On June 24, 2024 Oak Bay Council adopted bylaw amendments to create the Infill Housing Program and respond to the Provincial Small Scale Multi Unit Housing (SSMUH) legislation. 

Small-scale multi-unit housing is ground-oriented housing typically built at a scale of single detached and duplex housing and could include secondary suites, garden suites, laneway homes, townhomes, triplexes and house-plexes. 

What are the key aspects of the Infill Housing Program? 

Amendments to the District’s Bylaws enable the Province’s minimum permitted densities and incentivize infill. Key changes include: 

• Allowing up to 3-4 units on any lot previously restricted to single detached or duplex use to allow a mix of housing types 
• Introducing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) as a permitted use, such as garden suites, laneway homes and carriage houses  
• Adjusting parking and build-outs to ensure new development is appropriately scaled  
• Adjusting setbacks and heights to allow for more feasible infill housing forms  
• All affected single detached zones re-named from ‘RS/One Family’ to ‘R/Residential’ 
• No covered parking requirement 
• No form and character development permit for infill housing unless a rezoning application is required  
• Apart from legislated requirements there are no Oak Bay policies for stratification of new construction or strata conversion of existing units 

All residential development in the District of Oak Bay requires a Building Permit, this includes new or recommissioned dwelling units. 

Resources 

• Infill Housing Brochure: provides an high level overview of the key changes 
• Residential Infill One-Page Zone Summaries: are reference documents that highlight the key changes to the Residential Zones to permit and incentivize infill 
• Reference Map SSMUH Maximum Densities: shows the maximum densities for infill 
• Infill Housing Program FAQ: answers frequently asked questions 
• Zoning Bylaw includes the consolidated changes from the amendment bylaw  
• Parking Facilities Bylaw includes the consolidated changes from the amendment bylaw 

Background  

The Infill Housing Program Bylaw Updates are the first steps in the wider Oak Bay Housing Action Program (HAP). The District’s HAP combines Council Priority Projects and the Provincial Housing mandates and share the same goal of increasing housing supply, creating more diverse housing choice over time, and contributing to more affordable housing. Sign up for project updates on the Housing Action Program page to stay informed about key project milestones and engagement activities.