WHEREAS development appeal fees do not cover the costs to hear an appeal; and

WHEREAS these costs are absorbed by the rural municipality (RM) and eventually all the ratepayers; and

WHEREAS some RMs feel that there is not alternative to fine ratepayers for contravening the zoning bylaw other than by going through a lengthy process as presently outlined in The Planning and Development Act, 2007; and

WHEREAS some rural municipalities are experiencing problems with collecting development/building permit and inspection fees from ratepayers, there would be an ability to add these fees to the tax roll similar to what is allowed under Section 369 of The Municipalities Act;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Provincial Government, specifically the Ministry of Government Relations, to discuss these matters and to make changes to existing legislation that will allow rural municipalities some flexibility in recovering costs from ratepayers that contravene the development process and The Planning and Development Act, 2007.

View the response from the Ministry of Government Relations