Zoning & buildability studies for informed land purchases
Thoughtful, practical zoning & buildability studies that tell you what’s really possible on a property before you buy.
Why zoning regulations matter so much
Zoning regulations and municipal bylaws shape almost every decision in real estate development:
On paper, a property might look perfect. But without a careful zoning analysis and property analysis, it’s easy to:
- Overestimate what you can build
- Underestimate constraints that will add time and cost
- Miss critical bylaw details that limit your design options
A clear zoning & buildability study turns all those rules into plain language and practical guidance for your specific lot.
You will gain:
Clarity
Confidence
Negotiating power
Smarter design decisions
Better ROI
Carma Design Group’s site data analysis work is practical, affordable, and focused on residential projects — everything from a single custom home to multi-unit infill developments across Victoria, Vancouver Island, and surrounding areas in British Columbia.
Frequently asked questions
Often, a zoning & buildability study is the best first step. Depending on what we find, we may recommend you also speak with:
- A land surveyor
- A geotechnical engineer
- A civil engineer or servicing consultant
- A planner, in more complex rezoning scenarios
If additional input is needed, we’ll explain why and help you prioritize what to tackle first.
No professional can guarantee municipal approval of a future, as-yet-undesigned project.
What we can do is:
- Ground your decisions in current zoning and policies
- Show how your goals line up with permitted uses and densities
- Reduce the risk of major surprises later in the process
- Set your future home design or development up for smoother permitting
When you move into full design with us, our permit-ready drawings are prepared specifically with local codes and bylaws in mind, and we stand behind them with a permit approval guarantee for our drawing sets.
Costs depend on:
- Size and complexity of the site
- How many development scenarios you want explored
- Whether you need diagrams/massing or just written findings
- How tight your timeline is
Our commitment is transparency. After a brief discovery call, we’ll provide a clear proposal outlining scope, fees, and deliverables so you can decide if it fits your budget and objectives.
For most clients, the cost of a development feasibility study is small compared to the potential savings of avoiding a poor land purchase or an unworkable project.
Our main service area is:
- Victoria
- Greater Victoria municipalities
- Vancouver Island
- Surrounding areas in British Columbia
Because zoning and bylaws are municipal, we focus on regions we know well. If your property is further afield, don't hesitate to reach out — we’ll let you know if we can help or if we recommend a local professional.
Yes. For clients comparing two or more lots, we can:
- Provide lighter-touch feasibility snapshots on each option
- Highlight pros and cons from a development and design perspective
- Point out which sites align best with your goals and budget
This comparison-based approach is especially valuable for developers and homeowners who want to choose the best long-term property investment.
Ideally, as early as possible.
Common approaches include:
- Before writing an offer: Best for complex or higher-risk sites, or when you want maximum confidence before committing.
- During a subject period: You make an offer subject to a satisfactory zoning buildability study, then use the findings to confirm, renegotiate, or withdraw.
We can often work within tight due-diligence timelines, especially for local properties in Victoria and across Vancouver Island.
We regularly work with:
- Real estate developers evaluating potential infill or multi-unit sites
- Homeowners considering a land purchase for their future custom home
- Current property owners wondering if a major renovation, addition, or secondary unit is viable on their lot
- Realtors and investors who need professional land-use insight to guide offers and negotiations
If you’re asking, “Is this property really right for what I want to do?”, a zoning buildability study is likely a good fit.
A basic zoning check might tell you the zone name and list some permitted uses. A full zoning buildability study goes further by:
- Interpreting zoning and bylaws in the context of your specific lot
- Considering lot shape, slope, access, and neighbouring context
- Exploring rough buildout scenarios instead of just listing numbers
- Flagging real-world constraints that could affect design, cost, and approvals
It’s a deeper look at what’s actually feasible, not just what’s written in the bylaw.
A zoning buildability study is a structured review of a property to determine what can realistically be built under current zoning and site conditions. It typically combines:
- Site data analysis
- Zoning analysis
- Basic property analysis
- Practical design and buildability insight
The goal is to inform your land purchase or project planning before you commit to major costs.