existing secondary suites in Oak Bay;
  1. That secondary suites be incorporated into all RS (One-Family Residential Use) zones in Oak Bay;
  1. That no minimum lot size be required to have a secondary suite in Oak Bay;
  1. That no maximum unit size be required to have a secondary suite in Oak Bay;
  1. That owner occupancy be a requirement to have a secondary suite within a single-family dwelling in Oak Bay;
  1. That enforcement of secondary suites should be through a complaint-based program in Oak Bay;
  1. That basic health and safety standards should be met for existing suites based on Alternate Compliance Methods (Division A), and full BC Building Code compliance should be required for new suites in Oak Bay (Division B);
  1. That a secondary suites registration/tracking system be developed with the goal of collecting baseline information, promoting health and safety, educating existing suite owners, and phased-in compliance with the BC Building Code (Division A);
  2. That boarding use only be permitted within the principal dwelling unit and not in a secondary suite, and that the definition of “family” in the Zoning Bylaw be amended to include a caregiver providing services to the family, and that a maximum cap of six (6) unrelated persons be permitted within a principal building for RS Zones; and
  3. That one additional off-street parking space be required for secondary suites, but that staff be delegated authority to issue a Development Variance Permit (DVP) based on guidelines to promote active transportation, walkability, and other sustainability incentives.


These ten attributes are premised on the approach that regulations for secondary suites in Oak Bay:

  • should be flexible and attainable;
  • should encourage more affordable housing options in Oak Bay;
  • should provide oversight and accountability;
  • should be respectful of neighbours while maintaining community character; and
  • should prioritize health and safety for homeowners and tenants


Timeline and Next Steps

With general policy direction provided by Council, bylaw amendments have been prepared for consideration. The following bylaws were updated in 2022:

  • Building Bylaw Amendments
  • Parking Facilities Bylaw No. 3540, 1986
  • Zoning Bylaw, No. 3531, 1986

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