Vernon residents considering putting a garage, garden shed, flagpole or any other structure in their front yard may want to think again.
Bylaw Enforcement Officers often get complaints for people placing secondary structures on their front yard. Typical secondary structures may include: large propane tanks, flagpoles, garages, portable garages, canvas carports and garden sheds.
“A lot of people don’t realize that a front setback includes both the front yard and the front driveway,” said Clint Kanester, manager of bylaw enforcement. “Secondary structures are not permitted on either.”
The zoning bylaw dictates that secondary buildings or structures, excluding fences, are not permitted in a front yard or front driveway.
A secondary building or structure means: A separate building or structure, normally ancillary, incidental, subordinate, and located on the same lot as the main building or structure.
The city responds by complaint to these concerns, and ultimately if the owner doesn’t remove a structure as requested, the city may proceed with the removal and all associated costs will be billed to the property owner or collected through property taxes in accordance with the Community Charter.
Non-compliance may also result in a ticket.
For further information, contact the Bylaw Section at 250-550-3505.
