Whereas in 2003 and 2011 UBCM endorsed resolutions calling for legislative changes so local governments can issue municipal ticket information or bylaw violation notices for contraventions of the prohibition on altering land in designated development permit areas, or contrary to issued development permits, but these changes have not yet occurred; And whereas in British Columbia, designation of development permit areas is the main legislative mechanism for addressing protection of riparian and environmentally sensitive area and for protecting development from hazardous conditions such as erosion: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the provincial government to improve the enforceability of development permit area requirements by enabling local governments to enforce violations by way of prosecution, ticket or bylaw notices.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is aware of the concern raised in the resolution and that there have been previous resolutions in relation to enforcement in development permit areas. Some local governments enforce development permit violations through initiating prosecution, ticket or bylaw notices where the development permit requirements are established in a regulatory manner in the bylaw. For example, some local governments have included development permit rules in the matters that can be enforced under their Municipal Ticket Information bylaws. This authorizes these local governments to ascertain compliance with development permit requirements. The Ministry will continue to monitor this issue to determine if additional clarity is needed.