Bylaw Enforcement

You can search for frequently requested bylaws in the resource library or contact the municipal hall for assistance.

Staff review each issue based on safety hazard, extent of violation, history, community impact as well as costs of enforcement. When there is a violation of a parking, noise or zoning bylaw, a Bylaw Notice ticket may be issued. This would be due and payable within 14 days, at a reduced fee, and any disputes can be submitted within this time frame as well.

When there is construction without permits or other building bylaw regulation that does not get resolved, a request may be made to Council to place a notice on the land title record of the property, to protect the District as well as any future owners of a property. This is referred to as a Section 57 under the Community Charter, which is a provincial regulation.  Further action, such as municipal ticketing or legal action, may also be taken.

Enforcement on bylaw violations is based on our Bylaw Enforcement Policy.

The Animal Control Bylaw is enforced by the Capital Regional District (CRD) in Central Saanich. Please contact the CRD office at (250) 478-0624 or see CRD Bylaw and Animal Care Services for further information.

In general, the policy is:

We receive one complaint from a complainant whose property is located within 100 metres of the subject property; or

• We receive two complaints from unrelated complainants whose properties are located within the District of Central Saanich; or
• The complaint is classified as High Priority.

You can read the entire enforcement policy located in Related Documents section at the right side of this page.

Option 1: Pay ticket at the Municipal Hall

• Reduced penalty if paid within 14 days of receiving  the Notice; 
• Full penalty if paid between 14 and 28 days after receiving the Notice; 
• Increased penalty for those paid after 28 days.

Option 2: Dispute ticket 

• Form must be submitted within 14 days; deliver or mail

Idling is regulated by the CRD (See Related Links).

Residential parking is permitted for 72 hours at a time.

No person shall park a commercial vehicle having a gross vehicle weight in excess of 5,500 kilograms, or a length in excess of seven meters, or a height in excess of 2.4 meters, on a property within the General Residential Zones (R or RCH), or Multi-Unit Residential Zones (RM or RP).

Unlicensed vehicles, trailers or other such vehicles can be reported to the Central Saanich Police Department for towing (250-652-4441).

The truck route is a designated combination of roads throughout the District of Central Saanich to funnel commercial traffic. The map is included in the Traffic & Highways Bylaw as Schedule C (See Related Documents).

Typically, the residential zones in the District of Central Saanich Zoning Bylaw 2180  allow secondary suites, but there may be some restrictions based on lot size etc. 

More information is available in the Zoning Bylaw (See Related Bylaws).

“Accessory Dwelling Unit” means a self-contained dwelling unit which is secondary to a principal residential dwelling; includes secondary suites within the principal dwelling or detached units in the form of cottages or carriage houses.

Most residential zones (‘R’ and ‘RE’ zones) would now be permitted to construct a detached accessory dwelling unit (instead of a secondary suite).   With any detached accessory dwelling unit a covenant is registered on title to ensure compliance with the District’s bylaws and policies. 

Visit https://www.centralsaanich.ca/home-property-development/land-use-current-planning/infill-housing/accessory-cottages-carriage for information.

With a building permit, one secondary suite is allowed on many properties. You may have a secondary suite either fully contained within the single family dwelling or a detached accessory dwelling (in a carriage house or cottage  with the appropriate permits).

Confirm with bylaws and staff that you are permitted to have a secondary suite, and then apply for a building permit demonstrating the minimum health and safety requirements of the building code. 

For more information, check out our secondary suite page or guide.

Tree removal on lands within the ALR remains exempt from the requirement for a permit. However, a written statement from the owner declaring the trees are to be removed for an agricultural use is now required.

Please see centralsaanich.ca/trees

Section 5 (3) of the Tree Management Bylaw allows for EMERGENCY removal of a high hazard tree BEFORE obtaining a permit: nothing in the bylaw or tree permit process delays you from removing a legitimate, immediate hazard. You would then submit a tree permit within 24 hours of the removal (or the next business day if the removal occurs on a weekend or statutory holiday).

Please see centralsaanich.ca/trees

You need a permit when you want to:

• Prune branches on a permit tree that are more than 10 cm (4”) in diameter
• Remove any species greater than 30 cm (12”) diameter at breast height
• Remove "permit trees" (including hazardous, dead or dying trees)

"Permit trees" include:

• Arbutus
• Pacific Dogwood
• Pacific Yew
• Garry Oak
• Shore Pine
• Trembling Aspen
• Municipal trees
• Replacement trees
• Trees protected by a covenant or located within a development permit area
• Nesting trees
• Trees within the Erosion Control District of Central Saanich
• Trees within an Environmentally Sensitive Area

The application can be found in the related documents section on this page. You or a designated representative can submit the permit application, but you as the property owner are always ultimately responsible.

You need to include:

• Rationale Letter with number of trees, types of trees, reasons for removal/pruning and support for application
• Land Title Search (within last 30 days)
• Certified Arborist Report
• Tree Survey
• Tree Protection Plan per Tree Management Bylaw
• Consent from Adjacent Property Owner (if applicable)
• Permit Fees (listed at the bottom of the permit application)