New Grow-Op Bylaw to Enhance Public Safety
June 14, 2005
City Council approved the new Property Maintenance & Repair Bylaw No. 7897 to go forward to final adoption scheduled for the June 27 Council meeting, to further enhance public safety and recover costs associated with illegal marijuana operations.
If adopted by Council on June 27, this new “grow-op” bylaw would take effect on July 1, 2005, and holds property owners and management companies responsible for inspecting properties at least once every three months to ensure no controlled substance operations are found. If, for example, marijuana operations are found and not reported to the City within 48 hours, persons responsible for the property will be responsible for costs associated with the investigation, dismantling, permits, utility services, inspections and cleaning of the premise. Costs would also apply if the property owner does not inspect the premise and a grow-op is found. Further, this bylaw also serves to make landlords more acutely aware of their responsibility to periodically check their properties and report illegal activity, and will demonstrate to criminals that Richmond is a less attractive community in which to set up their illegal operation.
“Council is pleased to see this bylaw come to fruition to further enhance community safety,” says Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “Creation of this bylaw is another mechanism to discourage this type of illegal activity in our neighbourhoods, and to ensure our citizens are not paying the bill for the investigation or take-down of these illegal operations.”
Richmond is following a number of Lower Mainland municipalities that have adopted increasingly tougher bylaws to deal with grow-ops and clandestine laboratories. Marijuana grow operations are becoming increasingly difficult to detect due to new techniques employed by growers to conceal their illegal operations from the City, the public and the police.
“Collaborating with the City on the creation of this bylaw reiterates our co-ordinated and proactive approach to public safety,” says Richmond RCMP Superintendent Ward Clapham. “We want to send a clear message that grow-ops are not welcome in Richmond, and those who engage in this illegal activity will be subject to the appropriate consequences.”
If adopted, Property owners and landlords are strongly encouraged to obtain a copy of this bylaw prior to July 1, 2005. Copies should be available after June 28th at City Hall or on this website in the City Bylaws section.
Please see the City Council Agendas and Minutes section for more information on the June 27th Council Meeting. Agendas are usually posted late on the Friday preceeding the meetings.
