The recent decision of Armstrong v. District of North Saanich, 2024 BCSC 1844 involved the District of North Saanich finding itself in the middle of a neighbour dispute. It is an important decision in confirming that the courts cannot and will not interfere with local government decisions so long as the local government can demonstrate it acted on the basis of at least one reasonable interpretation of the legislative framework granting it authority to act. Even where there is another reasonable interpretation of the legislative framework, even a stronger interpretation, that is not sufficient to authorize the Court to interfere with the local government’s decisions or actions. Click here to continue reading at sms.bc.ca

At 10:00 am on October 7, 2024, municipal tax collectors across British Columbia will conduct the statutorily mandated annual tax sale for 2024.  Properties with delinquent property tax accounts, which are those with three years of unpaid property taxes, will be sold to the highest bidder above the “upset price.” The upset price is the amount of outstanding taxes plus penalties, interest, costs, and fees. Click here to continue reading at sms.bc.ca

On June 17, 2024, in the judgment of R v Reid, 2024 BCSC 1044, Madam Justice Sharma of the British Columbia Supreme Court released her decision on what, at first blush, appears to be an undeniably odd question under appeal: is a guinea fowl a “fowl” for the purposes of Vancouver’s Animal Control Bylaw 9150 (The “Animal Control Bylaw”). Click here to continue reading at sms.bc.ca

In the recent decision Ironclad Developments Inc. v. West Kelowna (City), 2024 BCSC 1285, the Honourable Madam Justice Hardwick held that local governments do not owe procedural fairness rights to property owners when charging them latecomer fees. Click here to continue reading at sms.bc.ca

In the recent decision of St. John’s (City) v. Lynch, 2024 SCC 17, the Supreme Court of Canada clarified the law on constructive expropriation. The Court examined how zoning and land use regulations impact the compensation owed to a property owner for expropriation. Click here to continue reading at sms.bc.ca