Oak Bay Infill Housing Bylaw Updates

Turning Provincial Housing Legislation into Context-Sensitive Infill Housing Regulations.

THE CHALLENGE

In 2023, MODUS was hired to assist Oak Bay with implementing its Infill Housing Strategy. The first phase of work involved identifying the requirements of Provincial Bill 44 and providing a path to compliance with the legislation, including drafting text and mapping bylaw amendments that meet the objectives of the District’s Housing Action Plan.

THE RESPONSE

Working closely with District staff and Council, MODUS undertook a comprehensive program of background review and analysis, infill housing modelling, GIS-based mapping, and a detailed examination of zoning approaches and bylaw amendments. Public and stakeholder engagement was a key component of the process, supporting clear communication of the Provincial mandate and gathering feedback on the proposed updates through a public webinar, three Council presentations, and two in-person engagement events.

Zoning Bylaw amendments were carefully tailored to Oak Bay’s unique context, policy priorities, and neighbourhood character, and were adopted by District Council in accordance with Provincial timelines. Building on this work, MODUS continued to support the District by refining the regulatory framework and addressing broader community planning considerations related to infill housing beyond the scope of Bill 44. This included the development of a highly graphic, user-friendly How-To Guide designed to clearly explain the infill housing process and support both residents and practitioners navigating new housing opportunities in Oak Bay.

Client

Oak Bay