Rural residents who want to use site-cut lumber graded might soon be able to do so.
The Regional District of Nanaimo last year adopted building inspection service and permit bylaws for electoral areas that were previously not covered. The bylaws came into effect April 1.
But consultations with residents showed interest in site-cut lumber for construction and the RDN decided to explore the issue.
During a recent committee of the whole meeting, directors agreed to provide a referral service instead of training and certifying staff to inspect it. The motion must now go to the board for final approval.
Meanwhile building permit and inspection requests are slowly coming in, but are expected to pick up more during the summer, said Tom Armet, manager building, bylaw and emergency services.
The bylaws were met with vocal opposition when first discussed, but the RDN said it represented a small number of citizens in the areas affected.
Armet said there is still some opposition to the bylaw and he believes some people might be building structures without the permits required, but that the RDN isn’t actively cracking down.
“We’re not out there in the community scouting out violations to the building code but if someone brought it to our attention we would follow up with staff,” said Armet.
The bylaws cover electoral areas A (Cassidy, Cedar, Yellowpoint and South Wellington); C (Extension, Arrowsmith-Benson, East Wellington and Pleasant Valley); F (Coombs, Hilliers and Errington); and H (Shaw Hill, Qualicum Bay, Deep Bay and Bowser).
For more information, please go to www.rdn.bc.ca or call 250-390-6530.