Saanich council unanimously approved a bylaw amendment setting a 33-square-metre minimum (355 square feet) size for most new residential units.
Discussed during the July 14 meeting, this new legislation will apply across all zones and is aimed at ensuring new housing is "livable, stable and adaptable," and contributes to infrastructure costs through development charges, noted a staff report.
“It is appropriate that a municipality as sophisticated and as large as ours has minimums, and up until now we haven't,” said Coun. Colin Plant. “It's important for us as a municipality to set standards, and I'm comfortable advancing the bylaw based on the fact that it's very similar to other jurisdictions regionally.”
Exemptions will apply to non-market housing, student residences, community care facilities, congregate housing, and nursing homes.
Staff warned that without a minimum size, the municipality risked losing revenue from development cost charges, which are waived under provincial law for units 29 square metres or smaller. They also cited concerns that micro-units offer less stability, adaptability, and long-term livability for residents.
The new bylaw aligns Saanich with neighbouring Victoria, which adopted a 33-square-metre minimum earlier this year. Developers may still apply for variances if they wish to build smaller units, with council to consider requests on a case-by-case basis.
The move also supports provincial building code changes that require a portion of new units to be adaptable for people with mobility needs.
