Is it true that the City changed a policy so buildings are not inspected anymore?
In 2018, the City updated its Building Bylaw to include the ability to use the professional reliance model. This was in response to customers indicating there was a duplication of work that was already being completed by the qualified professionals (engineers and architects) working on their projects. The professional reliance model requires that applicants meet standards set out in the BC Building Code and in the City of Prince George’s Building Bylaw. It also makes qualified professionals responsible for submitting the necessary reporting documentation.
The professional reliance process is used throughout the province by numerous municipalities. We are currently using professional reliance on buildings that fall under Part 3 of the BC Building code: Commercial, Multi-Family, and Industrial buildings which are more than three storeys and have a building area greater than 600 square metres. We are continuing to refine the process at this time.
Staff were advised on February 16, 2023 of the final step for full implementation of the processes initiated with the bylaw changes in 2018. This was one part of a process review addressing redundancies, efficiencies, and regulatory compliance that had been on-going for months in cooperation with the City’s customer base and the building inspection team.
While building inspectors find deficiencies in Part 3 buildings from time to time there is no evidence to indicate those deficiencies were not already being addressed by the qualified professional or the developer.
The City does not keep cumulative records on the total number of deficiencies City building inspectors find, however on a per-project basis a deficiency may be documented as a requirement for final occupancy permits to be issued.
The safeguards in place under the professional reliance model is the seal of the highly educated, certified professionals (e.g. architects and engineers) who sign off on the projects in their area of expertise.
The implication that the City should not accept the expert opinions of architects, engineers and other qualified professionals is not in keeping with basic development principles, regulations, or legislation.
The Municipal Insurance Association of BC conducted a Building Bylaw Project for their members in 2002. The City of Prince George is not a member of MIABC, but the Prince George professional design and review approach adopted in the 2018 bylaw is based on the MIABC principles that have been relied on as the gold standard by municipalities in BC for over 20 years.