Capital Region | Oak Bay

Multiplex in Oak Bay

Oak Bay did adopt small-scale multi-unit zoning — up to four units on most lots through its Infill Housing Program in June 2024. But it is also the only Capital Region municipality the Province placed under a Housing Supply Act advisor, with the Minister later signalling formal directives on variances and parking. If you are building in Oak Bay, the rules are real but the ground has been shifting — confirm the current parking and variance position before you design.

Key Takeaways

✓Up to 4 units on most lots via a building permit (DP review waived); no 6-unit tier.
✓Coach houses, triplexes, and fourplexes permitted; parking minimums reduced in 2024.
✓Only Capital Region municipality under a Housing Supply Act advisor (Jan 2025).
✓Ministerial directives on variance delegation and a 1-stall-per-unit minimum (by Jan 2026).

The Timeline

June 24, 2024

Bylaws adopted

Oak Bay Council adopted zoning amendments creating an Infill Housing Program. Most properties became eligible for up to four units, with coach houses, triplexes, and fourplexes permitted, development permit review waived in favour of a building permit, and parking minimums reduced.

↓

January 28, 2025

Provincial advisor appointed

The Province appointed an advisor to Oak Bay under the Housing Supply Act — the only Capital Region municipality in this position.

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May 21, 2025

Minister signals directives

After a review, the Minister wrote that directives would be issued: delegating minor variances to staff and amending the parking bylaw to require a minimum of one stall per unit, both by January 31, 2026.

From the District of Oak Bay and the Province’s notice letter to Oak Bay.

Best For

✓ Oak Bay lots aiming at the four-unit Infill Housing Program forms.
✓ Owners comfortable confirming current parking and variance rules amid provincial directives.
✓ Coach house, triplex, and fourplex projects that fit the building-permit path.

Usually Fails When

✕ A pro forma assumes six units — Oak Bay has no six-unit tier.
✕ Parking or variance rules are taken from older guidance superseded by directives.
✕ The provincial-intervention context is ignored when planning timelines.

What To Verify Before Spending Money

→ The current parking minimum and variance-delegation rules with Oak Bay.
→ Which Infill Housing Program form fits your lot.
→ How the directives (effective by Jan 31, 2026) changed the process.

Where to Go Next

Saanich

A smoother, six-unit-capable implementation.

Bill 44 vs MMHI

The provincial framework behind the directives.

Hub Overview

The City of Victoria's own Missing Middle program.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many units can I build in Oak Bay? +

Most Oak Bay properties became eligible for up to four units when Council adopted Infill Housing Program zoning amendments on June 24, 2024. Permitted forms include coach houses, triplexes, and fourplexes, with development permit review waived (a building permit is required) and parking minimums reduced. There is no standard six-unit tier.

Why did the Province intervene in Oak Bay? +

Oak Bay is the only Capital Region municipality placed under a Housing Supply Act advisor. The advisor was appointed January 28, 2025, and after a review the Minister signalled on May 21, 2025 that directives would be issued — specifically to delegate minor variances to staff and to set a minimum of one parking stall per unit, both by January 31, 2026. It is documented, not rumour: the Minister’s notice letter is public.

Does the intervention change what I can build today? +

The base permission — up to four units on most lots, via a building permit — comes from the June 2024 bylaws. The provincial directives target process (variance delegation) and parking minimums. Confirm the current parking and variance rules with Oak Bay before designing, since these were the subject of directives.

How does Oak Bay compare to Saanich or Victoria? +

Oak Bay caps at four units with no six-unit tier, and unlike Saanich it drew provincial directives over its implementation. The City of Victoria, by contrast, runs its own Missing Middle program allowing houseplexes up to six units and corner townhouses up to twelve. Oak Bay is the most constrained of the three.