Re: No standards for maintence and occupancy
Posted: Dec 4th, 2012, 8:51 pm
And around we go some more.
The provincial government, through the Office of Housing and Construction Standards, writes the building code standards for this province. According to their website, enforcement of the code falls on the municipality. (Source:
http://www.housing.gov.bc.ca/building/)
Building Code Enforcement and Building Permits
The Building and Safety Standards Branch does not enforce compliance with the BC Building Code. Local governments are authorized to enforce the BC Building Code through the Local Government Act and the Community Charter. If you have a question regarding building permits or building code enforcement, please contact the local government building department in your area.
Under the Local Government Act, (source: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws ... _division1) it states:
Provincial building code and regulations
692 (1) The minister may make regulations as follows:
(a) establishing a Provincial building code for British Columbia governing standards for the construction, alteration, repair or demolition of buildings;
(b) amending, adding to or varying for the purpose of this section the building code established under this section;
(c) adopting by reference, with the changes the minister considers necessary, all or part of any building code or standards for the construction, alteration, repair or demolition of buildings;
(d) regulating building generally for matters not included in the building code;
(e) exempting certain persons, buildings, classes of buildings, materials or areas either generally or for certain periods of time from the building code or regulations, and making other regulations for the persons, buildings, classes of buildings, materials or areas exempted;
(f) providing for the administration of the building code and other regulations under this section.
(2) Subject to the regulations under subsection (2.1), the building code and other regulations under subsection (1) apply to all municipalities and to regional districts or parts of them not inside a municipality, and have the same force and effect as a validly enacted bylaw of the municipality or regional district, as applicable.
What all that says to me, is that the City does not need a bylaw covering building standards. They are covered by the Provincial Building Code and the Local Government Act and must enforce it. After all, if there was a dangerous building in our town, it would be the responsibility of the City of Kelowna to condemn it.
I would phone the City back Libelle and try talking to as many people as it takes to get some clarification. As we all know, someone has to be responsible for enforcing the B.C. Building Code. That's why it exists. A landlord (and all owners of buildings in B.C.) must be held accountable to certain standards.
I love a challenge and this was surely it. Now I need to get a life. Good luck!
The provincial government, through the Office of Housing and Construction Standards, writes the building code standards for this province. According to their website, enforcement of the code falls on the municipality. (Source:
http://www.housing.gov.bc.ca/building/)
Building Code Enforcement and Building Permits
The Building and Safety Standards Branch does not enforce compliance with the BC Building Code. Local governments are authorized to enforce the BC Building Code through the Local Government Act and the Community Charter. If you have a question regarding building permits or building code enforcement, please contact the local government building department in your area.
Under the Local Government Act, (source: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws ... _division1) it states:
Provincial building code and regulations
692 (1) The minister may make regulations as follows:
(a) establishing a Provincial building code for British Columbia governing standards for the construction, alteration, repair or demolition of buildings;
(b) amending, adding to or varying for the purpose of this section the building code established under this section;
(c) adopting by reference, with the changes the minister considers necessary, all or part of any building code or standards for the construction, alteration, repair or demolition of buildings;
(d) regulating building generally for matters not included in the building code;
(e) exempting certain persons, buildings, classes of buildings, materials or areas either generally or for certain periods of time from the building code or regulations, and making other regulations for the persons, buildings, classes of buildings, materials or areas exempted;
(f) providing for the administration of the building code and other regulations under this section.
(2) Subject to the regulations under subsection (2.1), the building code and other regulations under subsection (1) apply to all municipalities and to regional districts or parts of them not inside a municipality, and have the same force and effect as a validly enacted bylaw of the municipality or regional district, as applicable.
What all that says to me, is that the City does not need a bylaw covering building standards. They are covered by the Provincial Building Code and the Local Government Act and must enforce it. After all, if there was a dangerous building in our town, it would be the responsibility of the City of Kelowna to condemn it.
I would phone the City back Libelle and try talking to as many people as it takes to get some clarification. As we all know, someone has to be responsible for enforcing the B.C. Building Code. That's why it exists. A landlord (and all owners of buildings in B.C.) must be held accountable to certain standards.
I love a challenge and this was surely it. Now I need to get a life. Good luck!