Secondary Suite Construction Saanich BC
Over the last few years, Greater Victoria including the Saanich Peninsula has seen real estate prices soar. This has made housing unaffordable for many. With the growing public demand for affordable housing, secondary suites have been brought to the forefront. This focus on housing affordability has prompted numerous municipalities to reevaluate and revise their bylaws related to secondary suites and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), including the construction of garden suites, carriage houses, and cottages.
While there are some small variations in the regulations for secondary suites across the different municipalities, there are also specific provisions that can directly affect your secondary suite project. For example, in Saanich your secondary suite is required to have a designated onsite parking space. The parking space must have a working EV charging outlet for Level 2 electric vehicle charging.
Regardless of which municipality you're located in, it's crucial to seek professional guidance to help you navigate the zoning, living space size requirements, and special designations such as land with ALR status, which can vary within a neighborhood or municipality. Understanding what's possible and not possible for your property is important.
Hyldig Construction Ltd. is a full service construction contractor based out of Saanich, and serving all of Greater Victoria and The Saanich Peninsula including Victoria, Brentwood, Sidney, and Deep Cove. We specialize in designing and building secondary suites for our clients. Whether you need a carriage house, a cottage, an ADU or a secondary suite added onto to an existing home, our team can help. We are familiar with the local by-laws in each of the municipalities that we work in and we can help you determine what is possible with your own property.
How Big Can Your Secondary Suite Be?
In most municipalities the maximum size of a secondary suite is 90m² or (969 sq ft). This is generally sufficient for a 2 bedroom suite with kitchen and bathroom.
What Are The Specific Regulations For Secondary Suites In Greater Victoria?
There are 13 different municipalities in Greater Victoria and while most of the regulations regarding secondary suites are the same, there are some differing specifics you'll need to know about. Below you'll find direct links to the various municipalities secondary suite requirements. There are currently two municipalities that don't allow secondary suites and those are the Highlands and Oak Bay.
Central Saanich
Colwood
Esquimalt
Highlands (not currently permitted but set to change April 1 2023)
Langford | Carriage Suites in Langford
Metchosin
North Saanich
Oak Bay (not currently permitted)
Saanich | Garden Suites
Sidney
Sooke
Victoria
View Royal
How Much Does Building A Secondary Suite Cost?
The price for building a secondary suite, garden suite, or carriage home can vary greatly depending on many different factors. The location, the size of the structure, how luxurious the materials are, access, and more. We can provide you with accurate pricing only after a consultation to discuss your needs and an evaluation of the specific site you'd like the secondary suite built at.
Are you ready to meet with us to discuss your secondary suite or garden suite project? We’d love to schedule a consultation with and we’re excited to share our addition ideas with you. Give us a call at (250) 889-2926 or fill out our contact form and we’ll get right back to you.