As part of the Homes for People Action Plan, the Provincial Government has recently made some significant legislative changes that affect municipal zoning bylaws, including Sidney’s.
The most significant change stemming from the Province’s new legislation is the end of single-family and duplex zoning in the Town’s Zoning Bylaw. By June 30, 2024, all single-family and duplex properties in Sidney will be permitted to accommodate up to 3 or 4 dwelling units (referred to generally as SSMUH) depending on lot size:
- Three units are permitted on lots that are 280 m² or smaller, and
- Four units are permitted on lots that are 281 m² or larger.
The configuration of housing units can be varied. One property owner interested in redeveloping their property might opt to build a duplex with two secondary suites. Another property owner might build a carriage home behind their existing single-family home to suit their family’s needs.
Housing development is costly, and some homeowners will not be interested in adding more housing to their property. It will be up to each individual property owner to decide if they want to make changes as a result of this new legislation.
You can check the size of properties in Sidney by using the online application SidneyMap.
The details of the updated zoning to allow these new uses will be in place by June 30, 2024 as per Provincial requirements. Planning Department staff are currently working on the required updates, along with the broader update to the Zoning Bylaw that has been underway since March 2023. Although the Provincially-mandated changes are not optional for municipalities, there will be an opportunity for the public to view the proposed changes this spring when the draft changes are made public. Other unrelated updates to the Zoning Bylaw will be open for the community to review and comment on as well.