The City of Surrey has announced a one-year pilot program that will ease enforcement on illegal construction sites, shifting toward a compliance-based approach. The decision, made by council on Monday, aims to treat residents more reasonably, according to city officials. However, opposition Councillor Doug Elford criticized the timing, calling it hypocritical and questioning the motives ahead of an upcoming election.
Background of the Pilot Program
Mayor Brenda Locke instructed city staff in late April to review building permit, inspection, bylaw compliance, and stop-work order processes. The review revealed that stop-work orders were being issued for projects without immediate life-safety risks, for work that could be brought into compliance after the fact, and for first-time offenders. Staff recommended a pilot where stop-work orders would only be issued if construction posed a direct life-safety risk.
Council Decision and Opposition
Council passed the motion Monday night, with only Elford voting against it. In an interview Tuesday, Elford accused Locke and her Surrey Connect slate of hypocrisy, noting that the crackdown on illegal construction was initiated by the same group in 2021, with Locke establishing a bylaw enforcement team in 2022. “It’s five months before the election, but we’re giving this a one-year trial. If this was so problematic, why didn’t we do this before?” Elford said.
Elford suggested that a lobby group complaining about stop-work orders may have influenced the motion. The city did not respond to Postmedia’s questions by deadline.
Details of the Pilot
Under the pilot, staff will assess whether unpermitted work can be made compliant and whether the owner is a first-time offender. If so, and if the project poses no immediate safety risk, the owner may receive a warning letter instead of a stop-work order. The letter will instruct homeowners to stop construction temporarily to obtain a permit, bring work into compliance, or apply for a demolition permit. It will also provide contact information for staff assistance and outline consequences for non-compliance.
The staff report emphasized that the intent is not to weaken building safety standards, and the city will continue to act quickly on serious life-safety concerns.
