Surrey's Crackdown on Illegal Construction: Two Properties Face Demolition Orders
Surrey city council continues its aggressive enforcement campaign against illegal construction, with two additional properties now facing formal notices on their land titles. This latest action represents an escalation in the municipality's efforts to combat unpermitted building projects that violate zoning and safety regulations.
Substantial Unpermitted Work at Residential Properties
The first property, located at 13466 87A Avenue, has become a focal point of the city's enforcement efforts. According to city documents presented to council, owners Kuldip Singh Mundi and Narinder Kaur Mundi originally obtained a building permit in 2023 for a single-family home. However, bylaw officers discovered in December 2024 that the owners had undertaken seven different construction projects without proper authorization.
The extensive unpermitted work included:
- A two-storey addition to the southeast corner of the house
- An accessory building in the southwest corner containing a self-contained dwelling unit and rooftop deck
- An addition in the southwest corner of the basement
- Multiple decks on both main and upper floors with accompanying staircases
- A laundry room addition on the east side of the house
- Four separate dwelling units constructed in the basement
"The owners here carried out substantial unpermitted work," stated Guillermo Flores, assistant city solicitor, during the council hearing. "Staff don't see a realistic path for the owners to obtain a building permit in the circumstances."
Enforcement Mechanisms and Legal Consequences
Surrey established a specialized illegal construction enforcement team in 2022 in response to a significant increase in stop-work orders. While obtaining demolition orders through the courts remains a lengthy process, city council has the authority to approve the filing of notices on land titles for properties violating permit requirements.
These notices serve as public warnings to lenders, potential buyers, and other interested parties that the property contravenes municipal bylaws. In correspondence with the owners of the 87A Avenue property, city officials emphasized that demolition represents the only viable path to compliance due to the "egregious nature and extent of the unpermitted work."
Jessica Wonfor, the city's manager for residential building permit approvals, confirmed in March correspondence that the completed work failed to meet both zoning regulations and building code requirements. Compounding the violations, individuals have been occupying the illegal dwelling units without proper permits.
Second Property Faces Similar Enforcement Action
The second property targeted in this enforcement round, located at 12464 77A Avenue, will also receive a notice on its land title. City bylaw officers documented multiple unpermitted projects at this location dating back to 2020, including:
- A two-storey addition at the rear containing two dwelling units
- Multiple decks with awnings and staircases
- A two-storey addition to the west side of the house
- An addition to the garage structure
- An upper-level deck at the front of the house
Neither property owner attended the council hearing regarding the enforcement actions. Additionally, the owners of the 87A Avenue property have accumulated $912 in unpaid fees for required site visits conducted by city officials.
Broader Implications for Municipal Enforcement
This enforcement action represents part of Surrey's broader strategy to address what officials describe as a growing problem of illegal construction throughout the municipality. The city's approach combines immediate notification mechanisms through land title filings with the longer-term pursuit of demolition orders through the judicial system.
The cases highlight the significant consequences property owners face when undertaking construction without proper permits, including potential demolition of unauthorized structures, financial penalties, and permanent notations on property titles that can affect future sales and financing.
