Surrey cracks down on illegal construction of rental units

The City of Surrey is cracking on two properties for illegal construction, including one that saw the owners building five rental units and multiple other rooms in a barn in their backyard without any permits.

Properties cited: Surrey council voted on Monday to slap a notice on title on the two properties: 16055 – 60 Ave. and 16835 – 26 Ave.

What it means: A notice on title alerts anyone from possible buyers to lenders or insurers about the risks that could be find due to unpermitted construction. Notice on title is through Section 57 of the Community Charter.

City crackdown: The two cases were investigated by the city’s Illegal Construction Enforcement Team, a dedicated group of city staff who enforce bylaws and target residential construction that is done without permits, inspections, or compliance with safety standards.

In the last year, the city has held eight Special Council Meetings where council directed a notice on title to 24 property owners on 13 properties where the owners have illegal construction and occupied the buildings without permits and in violation of the City’s Building Bylaws. Owners of the properties have been issued over $50,000 in fines and fees.

How you can report illegal builds: To file a complaint about construction you suspect has been done without permits, email bylawcomplaint@surrey.ca or call 604-591-4370.

First violation: For the 60 Avenue property, council was told the owner built an “apartment-like building” to be rented out for profit. The owner has been fined $500 and has to pay for six site visits by city staff.

Second violation: The 26 Avenue property also includes multiple rental units in a two-storey building that was built without permission. The city has issued $11,500 on fines, with none of that amount paid, plus $3,100 in site visit fees, with only a partial amount paid.

“At this time, staff do not see a realistic path for the Owners to obtain a building permit to retain the Unpermitted Works,” says a city staff report. “The Unpermitted Works were constructed without a valid and subsisting building permit issued by the City under the Building Bylaw. The construction has progressed to a point where many essential elements are now obscured, preventing the inspections staff consider necessary to confirm safety and compliance with the Building Bylaw and British Columbia Building Code.”

Other properties sanctioned: Earlier this year, council directed staff to file a notice on title to the property at 9730 Townline Diversion.

“(This) decision demonstrates Surrey City Council’s determination in combating illegal construction,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “The owners built an addition to the rear of the house which included two dwelling units, a rooftop deck, and two awnings. All work was completed without getting the proper permits. The safety of Surrey residents is our first and utmost concern and we are taking a zero-tolerance approach when it comes to illegal construction. I would like to thank the Illegal Construction Enforcement Team for their dedication to keeping Surrey safe and accountable. Lastly, I would like to say that if you have questions or are unsure about the permitting process, the City is here to help you through the process. Let’s build safe homes together.”

The City has taken action against egregious, unpermitted construction such as:

• Construction of two two-story additions on one property including construction of three additional dwelling units on the same property;
• Construction of a two-story addition, containing two dwelling units and construction of a second two-story addition, containing four dwelling units;
• A dwelling with multiple decks constructed and eight additional dwelling units within the home;
• Construction of a two-story accessory building with a dwelling unit and a two-story addition to the house, including a roof top deck;
• Adding a secondary story to the barn and constructing five dwelling units within the barn, along with the construction of a detached garage, two greenhouses and a shed on one property;
• Construction of two-story additions to the rear of the house with numerous dwelling units inside the additions and house; and
• Enclosing the carport and creating a dwelling unit.