Building Inspection/Bylaw Enforcement - District

BUILDING INSPECTION and BYLAW ENFORCEMENT

Garth Cameron
Building Inspector/Bylaw Officer
250-726-4776 (office)
250-726-7861 (cell phone)
building@ucluelet.ca

For a list of building permits issued in 2008, click here. For a list of current building permits click here, if you require additional information please contact the Finance Department or Building Inspector.

Building Permits
Building Permit application forms, house number information and detailed application requirements are available at the District office.

When applying for a Building Permit, the Building Inspector will require the following:

Completed water and sewer connection application forms, including site plan.
House plans, including site plan, floor plan, cross section building plan, and elevations.
A current copy of the Land Title.

Construction shall begin within six months from the date of issuance and the work will not be discontinued or suspended for a period of more than six months.

Building Permit Fees:

The Building Inspector is now using residential cost estimating software to gauge the value of new construction. The estimates are used to calculate the cost of the building permit.

In mid 2008 the District started using software provided by Marshall & Swift for this purpose. The data base of costs is updated quarterly and adjusted for local conditions. The result is an accurate and timely estimate of construction costs for housing projects.

BYLAW ENFORCEMENT

In Ucluelet, as with many small coastal communities, regulatory bylaws are intended to facilitate a diverse residential and business community living and working within a small geographic footprint. Regulatory bylaws are drafted and implemented at a local government level and therefore may differ somewhat from community to community. In general, the Bylaw Enforcement Officer's mandate is to obtain and enforce general compliance with the provisions of the bylaws that pertain to the health, safety and welfare of the community.

While there are some areas of enforcement that require direct intervention, responding to complaints from the public comprises a large portion of regulatory bylaw enforcement. Complaint issues may include:

Excessive noise
Property conditions, including graffiti or other acts of vandalism
Animal control
Traffic and parking, including unauthorized overnight parking
Business licensing
Garbage, including improper storage of attractant garbage
Open burning

Enforcement proceedings can vary but are generally completed within six weeks of receiving the complaint.

How to make a complaint: Complaints should be submitted in writing and must include your name, address and phone number, along with a brief description of the issue and relevant past history. Complainant information is considered confidential and will not be released to the public unless under order of the Province. By making a complaint, you are consenting to having a bylaw officer contact you for the purpose of collecting additional information.

COMPLAINT FORM

Complaints may be submitted by fax at 250-726-7335 or email at building@ucluelet.ca or in person at the District office between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.

In rare cases, the municipality may require the complainant to come forward as a witness in a prosecution. A complainant would normally be interviewed concerning this requirement at the time of the initial complaint or during the interview process.

How to pay a ticket: Municipal tickets may be payed in person at the District office or by mail. You have 14 days to pay or dispute a ticket (MTI) before legal proceedings may be initiated against you.