Those suite deals may cost you dearly
Kamloopsians who try, and fail, to sneak secondary suites into newly built homes without proper rezoning could face a greater financial hit in the new year.
Coun. Pat Wallace plans to bring in a motion that would see those homeowners pay three or four times the usual fee for a rezone.
At present, homeowners must pay twice as much for a rezoning application if the city building inspector discovers they’re building an illegal suite in their new home.
That was the case for a home at 1258 Copperhead Dr. in Dufferin, which came to council after building inspectors discovered a suite during a final home inspection.
“We seem to get more people building large houses and doing this because it’s easier to get permission after the fact,” Wallace said.
Once council reconvenes in January after the holiday break, Wallace said she will move to see stiffer financial penalties put in place for homeowners who try to skirt zoning bylaws.
“We get some very, very large houses.
“Some of the neighbours are quite distressed when they see them going up, and they say they’re all family and then they’re back [at council for rezoning]” she said.
Council agreed to move the rezoning for Copperhead Drive to public hearing.
In addition to paying extra for that application, the homeowners will also have to pay double for a building permit for the secondary suite.
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