Vancouver city staff propose new bylaw to ensure abandoned buildings are maintained
City staff compiled 15 case studies in support of the proposed regulations and enforcement measures
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Vancouver city staff are proposing a bylaw to hold owners of abandoned and vacated buildings responsible for taking care of them so they don’t fall into disrepair and become fire and health hazards.
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The recommendation comes a year after council voted to demolish a dilapidated heritage building in downtown owned by a high-profile developer. It had been sitting empty for over a decade and was at risk of collapsing.
After reviewing records for boarded-up properties and the city’s response to 3-1-1 complaints, city staff compiled 15 case studies in support of the proposed regulations and enforcement measures.
They also identified 50 “problematic properties” that they said would benefit from a more coordinated response.
“Some of these buildings pose substantial risks to public safety and health, including infestations, compromised structural integrity, faulty electrical and plumbing systems, increased fire hazards, and the potential to attract illegal activity or unauthorized occupancy,” according to the staff report going to council Wednesday.
“When left unmanaged, they also place a significant burden on city resources while removing housing stock and delaying redevelopment.”
Under the proposed bylaw, property owners would be required to maintain roofs and building envelopes, keep properties free of pests, maintain fire alarms and sprinkler systems, and secure buildings against unauthorized entry. Failure to comply could result in municipal citations and fines of up to $3,000, as well as court-ordered penalties.
Earlier this year, the city moved to demolish a century-old former rooming house at 500 Dunsmuir St. that was owned by Holborn Properties. At the time, a Holborn representative said the company had long-held intentions to redevelop the site and had been in extended discussions with the city. It had owned the building since 2006.
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But the city deemed the building to be a danger to public safety with a collapsed roof, rotted frames and floors, and non-functioning sprinkler and alarm systems. The neglect was captured in vivid detail in a staff report that said there was “pigeon-guano inches deep in places.”
The order to demolish that building came with a suggestion from council to staff to build an inventory of vacated buildings and a process for monitoring them.
Saul Schwebs, the city’s chief building official, said in an email this week the proposed bylaw, if approved, would close enforcement gaps and ensure that empty properties don’t become long-term liabilities for the community.
“Abandoned and long-vacated buildings are increasingly posing safety risks here in Vancouver. We’re seeing more properties sit empty for extended periods due to redevelopment cycles, ownership changes, and market conditions,” Schwebs said.
“When buildings are not maintained or properly secured, they can deteriorate, attract trespassing, and create hazards for the surrounding community. At the moment, our ability to intervene early is limited, which means problems can escalate before we are in a position to take appropriate action.”
City staff declined to provide Postmedia with a list of the problematic vacated buildings they have identified.
The city said that “properties may be part of ongoing safety assessments and potential enforcement actions, and sharing specific locations could affect site security and owner privacy.”
With files from Dan Fumano
