BUILDING PERMITS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 144, 15 December 1933, Page 9

BUILDING PERMITS

FEW INFRINGEMENTS

PROCEDURE USED

Dealing with statements made at the last meeting of the City Council • regarding structural alterations to premises prior to the issue of the building permits, the City Engineer (Mr. G. A. Hart), iv a report to the council last night, stated that a careful investigation showed that it was not a general practice. Such instances as had occurred were practically all associated with minor alterations and small structures, particularly garages and sheds, such as were frequently erected by private individuals without engaging builders. Some were even commenced and completed before the department could take action. When it was fpund that the work was not purely renovational, aud entailed structural alterations, and ' a breach of the bylaw was being committed, the owner and (or) builder was written to and instructed to stop, and non-compliance;was met with legal proceedings. If, following the written notice, the builder complied with the bylaw, a permit was issued. In the ease of further non-eomplianee the owner was instructed to remove the existing construction. . , Certain cases required consideration by the laws committee, causing delays. It was sometimes difficult to differentiate between renovations, which did not require permits, and structural alterations, which were sometimes necessary also. THE ALTERNATIVE: PROSECUTION. A list was attached showing'that the council had successfully dealt with the majority of cases in a reasonable time without prosecutions, but if the, procedure in operation calling on owners to cease work until a permit were obtained—does not meet with approval, the alternative would be to take legal proceedings immediately without warning. The infringements which had been referred to were a very small percentage of the total permits issued. He sought a direction from the council as to the methods to be pursued. The bylaws committee proposed and it was agreed that a sub-committee consisting of Councillors Huggins, Bennett, and McKeen should be appointed to consider applications for permits to erect,buildings or effect alterations and additions to existing buildings, the committee to report to the bylaws committee the action taken in connection with such applications.