FAQs

This bylaw sets the rules, technical standards, and works and service infrastructure requirements for subdivision and development. This is how infrastructure - like roads, sidewalks, streetlights, and drainage - is built as part of development (and subdivision) projects in the District of Sooke.

The current bylaw is outdated and does not reflect today’s expectations for neighbourhood design, climate resilience, affordability, or safety. The update ensures that development is more predictable, consistent, and aligned with Sooke’s goals for complete streets and livable communities.

Yes. You do not have to provide frontage improvements or other works and services if your project includes:

• Adding a secondary suite or small suite to your home.
• Making renovations or additions that don’t change the use of the building.
• Building a new single-family home.
• Doing a lot line adjustment (where no new lots are created).

Exemptions are proposed for frontage improvements with respect to:

• Development that comprises of a commercial or industrial or institutional use with construction value less than $500,000 as confirmed by the District’s Chief Building Official; and
• Subdivision that results in no more than a total of three parcels unless the parcel being subdivided was created within the previous ten (10) years.

This is outlined in section 9 of the Bylaw.

The updated bylaw is the result of over 18 months of work, shaped by:

• A stakeholder session with the building and development community in December 2023

• Ongoing feedback from local developers and residents

• Technical review by staff

• Alignment with community priorities and modern best practices

An additional round of stakeholder engagement, as presented on this page, is further informing this bylaw. 

Complete streets are designed to safely accommodate all users—walkers, cyclists, drivers, and people of all ages and abilities. They include features like sidewalks, bike lanes, street trees, lighting, and stormwater systems. Sooke’s bylaw encourages complete streets to support walkable neighbourhoods, public safety, and long-term sustainability, recognizing that different streets serve different functions and volumes of traffic.

As part of the updated bylaw, the District of Sooke is introducing a Road Atlas—a new tool for our community. The Road Atlas maps out existing and future road classifications and associated infrastructure standards (e.g., widths, sidewalk placement, boulevard treatments), providing a clear reference for developers, engineers, and staff.

This responds directly to feedback from the building and development community, who expressed a need for:

• Greater clarity on what infrastructure is required where
• Simplified planning at the early stages of subdivision design
• Increased transparency in how road standards are applied across the District

Benefits of the Road Atlas include:

• Helping applicants understand expectations up front, reducing delays and rework
• Supporting more consistent and predictable decisions during the permitting process
• Reducing administrative back-and-forth by providing a shared point of reference
• Making it easier to align private infrastructure with Sooke’s long-term transportation goals

The Road Atlas is intended to be a living document, updated as Sooke grows and transportation needs evolve. It’s a key step toward streamlining the development process while ensuring roads serve the community now and into the future.

The updated bylaw includes clear exemptions and more flexible standards for small subdivisions (creation of three lots of less). This better reflects the smaller scale of these developments and helps lower infrastructure costs—reducing expenses that might otherwise be passed on to homeowners. It’s one way the District is working to support more affordable housing in Sooke.

The bylaw is designed to make the development and standards clearer and more predictable, with requirements that match the size and impact of the project:

• For small subdivisions (creation of three or less lots): The bylaw includes exemptions for frontage improvements.
• For larger developments: The development standards are more detailed and clearer. This will help reduce confusion, prevent delays, and make it easier to plan projects from the start.

Bylaws go through three readings before adoption:

• First reading introduces the bylaw
• Second reading allows for debate and review
• Third reading signals Council’s intent to adopt
• Fourth reading/Adoption finalizes the bylaw

As of May 26, 2025, the bylaw has received third reading. Before adoption, Council is checking in with the public. If significant concerns arise, the bylaw may be rescinded and revised.

There are several ways to participate:

• Complete the online survey by Wednesday, June 18, 2025

• Attend an online building and development stakeholder session via Microsoft Teams:

  • June 24 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

  • June 25 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

• Review the bylaw and Schedules

Sometimes. Please refer to Section 9 of the Bylaw. The District may allow you to pay cash instead of doing the work ("cash-in-lieu") if:

• a highway improvement project in the District’s financial plan includes Frontage Improvements directly attributable to the land being subdivided or developed; or,
• the Municipal Engineer considers Frontage Improvements could more practically and efficiently be constructed at a later date due to scheduling, coordination, economies of scale and other technical considerations.

The amount you would pay is based on the estimated cost to build the improvements and is set by the District’s Fees and Charges Bylaw.

Yes. While third reading signals Council’s intention to adopt the bylaw as-is, minor adjustments may still be made. These adjustments - such as clarifying language or correcting formatting - do not necessarily require the bylaw to be rescinded or re-read, unless the intent or scope changes significantly.

After adoption, the Bylaw is a working document that staff will monitor based on concerns and further areas of improvement. Amendments to the bylaw could then be considered by Council in the future.