Introduction

Bylaws and Policies for Use of a Boulevard

For boulevard maintenance expectations , please click the link.

The main bylaws and policies governing the use of boulevards are:

• Boulevards Management Bylaw (to regulate the provision, management and protection of boulevards)
• Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw (to regulate the streets and traffic within the Municipality of Saanich)
• Boulevard Tree Policy (to regulate the installation and maintenance of trees on boulevards)
• Driveway Access Bylaw (to regulate the means of access to and from a highway)

The information provided on this website is for general use, and does not have precedence over municipal bylaws and policies.

Application Form

You do not require a boulevard permit if you want to install grass or sod, as long as no pre-existing vegetation is removed. However, if you wish to alter the grades, either by cutting or filling, before seeding or sodding, you will require a permit.

Residential property owners may or may not be granted permission to use the boulevard adjacent to their property. The starting point is to submit an Application for a Boulevard Permit including sketches or photos to illustrate what you wish to do. The following sections provide information on what is considered in reviewing an application.

The most common applications for the use of a boulevard are for:

• Landscaping -- Plantings must:

Be from an Approved List or with approval from Saanich.   Be located sufficiently back from the travelled portion so as to not cause a traffic or pedestrian safety issue (at least 1.5 metres where possible).  Be located sufficiently back from a sidewalk so as to not encroach on the sidewalk.  Not interfere with existing trees.  Not interfere with or obstruct the visibility of or access to public utilities such as water meter boxes, manholes, fire hydrants, etc.  Not be so large or in a configuration such as a hedge that they visually separate the area from the rest of the streetscape and make it appear to be a private part of the property.  Be maintained by the permit holder so that they are not a traffic or pedestrian safety or aesthetic issue.

Proposed landscaping beds that incorporate river rocks will need special approval to ensure that they pose no safety issues.  The area will also need to be maintained by hand to a high standard to prevent weeds, with no application of pesticides.

To promote water conservation, any irrigation system should be low flow drip irrigation.

Please refer to the Standard Conditions for information on checking for underground utilities before digging, and for potential damage to improvements from future municipal work.

• Devices to stop vehicle encroachment:

The prime considerations for devices to stop vehicle encroachment are safety and impact on utilities. We encourage plantings, particularly in raised beds set back sufficiently from the edge of the travelled portion.  Fences or individual rocks set on the boulevard will not be approved.

Some uses that will likely NOT be approved include:

• Boulevard parking areas.
• Tree Planting:   Only the Saanich Parks Dept. may plant or prune trees on boulevards. Please contact the Parks Department at 1040 McKenzie Avenue, Victoria, BC (250-475-5522) for information on permits and any cost sharing programs that may be available.
• Rocks to stop vehicle encroachment
• Fences
• Structures such as sheds
• Retaining walls
• Hedges

Contacts

Saanich Engineering Department
770 Vernon Ave,
Victoria, BC V8X 2W7

FAX: 250-475-5450

Email: connie.niblock@saanich.ca

To discuss any aspect of using a municipal boulevard, please contact:

Jim Hemstock, P.Eng.
Email: jim.hemstock@saanich.ca
Phone: 250-475-5464