WHAT HAPPENED?
An Albertan complained that a large municipality overcharged him when he applied for a permit to complete renovations on his basement suite. The City advised that it charged the penalty because the complainant did the work without first obtaining the necessary permits and approvals.
WHAT DID THE OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE DO?
Our investigator determined that the individual had not done any work prior to the permits he specifically applied for; however, historically his suite did not have the proper permits in place. The investigator found that the individual had applied for the correct permits, but the City charged him a penalty under the permit bylaw for an oversight that happened many years ago when he was not the owner. Rather than proceed directly to a full investigation, the investigator worked with the City to try and resolve this issue.
WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME?
The City agreed to reimburse the individual for the penalty and send him a letter explaining what happened. The City also agreed to review its bylaw and, in the meantime, change how it was enforcing the bylaw to ensure that no new penalties would be issued when a person applies for a permit in the proper manner.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Typically, when an investigator sees a systemic issue, like the unfair application of a bylaw across a City, it leads to a substantial and lengthy investigation. In this situation, the City was willing to engage and take proactive steps to address our office’s concerns. Our investigators conduct thorough, comprehensive analyses of complaints but we also recognize the value of efficient resolutions. With the City’s cooperation, we achieved a more administratively fair process quickly and effectively by engaging our early resolution process.
