Zoning Bylaw
The Zoning Bylaw regulates how land, structures and buildings may be used. A-Zones are zones permitted for agriculture in the District of Saanich. See Saanich Zoning Bylaw 8200. A-Zone regulations begin on page 101-1.
Official Community Plan
The Official Community Plan (OCP) has numerous community plans and policies to guide growth and change within our municipality. Agriculture and food security objectives and policies are addressed in the OCP.
Official Community Plan (2008): 5.1.1 Agriculture and Food Security
Draft Official Community Plan (2023): 12.0 Agriculture and Food Security
Objectives
A. Protect agricultural land for current and future generations.
B. Support access to a safe and nutritious food supply.
C. Create opportunities for local food production in both rural and urban areas.
Policies
12.1.1 Implement the Agriculture and Food Security Plan and update periodically to reflect emerging community priorities.
12.1.2 Ensure a healthy, sustainable and stable food supply by working with the Capital Regional District, the Province, food producers, the Vancouver Island Health Authority, municipalities, and other stakeholders to implement the Capital Regional District Food and Agriculture Strategy.
12.1.3 Protect agricultural land by maintaining the Urban Containment Boundary and encouraging compact urban form.
12.1.4 Do not support applications to exclude land from the Agricultural Land Reserve, unless: a. A qualified professional agrologist provides evidence that the property is incorrectly designated; and, b. Exclusion would not adversely affect the long-term agricultural value of the adjoining land within the Reserve.
12.1.5 Do not forward applications to the Agricultural Land Commission to subdivide land within the Agricultural Land Reserve (Map 6) unless:
a. The owner has continuously owned and occupied the property as a principal residence since December 21, 1972 and no subdivision has occurred since that date; or
b. There are already two dwellings on the parcel; or
c. It would facilitate changes to an existing public institution; or
d. It would increase the agricultural capability of an existing farm as defined by the BC Assessment Authority and there is on-site evidence of keeping animals or land cultivation at a commercial level.
12.1.6 Maintain a minimum parcel area of 2.0 ha for the A-1 (Rural) zone and 4.0 ha for the A-4 (Rural) zone.
12.1.7 Encourage the Agricultural Land Commission to review current deposit of fill practices on ALR lands, in order to preserve the agricultural capability of ALR lands.
12.1.8 Discourage the deposit of fill on rural and ALR lands that results in the soil’s agricultural capability being diminished.
12.1.9 Support the preservation and enhancement of the soil’s agricultural capability on rural and ALR lands.
12.1.10 Develop appropriate regulations and guidelines for agri-tourism activities in consultation with farmers and other stakeholders to minimize the impact of such activities on neighbouring properties.
12.1.11 Develop appropriate regulations and guidelines for “intensive agriculture” in consultation with farmers and other stakeholders to minimize the impact of such activities on rural residential neighbours.
12.1.12 Support the use of the dispute resolution process established in the “Farm Practices Protection Act” to resolve concerns and complaints about agricultural practices that may be inconsistent with normal farm practice.
12.1.13 Buffer rural and agricultural lands from adjacent urban residential development as part of redevelopment and subdivision proposals, where appropriate.
12.1.14 Continue to support a special water rate for agriculture.
12.1.15 Encourage the development of a Property Assessment policy that primarily supports local food production, and does not inadvertently result in ecological degradation.
12.1.16 Encourage environmentally sound agricultural practices by promoting the BC Environmental Farm Program.