--- title: What You Can Build on Your Lot in Greater Victoria, Municipality by Municipality description: Can you build a garden suite on your lot? See the rules, permits and timelines for all 13 Greater Victoria municipalities, from Saanich to Sooke. image: https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(23).jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#main-content) [![New Logo Landscape White PNG](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20Logo%20Landscape%20White%20PNG.png?width=250&height=54&name=New%20Logo%20Landscape%20White%20PNG.png) ![New Logo Landscape White PNG](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20Logo%20Landscape%20White%20PNG.png?width=250&height=54&name=New%20Logo%20Landscape%20White%20PNG.png) ![New Logo Landscape White PNG](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20Logo%20Landscape%20White%20PNG.png?width=200&height=43&name=New%20Logo%20Landscape%20White%20PNG.png) ![New Logo Landscape White PNG](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20Logo%20Landscape%20White%20PNG.png?width=200&height=43&name=New%20Logo%20Landscape%20White%20PNG.png)](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca) - [HOME](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca) - Show submenu for NEW CONSTRUCTION NEW CONSTRUCTION - [CUSTOM HOMES](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/services-we-offer/custom-homes) - [PASSIVE HOUSES](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/passive-house-builder) - [GARDEN SUITES & CARRIAGE HOUSES](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/services-we-offer/garden-suites) - [Show submenu for RENOVATIONS RENOVATIONS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/services-we-offer) - [HOME RENOVATIONS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/services-we-offer/renovations) - [HOME ADDITIONS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/victoria-home-additions) - [KITCHEN RENOVATIONS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/victoria-kitchen-renovations) - [BATHROOM RENOVATIONS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/victoria-bathroom-renovations) - [BASEMENT RENOVATIONS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/victoria-basement-renovations) - [COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/victoria-commercial-construction-renovation) - [PROJECTS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/projects) - Show submenu for ABOUT US ABOUT US - [OUR PROCESS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/our-process) - [OUR TEAM](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/about) - [CAREERS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/careers) - [ARCHITECTS & DESIGNERS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/architects-and-designers) - [BLOG](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog) - [CONTACT](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/contact) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [HOME](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca) - Show submenu for NEW CONSTRUCTION NEW CONSTRUCTION - NEW CONSTRUCTION - [CUSTOM HOMES](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/services-we-offer/custom-homes) - [PASSIVE HOUSES](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/passive-house-builder) - [GARDEN SUITES & CARRIAGE HOUSES](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/services-we-offer/garden-suites) - Show submenu for RENOVATIONS RENOVATIONS - RENOVATIONS - [RENOVATIONS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/services-we-offer) - [HOME RENOVATIONS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/services-we-offer/renovations) - [HOME ADDITIONS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/victoria-home-additions) - [KITCHEN RENOVATIONS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/victoria-kitchen-renovations) - [BATHROOM RENOVATIONS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/victoria-bathroom-renovations) - [BASEMENT RENOVATIONS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/victoria-basement-renovations) - [COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/victoria-commercial-construction-renovation) - [PROJECTS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/projects) - Show submenu for ABOUT US ABOUT US - ABOUT US - [OUR PROCESS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/our-process) - [OUR TEAM](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/about) - [CAREERS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/careers) - [ARCHITECTS & DESIGNERS](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/architects-and-designers) - [BLOG](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog) - [CONTACT](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/contact) # What You Can Build on Your Lot in Greater Victoria, Municipality by Municipality ![Tom Labelle - Founder](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Theme%20Build%202025/Logos/Stillwater_LogoOnly%20(Black).png?width=50&height=50&name=Stillwater_LogoOnly%20(Black).png) Oct 15, 2026, 2:53:23 PM ###### Table of Contents - [Why the answer depends on where you live](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#why-the-answer-depends-on-where-you-live) - [Municipality by municipality](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#municipality-by-municipality) - [Saanich](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#saanich) - [Victoria](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#victoria) - [Oak Bay](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#oak-bay) - [Esquimalt](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#esquimalt) - [View Royal](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#view-royal) - [Colwood](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#colwood) - [Langford](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#langford) - [Central Saanich](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#central-saanich) - [North Saanich](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#north-saanich) - [Sidney](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#sidney) - [Sooke](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#sooke) - [Metchosin](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#metchosin) - [Highlands](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#highlands) - [At a Glance](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#at-a-glance) - [What to Check Before You Design](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#what-to-check-before-you-design) - [Start with Your Lot](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#start-with-your-lot) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#frequently-asked-questions) - [Can I build a garden suite on my lot in Greater Victoria?](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#can-i-build-a-garden-suite-on-my-lot-in-greater-victoria) - [What is a development permit, and do I need one for a garden suite?](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#what-is-a-development-permit-and-do-i-need-one-for-a-garden-suite) - [How long does it take to permit and build a garden suite?](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#how-long-does-it-take-to-permit-and-build-a-garden-suite) - [Can I have both a garden suite and a secondary suite?](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#can-i-have-both-a-garden-suite-and-a-secondary-suite) - [What should I check before paying for design work?](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#what-should-i-check-before-paying-for-design-work) ###### Table of Contents - [Why the answer depends on where you live](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#why-the-answer-depends-on-where-you-live) - [Municipality by municipality](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#municipality-by-municipality) - [Saanich](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#saanich) - [Victoria](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#victoria) - [Oak Bay](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#oak-bay) - [Esquimalt](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#esquimalt) - [View Royal](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#view-royal) - [Colwood](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#colwood) - [Langford](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#langford) - [Central Saanich](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#central-saanich) - [North Saanich](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#north-saanich) - [Sidney](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#sidney) - [Sooke](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#sooke) - [Metchosin](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#metchosin) - [Highlands](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#highlands) - [At a Glance](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#at-a-glance) - [What to Check Before You Design](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#what-to-check-before-you-design) - [Start with Your Lot](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#start-with-your-lot) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#frequently-asked-questions) - [Can I build a garden suite on my lot in Greater Victoria?](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#can-i-build-a-garden-suite-on-my-lot-in-greater-victoria) - [What is a development permit, and do I need one for a garden suite?](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#what-is-a-development-permit-and-do-i-need-one-for-a-garden-suite) - [How long does it take to permit and build a garden suite?](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#how-long-does-it-take-to-permit-and-build-a-garden-suite) - [Can I have both a garden suite and a secondary suite?](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#can-i-have-both-a-garden-suite-and-a-secondary-suite) - [What should I check before paying for design work?](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria#what-should-i-check-before-paying-for-design-work) **Tags:** [Renovations,](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/tag/renovations) [Custom Homes,](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/tag/custom-homes) [Contracts](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/tag/contracts) ![Tom Labelle - Founder](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Theme%20Build%202025/Logos/Stillwater_LogoOnly%20(Black).png?width=50&height=50&name=Stillwater_LogoOnly%20(Black).png) Post by [Tom Labelle - Founder](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/author/tom-labelle) ![Permit planning in greater victoria](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(23).jpg?width=546&height=364&name=Untitled%20design%20(23).jpg)   ### Why the answer depends on where you live Most homeowners we talk to ask the same first question. Can I actually build a garden suite, or an addition, on my lot? It is a fair question, and the honest answer is that it depends on which side of a municipal line you are standing on. Greater Victoria includes thirteen municipalities, each with its own zoning bylaw, its own permit process, and its own way of interpreting the province's recent housing changes. A rear-yard cottage that Victoria approves at staff level may need a rental covenant on title in Central Saanich. In Metchosin it may need close to two acres. Rules are also changing. Oak Bay, North Saanich and Sooke have all updated or started updating their bylaws in the last two years. That uncertainty is where projects stall, or worse, where money gets spent on drawings for something that can’t be built on a lot. So [we built a permit tool](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/services-we-offer/garden-suites) that lays out what each municipality allows and what it will ask of you. This post walks through what it shows, one municipality at a time. Clarity before construction starts here.   ## Municipality by municipality ### Saanich Saanich has one of the clearest garden suite programs in the region, and most eligible lots can now hold both a garden suite and a secondary suite. Most RS- and RD-zoned lots inside the Sewer Service Area or Urban Containment Boundary qualify. The suite sits in the rear yard and holds one dwelling. The main approval is a residential building permit through MySaanich. Plan for a servicing review with Engineering, a tree permit if protected trees sit near the siting or servicing route, home warranty enrolment, an energy compliance report, and Archaeology Branch approval before excavation. What rules out a Saanich garden suite is rarely the zoning. More often it is a decades-old covenant on title, so we read the title before anyone draws a floor plan. Adding on instead? Floor-area ratio is the number that catches people. An addition can meet every setback and still exceed what the lot allows in total. Expect an energy compliance path under the BC Energy Step Code. [![how much does a custom home cost in victoria](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/48326631/interactive-196265586275.png)](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJZ2wh7btBuN%2BeJeb8fPX69L56Uiomx87RjbU%2FtPvdrKuTM2rNHzqNGLiZZGVstXZo%2Bu0zWzo0U4FokyL0RkMAtqAunK8qk1ZeoALUR80tw7Id2vnguK2lO2HZQQ4YbKGClGHOjbrcsP3jMF29MEI0TSoI%2FHFDMYTuzBKQtfVZPDqQAC0Mie1Kh64AmSN1Fu1LW8G8zHOETVHTovcG7caiJ&webInteractiveContentId=196265586275&portalId=48326631) ### Victoria Victoria approves garden suites through a staff-level development permit under Schedule M, with no public hearing. The suite sits in the rear yard of a lot whose main building is a single-family home. Corner lots, laneway lots and larger lots count as "plus sites," with more generous size and height allowances. The rule most owners discover late is the relationship between suites. An existing secondary suite in your house can affect what you can add in the yard, so we settle that first. Expect to respond to the City's Garden Suite Policy and Guidelines on privacy, entries and overlook, and to bring an arborist if protected trees are nearby. A pre-application meeting with Development Services is optional, and worth the time. Adding on instead? Heritage status found late is the most expensive surprise in Victoria. A quick check of the Heritage Register and the title on day one can save the whole design.   ### Oak Bay Oak Bay's Infill Housing Program, adopted in June 2024, opened the door to detached accessory dwellings for the first time. They are now permitted on most residential lots, alongside suites and plexes. What fits depends on lot size, siting and the District's infill zone summaries. Heritage properties, including the Uplands, add a design review. This is the newest framework among the core municipalities, and it is still being refined. A conversation with Planning before design begins is worth more here than anywhere else in the region. Expect drawings that respond to Oak Bay's infill design guide, and a development permit where form-and-character or heritage guidelines apply. Adding on instead? Oak Bay cares how an addition sits on the street. Matched rooflines, materials and massing that defers to its neighbours move through review faster. ### Esquimalt Esquimalt has permitted detached suites since 2021. The suite sits in the rear yard, up to 65 m² (700 sq ft), one storey, with no basement. The owner lives in either the suite or the main house. Historically a lot could hold a detached suite or an in-house suite, not both. Recent provincial changes may have relaxed that, so confirm the current rule for your zone. The path is a staff-reviewed development permit for form and character, then a building permit. The 65 m² ceiling sounds limiting until it is planned well. A one-storey footprint designed around how you will actually live in it feels far larger than the number suggests. Adding on instead? Check the development permit map first. Some lots carry design, energy or water conservation conditions that change the drawings before they exist. ### View Royal View Royal made garden suites a permitted use in June 2024. Most lots that allow a single-family home can now add a garden suite, a secondary suite, or both, with lot size and location setting the overall unit count. Parking requirements also came down with the new rules. You will need a development permit under the Intensive Residential, Garden Suite permit area, then a building permit. That form-and-character permit is the step people most often forget. A design that anticipates the guidelines moves through in one pass instead of two. Adding on instead? Creeks and shorelines bring environmental setbacks that a casual look at the lot will not reveal. The Town's mapping answers that early. ### Colwood Colwood treats garden suites as accessory dwelling units, permitted on most residential lots under the Land Use Bylaw's siting and size rules. Off-street parking has its own bylaw, so check it against your driveway early. The City also works with owners to bring existing unpermitted suites into compliance where zoning allows. Colwood is one of the friendlier municipalities to ask before you act. A short email to Planning often settles in a day what a redesign would cost in a month. After zoning confirmation, the path is a building permit and inspections. Adding on instead? Colwood's terrain does the talking. An addition that is routine on a flat lot needs a geotechnical report on a slope, and planning for it early keeps the schedule honest. ### Langford Langford offers two forms. Garden suites for standard lots. Carriage suites, two storeys with parking below, eligible for larger lots. Both run through a dedicated development permit area for form and character, then a building permit. The rule that surprises Langford owners most is decommissioning. If your house already has a secondary suite, it may need to go unless your zone permits both. That question needs to be addressed before the drawing stage, not after. Adding on instead? Lot coverage is commonly 35% in core residential zones. The bigger surprise is often on title. A developer's building scheme can regulate materials and rooflines years after a subdivision was built. ### Central Saanich Central Saanich calls a one-storey detached suite a cottage and a two-storey one a carriage house. Inside the urban containment boundary, both are permitted subject to setbacks, coverage and building counts. Outside it, the lot can hold one accessory dwelling in total. On ALR land, only a secondary suite within the home is open to you. No basements are allowed. A covenant on title limits use to long-term rental or family, with no short-term rentals. You will need an Intensive Residential Infill development permit, a building permit, and one EV-ready parking space. The suite shares the existing servicing connection, and on the rural side, septic capacity decides more than zoning does. Adding on instead? On rural lots, an addition is a plumbing question before it is a framing question. Confirm the septic can serve the larger home first. ### North Saanich Our home municipality is mid-transition. A new zoning bylaw is in draft, with public consultation expected in early November and a decision going to the new Council when it first sits that month. Until it is adopted, Zoning Bylaw No. 1255 applies. It has no carriage house use, and it limits guest cottages, the only detached option today, to properties of 0.4 hectares (about one acre) or more. Most lots are on septic, so an Island Health assessment comes early. ALR parcels are limited to a secondary suite within the home. You can apply to rezone at any time, but the District expects the new bylaw to be adopted before a rezoning could be completed. For most owners, the better move is to plan now and apply once the new rules are in place.  Adding on instead? Marine and environmental permit areas cover much of the shoreline. Here the shoreline and the septic field decide the design before the bylaw does.   ### Sidney Sidney's 2024 zoning bylaw permits garden suites on lots covered by the provincial housing legislation. Lot area sets the total, up to three or four dwelling units. The zone, not the neighbourhood, holds the answer, so the zoning map is the first stop. Expect a parking plan, a construction fire safety plan (Sidney now asks for one with most applications), a development permit if the lot sits in a permit area, and a building permit. Sidney's lots are compact. A suite that respects the setbacks and still leaves the parking working is a problem worth solving on paper first. Adding on instead? An extra half-metre of setback is real architecture here. The best Sidney additions are designed from the survey outward. ### Sooke Sooke updated its zoning in February 2025. Most residential zones now permit suites and detached ADUs, and eligible lots can carry both. Some lots have site-specific restrictions, so the zoning map comes first. Drawings must meet the 2024 BC Building Code, and you will need one additional off-street parking space. On unserviced lots, Island Health's septic review usually sets the schedule. Ordering that assessment early turns the biggest unknown into a known. Adding on instead? The same question governs: can the septic field serve the home you are growing into? Environmental permit areas also apply near watercourses and the shoreline ### Metchosin Metchosin recognizes three accessory dwelling types: secondary suites, detached secondary suites and carriage houses. A carriage house needs roughly 0.8 hectares (about two acres), with living area capped near 90 m². Smaller lots may still support a detached secondary suite or an in-house suite. Total accessory building area on the lot is capped too, and this is the constraint people miss. The workshop you built ten years ago counts against the floor area you may want now, so we add it up before design begins. Well and septic capacity shape what the land can carry. Adding on instead? Metchosin rewards homework. The District holds property files back to 1970, and one visit often turns up the original drawings and the septic record. ### Highlands Most Highlands zones allow one accessory dwelling per lot, inside the house or detached, up to 90 m². The owner lives in either the main house or the suite. A Section 219 covenant on title prevents the suite from being subdivided off, and you will need one extra parking space. The hard part is usually proving your well and septic can serve a second dwelling, not the zoning. Rock and slope shape the siting too, and variances are available where terrain makes the setbacks impractical. A building permit is required before any demolition or construction begins. Adding on instead? The site conditions govern here. Additions progress most smoothly when site topography, protected trees, and septic constraints are fully evaluated before starting the design. ## At a Glance | Municipality | Detached suite allowed? | Main approval | Watch for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Saanich | Most RS/RD lots in the sewer area, plus a secondary suite | Building permit (MySaanich) | Title covenants, tree permits | | Victoria | Yes, rear yard; more room on "plus sites" | Staff-level DP (Schedule M) + building permit | Existing secondary suite | | Oak Bay | Yes, since June 2024 | DP where guidelines apply + building permit | Rules still settling; heritage, Uplands | | Esquimalt | Yes, up to 65 m², one storey | DP + building permit | Owner occupancy, no basement | | View Royal | Yes, plus a secondary suite | DP + building permit | Form-and-character guidelines | | Colwood | Most lots | Building permit | Separate parking bylaw | | Langford | Garden or carriage suite | DP + building permit | Existing suite may need decommissioning | | Central Saanich | Cottage or carriage house | DP + building permit | Rental covenant, no basement, septic | | North Saanich | 2011 bylaw applies; new bylaw pending | Building permit | Septic, ALR limits, timing | | Sidney | 3 to 4 units by lot area | Building permit (DP if in a permit area) | Parking and fire safety plans | | Sooke | Suite and ADU on eligible lots | Building permit | 2024 Building Code, septic review | | Metchosin | Carriage house on ~0.8 ha; smaller detached suites | Building permit | Accessory building area cap | | Highlands | One ADU, up to 90 m² | Building permit | Well and septic, no-subdivision covenant |   Across the region, our tool plans for roughly 3 to 6 months of permitting and 6 to 8 months of construction, after planning and drawings.   ## What to Check Before You Design Whatever your municipality, the same handful of things decide what fits. Setbacks, height, lot coverage and floor-area limits set the envelope you are working inside. Development permit areas for heritage, shoreline, hillside or environmental protection can add a review step. Protected trees can move a footprint. And on septic, which covers much of the Peninsula and the West Shore's rural edges, adding bedrooms means confirming the system can carry them. We look at all of this before a single line is drawn. It is the least glamorous part of a project and the part that saves the most money, because it means the design you fall in love with is one your lot can actually hold.   ## Start with Your Lot Requirements change, and every lot has its own history, so treat this as a starting map rather than a final answer. The quickest next step is to pick your project type and municipality [in our permit tool](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/services-we-offer/garden-suites) and see your permit plan. If what you find raises questions, send them our way. We are always glad to talk through what your lot could become. [Let's start a conversation. →](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/contact)   Sources:  Municipal details reflect our permit tool, last verified October 2026, and these official pages: [Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/development-applications/garden-suites.html), [Victoria](https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/permits-development-construction/rezoning-development/garden-suites), [Oak Bay](https://www.oakbay.ca/building-infrastructure/building-construction/infill-housing-program/), [Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/business-development/community-planning/detached-accessory-suites), [View Royal](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/Land_Development/small-scale-multi-unit-housing.html), [Colwood](https://www.colwood.ca/city-services/development-services/other-development-guidelines/garden-suites), [Langford](https://langford.ca/), [Central Saanich](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/home-property-development/land-use-current-planning/infill-housing/accessory-cottages-carriage), [North Saanich](https://northsaanich.ca/your-community/housing/), [Sidney](https://www.sidney.ca/planning-building/community-planning/zoning-bylaw/), [Sooke](https://www.sooke.ca/programs-services/building-and-renovating/secondary-suites-and-accessory-dwelling-units/), [Metchosin](https://www.metchosin.ca/municipal-hall/building-development/building-permits), [Highlands](https://www.highlands.ca/building-development-planning/building/secondary-suites-and-accessory-dwelling-units). --- *Stillwater Custom Homes & Renovations builds custom homes and renovations across Greater Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula, and the Gulf Islands. We are a licensed BC builder and registered member of Passive House Canada.*   [![how much does a custom home cost in victoria](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/48326631/interactive-196265586275.png)](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJZ2wh7btBuN%2BeJeb8fPX69L56Uiomx87RjbU%2FtPvdrKuTM2rNHzqNGLiZZGVstXZo%2Bu0zWzo0U4FokyL0RkMAtqAunK8qk1ZeoALUR80tw7Id2vnguK2lO2HZQQ4YbKGClGHOjbrcsP3jMF29MEI0TSoI%2FHFDMYTuzBKQtfVZPDqQAC0Mie1Kh64AmSN1Fu1LW8G8zHOETVHTovcG7caiJ&webInteractiveContentId=196265586275&portalId=48326631) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I build a garden suite on my lot in Greater Victoria? In most of the region's 13 municipalities, yes, on many residential lots. The rules differ at every municipal line. Esquimalt caps a suite at 65 m² and one storey, Metchosin needs roughly 0.8 hectares for a carriage house, and Saanich lots generally need to be inside the Sewer Service Area. Covenants on title, existing suites and septic capacity can also decide the answer. Our permit tool shows what applies in your municipality. ### What is a development permit, and do I need one for a garden suite? A development permit (DP) is a design review that looks at how a project fits its site and neighbourhood. It comes before the building permit. Victoria, Esquimalt, View Royal, Langford and Central Saanich require one for garden suites. Oak Bay and Sidney require one where design guidelines or a development permit area apply. In the other municipalities, the building permit is usually the main approval. ### How long does it take to permit and build a garden suite? Once planning and drawings are complete, plan for roughly 3 to 6 months of permitting and 3 to 6 months of construction. Septic reviews, development permits and title issues can extend that, which is why we check them before design begins. ### Can I have both a garden suite and a secondary suite? It depends on the municipality. Saanich, View Royal and Sooke allow both on eligible lots. In Langford, an existing secondary suite may need to be decommissioned unless your zone permits both. In Victoria, an existing suite can affect eligibility. Outside Central Saanich's urban containment boundary, a lot can hold only one accessory dwelling in total. Esquimalt has historically allowed one or the other, so confirm the current rule for your zone. ### What should I check before paying for design work? Start with your title, looking for covenants and building schemes. Then confirm whether an existing suite affects what you can add, whether your lot sits in a development permit area, whether protected trees are nearby, and whether your septic or well can serve the added space. In Metchosin, total accessory building area is capped, so existing outbuildings count too. We work through all of this in pre-construction, before a single line is drawn.   [![how much does a custom home cost in victoria](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/48326631/interactive-196265586275.png)](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJZ2wh7btBuN%2BeJeb8fPX69L56Uiomx87RjbU%2FtPvdrKuTM2rNHzqNGLiZZGVstXZo%2Bu0zWzo0U4FokyL0RkMAtqAunK8qk1ZeoALUR80tw7Id2vnguK2lO2HZQQ4YbKGClGHOjbrcsP3jMF29MEI0TSoI%2FHFDMYTuzBKQtfVZPDqQAC0Mie1Kh64AmSN1Fu1LW8G8zHOETVHTovcG7caiJ&webInteractiveContentId=196265586275&portalId=48326631) ### Related Articles ##### [![What a Garden Suite Costs to Build in Greater Victoria](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(62).jpg?width=520&height=294&name=Untitled%20design%20(62).jpg) Renovations • Oct 13, 2026, 1:34:20 PM What a Garden Suite Costs to Build in Greater Victoria 6 min read](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-cost-greater-victoria) ##### [![The Real Cost of High-Performance Building in Greater Victoria](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/CS_PikeLake-58-Edit.jpg?width=520&height=294&name=CS_PikeLake-58-Edit.jpg) Renovations • Sep 18, 2026, 2:35:34 PM The Real Cost of High-Performance Building in Greater Victoria 5 min read](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/cost-to-build-passive-house-victoria-bc) [![New Logo Landscape White PNG](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20Logo%20Landscape%20White%20PNG.png?width=200&height=43&name=New%20Logo%20Landscape%20White%20PNG.png)](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca) - [Terms of Service](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/terms-of-service) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/privacy-policy) - [Contact Us](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/contact) ©2026 [Stillwater Custom Homes and Renovations.](https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/)All rights reserved. Address: [10251 W Saanich Rd, North Saanich, BC V8L 5T8, Canada](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZANda2gNPnrkvHWQ8) Phone: [778-837-1148](tel:1-778-837-1148)[tel:17788371148](tel:17788371148) - - - - ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Tom Labelle - Founder", "url" : "https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/author/tom-labelle" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-15T21:53:23.558Z", "datePublished" : "2026-10-15T21:53:23.000Z", "headline" : "What You Can Build on Your Lot in Greater Victoria, Municipality by Municipality", "image" : [ "https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(23).jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/hubfs/Theme%20Build%202025/Logos/Stillwater_Landscape_02(Black).svg" }, "name" : "Stillwater Custom Homes and Renovations" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Tom Labelle", "url" : "https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/author/tom-labelle" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-15", "datePublished" : "2026-10-15", "description" : "Can you build a garden suite on your lot? See the rules, permits and timelines for all 13 Greater Victoria municipalities, from Saanich to Sooke.", "headline" : "What You Can Build on Your Lot in Greater Victoria, Municipality by Municipality", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.stillwatercustomhomes.ca/blog/garden-suite-rules-greater-victoria", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Stillwater Custom Homes & Renovations" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "FAQPage", "mainEntity" : [ { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In most of the region's 13 municipalities, yes, on many residential lots. The rules differ at every municipal line. Esquimalt caps a suite at 65 m² and one storey, Metchosin needs roughly 0.8 hectares for a carriage house, and Saanich lots generally need to be inside the Sewer Service Area. Covenants on title, existing suites and septic capacity can also decide the answer. Our permit tool shows what applies in your municipality." }, "name" : "Can I build a garden suite on my lot in Greater Victoria?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "A development permit (DP) is a design review that looks at how a project fits its site and neighbourhood. It comes before the building permit. Victoria, Esquimalt, View Royal, Langford and Central Saanich require one for garden suites. Oak Bay and Sidney require one where design guidelines or a development permit area apply. In the other municipalities, the building permit is usually the main approval." }, "name" : "What is a development permit, and do I need one for a garden suite?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Once planning and drawings are complete, plan for roughly 3 to 6 months of permitting and 3 to 6 months of construction. Septic reviews, development permits and title issues can extend that, which is why we check them before design begins." }, "name" : "How long does it take to permit and build a garden suite?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "It depends on the municipality. Saanich, View Royal and Sooke allow both on eligible lots. In Langford, an existing secondary suite may need to be decommissioned unless your zone permits both. In Victoria, an existing suite can affect eligibility. Outside Central Saanich's urban containment boundary, a lot can hold only one accessory dwelling in total. Esquimalt has historically allowed one or the other, so confirm the current rule for your zone." }, "name" : "Can I have both a garden suite and a secondary suite?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Start with your title, looking for covenants and building schemes. Then confirm whether an existing suite affects what you can add, whether your lot sits in a development permit area, whether protected trees are nearby, and whether your septic or well can serve the added space. In Metchosin, total accessory building area is capped, so existing outbuildings count too. We work through all of this in pre-construction, before a single line is drawn." }, "name" : "What should I check before paying for design work?" } ] } ```