In a highly rare move, the City of Surrey announced today that it is taking punitive action against the homeowners of two single-family houses.
According to the municipal government, the homeowners have “illegally constructed and occupied the buildings without permits,” which is in clear violation of the City’s Building Bylaw.
In a meeting on Monday, Surrey City Council unanimously sided with the recommendations of City staff to file notices on titles against the two properties, which are located in different neighbourhoods.
One property is 5858 140th Street in South Newton. This is a 2017-built, two-storey single-family house, plus a basement. Sitting on a lot size of 6,022 sq ft, the house has 3,738 sq ft of indoor living space featuring six bedrooms and six bathrooms.
According to BC Assessment, as of the July 2023 roll, this property has an assessed value of $1.859 million, including $1.175 million for the land and $684,000 for the structure.
5858 140th Street, Surrey. (Google Maps)
5858 140th Street, Surrey. (Google Maps)
The other property in question is located at 16653 31B Avenue in Grandview Heights. It is a two-storey single-family house, plus a basement, built in 2021.
On a lot size of 10,000 sq ft, it has an indoor living space of 4,795 sq ft, including seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms.
It has an assessed value of $3.038 million, including $1.754 million for the land and $1.284 million for the structure.
16653 31B Avenue, Surrey. (Google Maps)
16653 31B Avenue, Surrey. (Google Maps)
However, the municipal government’s notices on the titles of both properties are intended to “alert potential buyers, lenders, and insurers about the illegal construction and the potential risks with the property.” This could have an impact on the assessed value and potential price of the properties, as under the City’s powers, it flags “unauthorized structures on a property that were built without the necessary building permits or inspections.”
Since 2022, the municipal government’s Illegal Construction Enforcement Team has been dedicated to enforcing the City’s bylaws and targeting residential construction performed without permits, inspections, or compliance with safety standards.
“Today’s decisions by Surrey City Council reaffirm our commitment to curb illegal construction that jeopardizes the safety of our community,” said Mayor Brenda Locke in a statement this afternoon.
“By taking action against these properties, we protect not only the character of our neighbourhoods, but also the well-being of our residents. I want to acknowledge the Illegal Construction Enforcement Team for their efforts in holding accountable those who attempt to circumvent necessary permits and safety regulations.”
Although such circumstances are unusual, there is some recent precedent for how some other municipal governments have handled situations where houses are built illegally without permits.
In November 2017, a luxury single-family house in West Vancouver was forcibly demolished following a years-long court battle by the District of West Vancouver beginning in 2017 to have the property demolished. It was built without the necessary permit approvals and inspections.