RM of Meadow Lake wants to educate the public on development permits

The RM of Meadow Lake is preparing to clamp down on those who don’t follow regulations and build without permits. The concerns were brought up during council on March 14.

RM Administrator Gina Bernier said she believes they need to educate people on the acts and bylaws surrounding building construction.

“A lot of people are just naïve and don’t really understand the whole concept on how the rules work,” she said. “We as local government are required to enforce these acts as they have been sent down by the provincial and federal governments.”

The only way the RM can move away from the acts is for members of the public to go to the provincial and federal parties and request changes. However, Bernier said she doesn’t see that happening.

A building bylaw is in place which outlines standards people in the RM have to follow. A building official is appointed by the RM to go around to inspect properties, but Bernier said it’s up to the buildings to apply for a permit and tell the RM what they’re building.

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“In the case of a grainery or a farm shed, all they do is come in for a development permit application, fill it out, we look at it, it says a farm shed, so we say that is fine there, you don’t need a building permit for it.

“But if they come in for a garage, a house, or if you live on an acreage and you’re building a shed, you have to get a building permit.”

Bernier said those that don’t follow the RM’s acts and bylaws can face repercussions.

The RM is accepting applications for a by-law enforcement officer. They would have the authority to fine those that don’t follow the rules and regulations in place.

“We can go to the full extent of removing the building from their property and keeping it held in another spot until all the regulations are met,” Bernier said. “We don’t want to go there, we want to have compliance across the board. We want to work with our people.” 

Some applications sit on the shelf for two months or more, since council meetings discussing zoning and building happen once a month. Bernier said they are working to speed up the process.

Most of the information surrounding development and building permits can be found on the RM’s website or at their office.

cswiderski@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @coltonswiderski