Dhaliwal Homes Ltd. faces 51 charges after building code investigation

The City of Calgary has laid 51 charges against Dhaliwal Homes Ltd.,its sole director and two agents alleging safety code and land use bylaw violationsthat could lead to jail time and huge fines.

The charges were laid following a three-month building services investigation into the construction of two semi-detached properties.

The company is accused of the followingsafety code violations:

• Building without a municipal building permit for both homes and the detached garages.
• Building without the necessary safety code inspections electrical, gas, plumbing and building.
• Knowingly submitting false and misleading information in relation to permits, inspections and permission to occupy.

Max fines up to $100Kper offence

Forty-nine of the charges relate to safety, while two are accusations the parties failed to comply with the city's land use bylaw.

The maximum penalties for Alberta Safety Code convictions are up to six months in jail and fines of up to $100,000 for eachoffence.

Convictions for violations of the Municipal Government Act are fines up to $10,000 per offence and a year in jail.

The city's manager of building safety says the goal is to ensure compliance and protect the public.

"The City of Calgary has zero tolerance for this type of building safety violation and will pursue charges when developers do not comply with the safety requirements," said Cliff de Jong in a written statement.

For Calgarians looking to buy a home, the city offers the following advice:

• Hire areal estate lawyer for any residential agreements in Calgary.
• Ask sellers to produce copies of their inspection report, building and trade permits for any new build or major upgrades to a home.
• Verify proof of credentials (business licence and builders' licence) of a residential developer beforesubmitting deposits or intent to purchase agreements.
• Homeowners can verify the zoning and permits for a prospective purchase by searching My Property.