Bill 44

Bill 44 is a BC provincial law that changed what you can build on a single-family lot. It requires municipalities to allow small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH) — garden suites, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes — on many lots that used to be zoned single-family only.

We won't give you a number we can't back up. Bill 44 requires municipalities to permit small-scale multi-unit housing, but what you may actually build is set by your municipality's adopted zoning bylaw — and those differ. Colwood, for instance, currently permits a secondary suite plus one detached ADU. The count also turns on lot size, servicing, and proximity to frequent transit. The only honest answer is a parcel-by-parcel read against the bylaw your municipality has actually adopted, which is what we do.

Bill 44 is designed to make small-scale multi-unit housing easier to add than it used to be. Whether your specific project needs a rezoning depends on your lot and your municipality — and building permits, servicing, and site requirements still apply. A lot-specific read is the fastest way to know your path.

Yes. Bill 44 is province-wide, and municipalities across Greater Victoria have updated (or are updating) their zoning to comply. Exactly what your lot qualifies for varies by municipality and by parcel — subject to municipal approval, servicing, and site conditions.

A secondary suite is a self-contained unit inside your existing house, like a basement suite. A garden suite (sometimes called a laneway or detached suite) is a separate small home in your yard. Bill 44 expanded where both — and other small-scale forms like duplexes and fourplexes — are allowed.

Nothing to get a first read. We'll tell you what looks possible on your property at no cost and no obligation — a clear read before you spend anything. If you decide to move forward, we work with licensed residential builders on next steps.

Yes — lot size, location within the municipality, and proximity to frequent transit all affect how many units your zoning allows. Servicing and site conditions matter too. That's exactly why we read your parcel against your municipality's adopted bylaw instead of quoting you a one-size-fits-all number.