As presented by Councillor Landry-Altmann:
WHEREAS there are several properties across the City of Greater Sudbury which were slated for renovations/construction and were issued building permits, but have been left in a state of disrepair or abandoned for extended periods of time with open permits;
AND WHEREAS the Building Code Act, 1992, stipulates at Section 8(10) that:
(10) Subject to section 25, the chief building official may revoke a permit issued under this Act,
(a) if it was issued on mistaken, false or incorrect information;
(b) if, after six months after its issuance, the construction or demolition in respect of which it was issued has not, in the opinion of the chief building official, been seriously commenced;
(c) if the construction or demolition of the building is, in the opinion of the chief building official, substantially suspended or discontinued for a period of more than one year;
(d) if it was issued in error;
(e) if the holder requests in writing that it be revoked; or
(f) if a term of the agreement under clause (3) (c) has not been complied with. 1992, c. 23, s. 8 (10).
AND WHEREAS property owners adjacent to or near the properties which have been abandoned or left in a state of disrepair are frustrated by the lack of action to have these properties complete the required construction or be demolished;
AND WHEREAS the terms "seriously commenced" in Section 8(10)(b) and "substantially suspended or discontinued" in Section 8(10)(c) are vague and subject to interpretation, and do not provide definitive direction to the Chief Building Official;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the City of Greater Sudbury directs that staff present a report to City Council in the second quarter of 2023 which would provide information on what other municipalities are doing to address the problems with abandoned or derelict properties, as well as options/suggestions to have the language in the Building Code Act amended to provide Chief Building Officials with clear direction regarding the revocation of building permits.