BEFORE PURCHASING FUTURE BUILDINGS - BEWARE OF YOUR LOCAL BUILDING REGULATIONS
I purchased a 20x24 steel building for wood/tool storage it was delivered in March 2023 Please note you should check ALL regulations required prior to a purchase of a building.
I had called RDOS and was NOT INFORMED OF ALL THE REQUIREMENTS I would need PRIOR To breaking ground for this shed.
Future buildings supply engineer approval on the design of the building, you still require a structural engineer to approve the SITE where you will put the building and the construction of the foundation and the building itself (2 additional visits while building it).
Unfortunately, I live in BC Canada where the regulations from the Regional District (RDOS) are outrageous. Therefore, since January 2023, I've had to apply for a Riparian Area Permit which was done immediately.
Then the report was submitted to RDOS and I was told I had to wait for Victoria to approve the site. This took 6 months for Victoria to approve.
Then I submitted my paperwork to RDOS for the building permit to find out I needed a structural engineer to approve the foundations plan and the building site .
Then RDOS required that I have a waiver for a Water Development permit for an underground stream on my neighbors property close to our building site.
Finally, I was made to apply for a Development Variance Permit which required a LAND SURVEYOR to submit a drawing as part of our permit process. The LAND SURVEYOR has to come and stake out the property and the location of the building to ensure we are within REGULATED BOUNDARIES. I was zoned Resource Area (RA) which required 7.5 meters on ALL sides of my building. I don't have space for this and therefore, could not build without this Development Variance Permit. We asked to have the space changed to 3 Meters toward my neighbor, and 5 meters from the property line . The development variance permit included notifying neighbors I was putting up a shed and asking for objections (6 week process from application to approval).
But I am still not done, the RDOS says they need an additional 4 weeks to review my building permit application and so MAYBE in November 2023, I will finally get a BUILDING PERMIT to put up the building I purchased in December 2022.
Putting down cement in November.... hmmm going to cost me more because they will have to pour it and make sure it cures in the cold months, pray I don't get a blizzard in the middle of construction.
Due to the cost of the building, I purchased one that we would have to build both ends. We anticipated doing this ourselves however, need to have it completed at the time of the shed installation - So this is an additional cost.
So far I am up to about $5000 in cost for permits ( Which if I had not shopped around would be $8000 for what people wanted to charge me) and an entire year of lost storage and use. So the GOOD DEAL -PURCHASE OF FUTURE BUILDING - in the end, I'm saving nothing and it's an expensive shed to get installed if you live in BC.
I will not know how I like the structure until I get it up and filled with our wood and tools.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $17,000.00
- Company Response
Sorry to hear your local building dept gave you such a hard time. Hopefully having our engineering made it easier than it would have been otherwise.