Photo: www.csrd.bc.ca

After receiving official approval from the Provincial Inspector of Municipalities, Columbia Shuswap Regional District directors unanimously adopted bylaws to include Electoral Area C in the Building Inspection Service Area.

The implementation date for the new service in Electoral Area C (South Shuswap) will be March 4, 2019.

"This has been an interesting exercise in changing opinions over time. There is now strong support for building inspection in Area C, which is a complete reversal of a decade ago," said Paul Demenok, Electoral Area C director. "People have really realized the costs of not having it."

Local governments provide building inspection to ensure that residential, commercial, industrial and public buildings meet the minimum construction standards set out in the BC Building Code.

After March 4, 2019, six individual building inspections will take place on all applicable new developments in Electoral Area C.

The CSRD decided on inspections at six stages of construction, as six is considered the minimum number necessary to adequately ensure adherence to the BC Building Code.

By comparison, Revelstoke has 10 inspections, Salmon Arm requires eight (not including for fireplaces), while Sicamous also requires eight.