Secondary suite
- A secondary suite is a permitted accessory use in all RS, RD and A zones, subject to the conditions in the current Zoning Bylaw.
- A suite is legal only when the construction has been completed with the required permit approval.
Saanich, BC suite & ADU rules
Permission first. Construction second.
Secondary suites and detached ADUs can follow different rules even on the same lot. Identify the unit type before planning the build.
Main home
Secondary / ADU
One property · more than one approval layerInteractive property lookup
Enter your address and see what your property may allow.
Select a B.C. property to check the parcel, available zoning and suite-planning data.
Can’t find your address?
Use the manual property check below.
Start with the municipality and parcel area. The manual check stays open here, but the questions are split into 4 short steps so you do not have to scroll through everything at once.
Manual property check
Check the lot using what you know.
Four short steps. Answer what you know and choose “Not sure” for anything you have not checked.
Can you build here?
What to verify before building in Saanich.
This is the simple build-direction summary. The exact property still has to meet its zoning, site, servicing and permit requirements.
Internal additional unitConditional — verify
Detached garden / backyard unitConditional — verify
DuplexUse BC property check
TriplexUse BC property check
FourplexUse BC property check
Before you build: confirm the exact property, zoning and permit path with Saanich.
Municipal rules · reviewed September 20, 2026
Saanich: secondary suite and detached ADU rules
Saanich has separate, current rule sets for internal secondary suites and detached garden suites. The current garden-suite guide now allows both forms on the same property in qualifying cases. The District has removed its owner-occupancy requirement for secondary and garden suites; this does not waive zoning, service-area, parking, or building-permit conditions.
Garden / carriage / detached ADU
- Garden suites are permitted on qualifying RS and RD properties in the Sewer Service Area and/or Urban Containment Boundary, subject to the District’s basic criteria including a minimum 400 m² lot area and 12 m width, a principal single-family dwelling, covenants and permits.
- Basic eligibility includes a minimum lot area of 400 m² and minimum lot width of 12 m, with a single-family dwelling as the principal building.
- A building permit is required; a tree permit may also be required.
Parking, size & site limits
- Garden-suite maximum floor area: 93 m² (1,000 ft²), also constrained by lot coverage/setbacks.
- Parking: current Saanich guidance requires 1 additional parking stall for a garden suite; secondary-suite parking is generally 1 additional on-site space unless a current SSMUH/other exception applies.
- Garden-suite site coverage: the current guide uses lot-size-based accessory/garden-suite coverage limits; the property’s exact lot size and zone must be checked.
Saanich suite / ADU FAQ
Do I need a permit?
Yes. A new secondary suite or detached dwelling needs the applicable Saanich approvals and building permit before construction/occupancy. Existing work may require a legalization or existing-building review rather than simply a new-build permit.
Can I rent the unit?
Garden suites may be used for family or long-term rental but cannot be used as short-term rentals or B&B use under the current garden-suite program.
Is an old or “grandfathered” suite automatically legal?
No. Age or long-standing occupancy does not by itself prove municipal approval. Check Saanich permit/property records and, where relevant, whether a lawful non-conforming status actually exists before describing a suite as “grandfathered.”
Can I have both an internal suite and a detached ADU?
Yes. The current Saanich Garden Suite Guide expressly says an owner can have both a secondary suite and a garden suite, subject to the applicable unit-count and site rules.
Optional project planning
After the rule check: budget and contractor scope
Use these tools only after confirming the municipal path. Cost planning and contractor matching do not establish zoning, code compliance or permit approval.
1 · BudgetEstimate renovation costs in SaanichOpen the matching Home Cost Canada city page, then adjust the project and scope.Open cost planner →2 · ContractorFind a local BC contractorBC Quote is a separate contractor-matching service. Use it after the zoning and permit path are understood.Start contractor match →
How this guide was verified
Guide verification: Targeted municipal-source claim check recorded. Selected citywide guidance or adoption facts were checked against an identified official page on October 12, 2026. This is not a complete current-bylaw, amendment-map or parcel certification.
Property confidence: Not assessed. City-wide guidance does not confirm permission for a particular parcel. Check official zoning, overlays and permits. How verification works →
Official Saanich sources
Saanich secondary suites ↗Saanich garden suites ↗Saanich zoning FAQ ↗B.C. Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing ↗
Saanich — current SSMUH and owner-occupancy guidance ↗Reviewed September 20, 2026. This is a planning summary, not a permit decision. Confirm the current zoning, registered title constraints, servicing and permit requirements for the specific property before design or construction.
V69.62 targeted primary-source review · October 12, 2026: The District says qualifying RS/RD properties can have both a secondary and garden suite since June 30, 2024; its garden-suite eligibility generally includes 400 m² minimum lot area, 12 m width, service/boundary conditions and permits. Official municipal record ↗ Still unverified: Check lot-specific zoning, covenant, Schedule G applicability, service area, tree/archaeology requirements and later amendments. No comprehensive current-by-law signoff or parcel approval is claimed.