As a way to update and better enforce bylaw violations, the District of Sechelt has done an overhaul of its municipal ticket information regulations, which staff described in a report as being, “badly out of date and badly out of sync.”
At a March 19 council meeting, James Nyhus, chief building official for the district told council, staff went over the fines included in the bylaw notice and enforcement implementation bylaw, and part of that process was to increase damages considered too low to be an effective deterrent.
For example, the fine for construction without a permit within the building bylaw was $100, but if you paid it within two weeks, it became $50.
“Now that looks more like the cost of doing business to me before you obtain a permit, rather than a real deterrent,” said Nyhus. “And so that has subsequently been raised to $400, which is probably a better deterrent with no discount, no early payment option.”
The bylaw amendments also brings some fines up to $1,000, including violations for failure to obtain a building permit and disobeying the order of a building official. A full list of bylaw violation fines can be found here. Nyhus added, the changes put the district more in sync with other jurisdictions.
As well, early and late payment amounts were removed because they were difficult to process.
Nyhus said in the past, many people who received a bylaw violation ticket, tried to insist they should only have to pay the early payment amount — even if they were late.
“It was quite difficult, in particular for the front counter staff, to manage these inquiries, requests and expectations,” he said.
The bylaw amendments approved at the meeting affected municipal ticket information, bylaw notice enforcement implementation, the building bylaw, Porpoise Bay Harbour regulation, environmental management and protection, fireworks prohibition, mobile home parks, the pesticide bylaw, sign bylaw and open-air burning.
Nyhus noted the district always attempts to first seek compliance through voluntary measures before issuing fines.
“And fines really are a last resort. Unfortunately, and I go back to the building bylaw, there are some frequent flyers that need a better deterrent,” said Nyhus. “And I think part of it is word getting around, really, that it is a higher level of pain for contravening bylaws.”
The report also noted inconsistency in the naming conventions used in the bylaws was an issue, so going forward bylaws will be amended to no longer include “District of Sechelt” in the formal title for citation purposes.
