No Zoning Doesn't Always Mean No Rules

 Many rural properties in BC are excluded from zoning bylaws by their respective Regional Districts and are simply referred to as No Zoning areas on maps. However, if you read the fine print, most Regional Districts will inform you that there are still requirements. This example is taken from the Mount Waddington Regional District site:

“While there is no Building Bylaw in effect outside of the communities of Coal Harbour, Hyde Creek, Malcolm Island and Woss, that requires a Building Permit or Site Permit to be applied for and issued for new construction, all construction must meet the requirements of the BC Building Code.”

This may seem to be a bit too much structure for someone who just wants to go build a cabin in a remote location, However there are some good reasons to pay attention, and not just because all buildings built in BC are required to meet the BC Building Code.

While we might want, and plan for, our recreational or remote property to stay in the family for generations, sometimes life happens. If you need to sell a property that you have built on within 10 years of the building being completed, you have to have a Home warranty (Homeowner Protection Act governed by BC Housing) in order to be able to sell. This is becoming more of an issue, and there are properties that cannot be sold right away because they don't have a home warranty or Owner Builder Authorization. Rectifying this, when possible, can take time and cause frustration for someone who needs to sell the property.

Insurance premiums are constantly on the rise and getting insurance for a remote property can be a challenge. Building it to code may help your chances of getting insured.

A lot of the basic Building Code is around safety issues. In remote areas where services such as fire departments and emergency support are minimal or non-existent following the code may help keep both the property and the people using it protected and as safe as possible.

Education and information are key, wherever you want to build in BC.

Resources:

https://www.bchousing.org/licensing-consumer-services

http://www.bccodes.ca/building-code.aspx?vid=QPLEGALEZE:bccodes_2012_view (A copy of the BC Building Codes is likely in your local library as well, or at your city/village/regional district office)

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

No Zoning and the Implications

Many rural properties in BC are excluded from zoning bylaws by their respective Regional Districts and are simply referred to as No Zoning areas on maps. However, if you read the fine print, most Regional Districts will inform you that there are still requirements. This example is taken from the Mount Waddington Regional District site:
"While there is no Building Bylaw in effect for the rural area that requires a Building Permit or Site Permit be applied for and issued for new construction, building construction must meet the requirements of the BC Building Code."

While this may seem to be a bit too much structure for someone who just wants to go build a cabin in a remote location, there are some good reasons to pay attention. And all buildings built in BC are required to meet the BC Building Code.

No matter how we might want our recreational or remote property to stay in the family for generations, sometimes life happens. If you need to sell a property that you have built on within 10 years of the building being completed, you have to have an HPO warranty (Homeowner Protection Office) in order to be able to sell. And they want to see a property built to code. This is becoming more of an issue, as there are properties right now that cannot be sold because they don't meet the HPO requirements.

Insurance premiums are constantly on the rise, and getting insurance for a remote property can be a challenge. Building it to code may help your chances of getting insured.

A lot of the basic Building Code is around safety issues. As the property is in a remote location and likely to be unoccupied at least some of the time, following the code in these instances will help keep the property protected and as safe as possible.

Resources:
http://www.hpo.bc.ca/
http://www.bccodes.ca/building-code.aspx?vid=QPLEGALEZE:bccodes_2012_view

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

Building a Recreational or Remote Residence

Remote and recreational properties often sit outside major population centres and outside municipal zoning areas, providing little direction for those wanting to build. While at one time this meant people simply built what they wanted, now-a-days you have to consider if you might want to re-sell the property.

The Home Protection Office in BC now requires that all new homes built in the province, no matter where or the building rules (or lack thereof) imposed by local regional powers, must have warranty for 10 years. This means either they are built by a home warranty-approved builder who knows all the requirements, or a home owner can apply for a home builder permit and is then bound to build the home to meet all requirements.

If the home is offered for sale within the 10 years of being built, the home must be accompanied by a Home Warranty. For more information on this, visit the HPO website.

Whether you're buying a newly built cottage/vacation home/remote residence or planning on building your own, this is another step in making sure your investment in paradise is secure and safe.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!