Port Coquitlam property owners are being told to keep a close eye on their tenants' activities — or face fines from the city.
On Monday, council is expected to give three readings to change the zoning bylaw that would give the city power to crackdown on landlords who are renting out their premises for illegal uses.
That means owners of residential, commercial and industrial land or buildings will be held responsible if a prohibited use is established — including "all cannabis-related businesses that do not comply with federal legislation," PoCo's bylaw manager Dan Scoones told The Tri-City News Thursday.
Scoones was referring to Cannabis Culture, the pot shop that opened four months ago at Lougheed Highway and Shaughnessy Street, which has been fined $150 a day for the past week for not having a business licence.
Mayor Greg Moore said council has dealt with a number of "undesirable" properties recently and amending the zoning bylaw would give the municipality more tools to force the landlords to comply.
"We've had a few incidents over the last many years where there are troublesome residents who are renting," the mayor said. "We try to involve the land owner about the criminal activity but many times they don't live in the community and/or don't do anything about it."
Moore said council gets "extremely frustrated" about the ongoing criminal activities, which can impact the neighbourhood.
Currently, in the zoning bylaw, a tenant cannot conduct illegal activities such as selling drugs in a home; however, there's no language to penalize the property owner.
But under the amended bylaw, if an owner if found liable, fines will be placed on their property tax bill if they don't pay or clean up, Moore said. And, after five years of non-compliance, the city has the ability to sell the land and collect the proceeds, he said.
In his committee report, Scoones wrote the matter came up while council was considering legal action against an occupier of a commercial building at 1388 Dominion Ave.
"When the resolutions were being sent forward, it was noted the the bylaw did not apply to owners who either fail to prevent — or knowingly allow — the illegal use of their property," he wrote.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
