Surrey plans two-pathway approach to illegal building enforcement
First-time offenders may get a warning letter instead of an immediate stop work order under new pilot program.
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Surrey is testing a new two-pathway model for dealing with unpermitted construction, rolling out a one-year pilot program that balances enforcement with compliance.
The first pathway kicks in when a building official detects unpermitted work that poses an immediate and serious life-safety concern, or when an owner has refused to comply with city deadlines or ignored requests to stop work. In these cases, a stop work order is issued immediately.
The second pathway applies when there's no immediate life-safety issue. Instead of a stop work order, property owners get a warning and compliance letter. The letter requests that work cease and gives the owner a reasonable period to apply for permits or bring the construction into compliance. It includes clear instructions, contact information for city staff, and resources to help owners understand next steps.
The letter sets out two options: submit a complete permit application by a deadline, or apply for a permit to demolish the unpermitted work. If construction continues after the letter is sent or if no permit application is made by the deadline, the city escalates to a stop work order.
City staff said the goal is to encourage voluntary compliance without weakening building safety standards. The approach recognizes that some illegal builds can be regularized through the permit process, particularly when the owner is a first-time offender. The pilot runs for one year.