City makes progress on Building Permit backlog

This year’s Building Permit delay was significantly affected by several factors including the 2023 and 2024 Land Lottery building applications being received at the same time, as well as two unexpected departures from within our Building Inspections team in March and May, just as permit application volume increased.

• With the loss of two Building Officials, local job recruitments went unfilled, so the City is currently undertaking a Canada-wide search to backfill the unanticipated vacancies.

• The City reached out to the Government of Yukon Building Safety to determine if they have any available staff who might be able to assist.

• LBS identified three external consultants to conduct plan reviews.

• Other City departments are providing administrative assistance.

• Former Building Officials have been brought in from other departments to assist.

• The City has initiated an application pre-review to inform applicants sooner if their application is incomplete, before a full plan review is carried out.

• We've initiated Remote Virtual Inspections for select projects. This initiative involves the remotely-located building official being on-site virtually with the builder to conduct the site inspection, saving on travel time and providing more timely inspections.

• This fall, the City intends on providing informational sessions to the local building community on how plan reviews are conducted, what Building Officials do, and how we all might enhance permit application timelines.

• This City has sent a letter to Government of Yukon advocating for an extension to the building commitment timeline for lots sold pursuant to Land Lotteries.