SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The issue of rules and regulations residents must follow when building on their own property has been front and centre at city hall in recent weeks.

It all began when city inspectors noticed a Yellowknife business had a storage quonset constructed on its property, which was built about five years ago without a development permit, prompting some councillors to wonder if the public knows the rules for building on their property.

"Perhaps the public is not aware of the need for development permits," city councillor David Wind said.

The quonset hut, composed mostly of fabric, is a large storage tent in the back left corner of the Corothers Home Building Centre's property, when viewed from Old Airport Road.

According to owner Chuck Corothers, since the Home Building Centre is heavily entrenched in the construction industry, the company is well aware of the rules for development. But the grey area was due to the type of structure the quonset hut is.

Corothers said a southern company that came up to build the quonset, meant to be only a temporary structure at the time, had told him the structure did not need a permit, as it was not a traditional warehouse - it was not fastened permanently to the ground, and it did not have plumbing or electricity. The structure is basically similar to a giant tent.

"It would be good to know (the bylaw) applies to any structure, but really the due diligence lays on us," said Corothers.

"I don't know that I can blame the city for (the confusion). We should have looked into it at the time that we did it."

The hut was only discovered to have been built without a permit when the business was applying for a development permit for a new warehouse.

The Home Building Centre has now applied for a development permit with the city to clear up the quonset hut situation, but it needs city council to approve some variances as the quonset was built closer to the property lines than the zoning bylaw allows.

"Its difficult to address a setback once the structure is already there," said Coun. Paul Falvo. A setback is the minimum distance a structure can be built from the property lines. In the area of Yellowknife where Home Building Centre is located, that distance is 3 metres. The quonset is located 1.37 metres away from one property line on one side, and 2.65 metres on another side.

Administration recommended council approve the variances, as there have been no complaints about the quonset in its five years of existence. Falvo said property owners must check the rules before building or making additions. Homeowners can be fined up to $2,000 for breaching the city's development rules; companies can be fined up to $10,000.

"I think it's fairly common knowledge that if you want to put a deck on your property you have to get a permit," said Falvo.

Coun. Cory Vanthuyne disagreed, saying he's not convinced people know the rules all that well, adding he would support an education campaign on development rule requirements to start this spring.

The variance request was approved unanimously by council on Monday.

Coun. Shelagh Montgomery and Coun. Lydia Bardak were absent.

- with files from Alyssa Smith