18 Apr CHECKLIST: 9 things to do if you get a stop work order
Stop work orders on residential construction in Vancouver became quite prominent in 2015, when building was booming. At the time, homeowners were either unaware of the permits required for these structures, or were skipping the permit application process altogether, in order to complete the project faster.
A stop work order will likely be issued if you do not have a permit to build a house or other structure on your property. You could also be served with one for certain financial reasons, or if you have the wrong type of permit… or if you fail to follow safety regulations, like what happened at Trump Tower. This guide covers the risks of building without a permit.
If you have received a stop work order on your project, this checklist will guide you on nine things to do in order to get your work back on track as quickly and smoothly as possible.
What to do if you get a stop work order for your Vancouver-area project
- Stop all work immediately. If you do not, you could face even heavier fines and potentially more serious action by your municipality.
- Call your municipality. Clarify the exact reason(s) your stop work order was issued.
- Review the information in the stop work order to confirm for yourself that the local construction laws and permit requirements have been violated.
- Apply for the correct permits if applicable. You’ll want to do this as soon as possible to avoid extra delays in the process.
- Speak with your general contractor or builder. They may be able to provide some solutions and should work with you to remedy the situation.
- Fix the problem. Usually this means applying for the required permit(s); however, in some cases, it may require you (or your team) to undo some work that has already been completed, or install safety measures that were missed beforehand.
- Order a new inspection for the property. This should be done by requesting an inspection from your municipality’s Building Department, and must be completed by an approved inspector.
- Pay the designated fine for the stop work order in order to have the order lifted. If you would like assistance with this process, please call us at 604-876-3738 so we can help you and even work with the municipality to have the stop work order lifted on your behalf.
- Resume the work.
The effect of stop work orders
It is always best to avoid a stop work order by following the correct process for building or renovating your home. Stop work orders are expensive and can cause serious delays for your project.
Be informed about what is required by working with an experienced and recommended general contractor or builder. You can also read important information about stop work orders from most municipalities in the Greater Vancouver Area by calling your Building Official, or reviewing the requirements online before you begin.