Smoke Control Bylaw

The Regional Board has approved a resolution asking staff to prepare an amendment to the Regional District of Central Okanagan Smoke Control Bylaw No. 733. The amendment is expected to address permit approval issues related to the
installation of outdoor wood burning boilers which do not currently have Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.

New Provincial and industry emission standards are being considered and the bylaw amendment would reflect these initiatives.

April Building Statistics

During April, the Inspections Section approved 13 building permits for projects worth $869,000 in the Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West Electoral Areas. During the first four months of 2010, a total of 46 building permits were issued for construction projects in the electoral areas totalling just over $3.6-million.

Item 6.1 Building Statistics - April 2010.pdf

There were 13 PERMIT(S) issued during the period Apr 2010 - Apr 2010 with a total construction value of 869,000.00.
There were 9 PERMIT(S) completed during the period Apr 2010 - Apr 2010 with a total construction value of 0.00.

These PERMIT(S) ISSUED can be broken down as follows:

2 SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS
2 RESIDENTIAL ADDITIONS & ACCESS
3 GARAGES & CARPORTS
1 SWIMMING POOLS
3 FARM & AGRICULTURE BUILDINGS
1 COMMERCIAL ADDITIONS/ALTER
1 DEMOLITIONS
13  $869,000.00

The comparative analysis of the permits issued is shown in these statistics:

*we don't understand these statistics in the table above ..something is missing?

Respectfully submitted,
RAY PATERSON
Chief Building Inspector

5 permits issued April 2010 in Central Okanagan West

April 2010
Building Department Monthly Report for Central Okanagan West

January - April 2010
Building Department Monthly Report for Central Okanagan West

February Building Statistics
During February, the Inspections Section approved nine building permits for projects worth $991,000 in the Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West Electoral Areas. During the first two months of 2010, a total of 17 building permits were issued for construction projects in the electoral areas totalling just over $1.6-million.

Item 9.1 Financial Plan Review.pdf

click for larger print

Notice it says an extra $38,928 expense for building inspection in 2010 where in 2009 there was no building inspection expense?

044 - Building Inspection and Bylaw Enforcement

- Building inspection permits have decreased which has resulted in a reduction of staff and reallocation of time for one staff person to other services. A tax requisition is now required to cover cost of the service.

Inspection

5.3 Inactive Building Permits/Stop Work Orders with a Bylaw Contravention Notice

Staff report dated June 25, 2009 outlined recommendations on how the Regional District can deal with inactive building permits/stop work orders with a bylaw contravention notice. Concern had been expressed that the Regional District may
be allowing too much time for owners to comply with regulations.

#GS60/09 BAKER/EDGSON
THAT the Governance and Services Committee recommends to the Regional Board to endorse the policy for closing inactive building permits/stop work orders with a bylaw contravention notice:

1. Building Permits that are inactive for more than a one year period.

2. Buildings that are occupied without approval where occupancy has not been granted, regardless of time-frame.

3. Building Permits that are still active but are not completed within four years from the date of permit issuance.

CARRIED

Item 5.3 Bylaw Contravention Notice.pdf

Agenda NO: 5.3
Mtg Date: July 9, 2009

DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT REPORT

For the Governace & Services Committee July 9, 2009
TO: Regional Board
FROM: Ray Paterson, Chief Building Inspector
DATE: June 25,2009

SUBJECT: Inactive Building Permits/Stop Work Orders with a Bylaw Contravention Notice

RECOMMENDATION:
That the Regional Board endorse the following policy for closing inactive Building Permits/Stop Work Orders with a Bylaw Contravention Notice:

1. Building Permits that are inactive for more than a one year period.

2. Buildings that are occupied without approval where occupancy has not been granted - regardless of time frame.

3. Building Permits that are still active but are still not completed within four years from the date of permit issuance.

PURPOSE:
To examine the Procedure and Timing of Bylaw Contravention Notices on property titles where Building Permits are incomplete or unsafe conditions exist.

BACKGROUND:
The method of closing Building Permits is an on-going process. Regional District of Central Okanagan Building Bylaw #835 stipulates that the exterior finish of a building be completed within one year from the date of Permit issuance. The Building Permit is supposed to be completed within two years. The surcharge ($200.00, $100.00 or $50.00 depending on permit fee) is not refunded unless the permit is completed with two years from the date of issuance.

(Regional District Bylaw #835 says exterior complete within two years and not one year as the Chief Building Inspector states in his report)

(Regional District Bylaw #835 does not stipulate how long a building may take to complete so the Chief Building Inspector is wrong and misleading council)

For the most part the surcharge has been an incentive for permit holders to complete their project within the two years in order for the refund of the surcharge.

Within the Regional District there also exists a large number of non-permanent residents that do not the need or desire to complete their project within a timely manner.

As long as the project proceeds and the work does not stop for more than a six month period the permit file remains active.

(NOTE BYLAW #835 says permit will expire if no progress for one year)

When a Building Permit exists that is either older than two years or has not received an inspection within six months, the owner is sent a letter requesting a status update for the permit.

Staff have developed a system for keeping track of the permit status. If we are not successful in dealing with the permit holder, additionalletter(s) are sent informing them of a report to the Regional Board requesting a Notice be placed on the property title.

Our Staff will send four to five letters to the property owner before a Report is sent to the Regional Board. We have taken this approach for two reasons;

It provides the owner time to complete their permit if they are so inclined and shows due diligence on our part to bring closure to the permit file.

There are approximately three hundred and fifty-four open permits. All of the permits have been reviewed. Permits that have been inactive or non-compliant are being dealt with through our letter procedure.

Review of Bylaw Contravention Notice
A Bylaw Contravention Notice is placed on a Certificate of Title to limit the liability of the Regional District of Central Okanagan. The reasons for implementing this process are:

1. Failure to complete a Building Permit to the minimum standards as required by the Regional District of Central Okanagan Building Bylaw, B.C. Building and Plumbing Code.

2. Failure to obtain a Building Permit for buildings/structures constructed without approval.

The process of placing a Bylaw Contravention Notice on Title has been effective.
Prospective purchasers are made aware of potential problems. As a result, the Bylaw Contravention is occasionally removed or a new Building Permit is obtained to correct deficiencies and to remove the Bylaw Contravention Notice.

Respectfully submitted,
Ray Paterson, R.B.O.
Chief Building Inspector

Dan Plamondon, Manager
Development &Environmental Services

/tj

Statistics confirm talk that the sputtering economy caused building activity to slow in West Kelowna last year.

Figures from the Central Okanagan Regional District show that construction got underway on 234 houses in the District of West Kelowna in 2009 compared to 275 in 2008.

In 2009, 410 building permits were issued in the municipality compared to 524 in 2008.

The value of all construction in West Kelowna was $51.4 million last year compared to $91.5 million in 2008.

Central Okanagan-wide stats show an even greater slowdown, where housing starts totaled 887 in 2009 compared to 2,024 in 2008, in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland and the Central Okanagan rural electoral areas combined.

Across the region, 2,674 building permits with a construction value of $636.8 million were issued in 2009 compared to 3,179 with a construction value of $710 million the year before.

2008 Building Inspection Statistics

Building permit value (all permits) $13,950,329
Building permits issued 164
Single family dwellings 40
Two family dwellings 8
Residential additions 51
Garages, carports, swimming pools 76
Wood burning appliances 17
Commercial permits issued 4
Farm and agriculture buildings 11

Source 2009 Annual Report page 11