Another two residential properties have been flagged by the City of Surrey for punitive action, after the owners illegally constructed and occupied the buildings without permits and in violation of municipal bylaws.
During a public meeting on Tuesday, Surrey City Council approved filing the notice on title to two properties.
“All of which were done without permits,” emphasized Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke.
“Surrey City Council is dedicated to upholding our community standards and protecting residents’ safety… Our recent actions against these properties demonstrate our ongoing commitment to enforce building bylaws and prevent illegal construction,” said Locke.
“I want to commend our Illegal Construction Enforcement Team for their diligent work in holding violators accountable. Ensuring all structures meet safety and permitting standards is essential to maintaining the character and security of our neighbourhoods.”
The property of 17669 40th Ave. — situated near the intersection of Pacific Highway and 40th Avenue, within the Agricultural Land Reserve area just west of Campbell Heights — had residential units that were constructed in what was originally proposed and approved to be a barn, according to City officials.
Exterior of the main house with a barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
“Stop Work Order” on June 29, 2023, for 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
“Stop Work Order” on July 19, 2023, for 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
Exterior of the barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
The City first became aware of this property’s unpermitted construction in June 2023, with City staff, including building inspectors, subsequently making numerous visits to the property. The City issued a “Stop Work Order” on the construction on June 29, 2023, and another repost on July 19, 2023, after it was apparent that construction was still ongoing, with progress made since the previous visit. Another “Stop Work Order” was posted on June 3, 2024, after the previous notice was removed from the property’s exterior.
A second floor was added inside the barn, creating five residential units. As well, it has a detached garage, two greenhouses, an attached carport to the main house, a high roof structure to the entry of the main house, and a shed structure near the barn. All of these constructed components have been deemed unpermitted by the City.
Original plans submitted to the City for approval show the barn building was intended for winter plant nursery plant storage uses, with a single floor containing 20-foot-high ceilings and a large oversized garage door.
Exterior of the main house with a barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
Exterior of the barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
Inside the barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
Inside the barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
Inside the barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
The owners acquired the property in 2015, and the City issued a building permit for the construction of a single-family house in 2019.
Two revised building permits were issued in 2020, and another building permit was issued in 2021 for the construction of a one-storey farm building — the barn.
“At this time, there is no realistic path for the Owners to obtain a building permit to retain a significant portion of the Unpermitted Construction in accordance with the Building Bylaw. The Unpermitted Construction was constructed without a valid and subsisting building permit issued by the City under the Building Bylaw,” reads a City staff report.
“The construction has progressed to a point where many essential elements are now obscured, preventing the necessary inspections by the City to confirm safety and compliance with the Building Bylaw and British Columbia Building Code.”
Inside the barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
Inside the barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
Inside the barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
Inside the barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
Inside the barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
Exterior of the main house with a barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
Application files showing a single-storey barn structure at 17669 40th Ave. (City of Surrey)
The other property now approved to be on notice is at 16460 93A Ave. within a single-family neighbourhood in the Guildford area.
The City has known about this property’s non-compliance issues since July 2020, with numerous visits made to inspect the property ever since.
The unpermitted construction includes a two-storey accessory building with a residential unit, a two-storey addition to the property’s main single-family house with a rooftop deck, three residential units in the basement of the house, a bedroom on the upper floor of the house, and a laundry room in the rear of the house.
Similarly, multiple “Stop Work Order” notices were posted for this property, including repostings after previous notices were removed.
“On Nov. 16, 2020, Officer Storey attended the Property in response to a complaint about construction after the issuance of a stop work order. Upon attending the Property, Officer Storey observed a stop work order posted to the front of the House. Officer Storey observed workers in matching green shirts appearing to drywall the inside of the Accessory Building. He also observed workers working on the siding of the Accessory Building,” reads a City staff report.
“Officer Storey spoke to the drywallers who provided their business name; however, their English was limited. Officer Storey advised all workers on site that there should be no further work. The workers complied and began packing up their gear.”
The notices on title placed on both properties serve to alert future potential buyers, lenders, and insurers about the property’s illegal construction and the potential risks associated with the properties.
According to the City, the municipal government’s 2022-created Illegal Construction Enforcement Team is dedicated to enforcing bylaws and targeting residential construction performed without permits, inspections, or compliance with safety standards. The City has also increased its fines for illegal building activities and sought compliance through court action.
Since July 2024, the City has held five special meetings for City Council that led to the filing of a notice on title on eight different properties impacting 16 property owners. This includes a December 2024 meeting to take punitive action against two houses with illegal construction.
Illegal construction at the house at 16460 93A Ave. (City of Surrey)
“Stop Work Order” on April 30, 2024, for 16460 93A Ave. (City of Surrey)
Illegal construction at the house at 16460 93A Ave. (City of Surrey)
Illegal construction at the house at 16460 93A Ave. (City of Surrey)
Illegal construction at the house at 16460 93A Ave. (City of Surrey)
Illegal construction at the house at 16460 93A Ave. (City of Surrey)