Question: when is a building not a building?

NEWS — When is a building not a building?

When it has no walls.

That was the argument put forward by a Yellowhead Highway couple Thursday as they tried to convince the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board they shouldn’t have to take out a building permit for a farm structure.

Roy and Jane McKay appeared before the board of directors opposing a recommendation from staff that a notice be filed on the land title of 1700 Yellowhead South Highway that the structure was built without a permit.

The Section 57, as it’s called, serves as an alert to prospective future buyers of a property.

Roy MacKay contended the new structure doesn’t meet the definition of a building and shouldn’t need a permit. “There’s no reason to have a building permit. None. The majority of these things do not have building permits,” he said.

He said Webster’s dictionary defines a building as having a roof and walls. His building isn’t intended for human occupation and the walls aren’t closed in. The MacKays don’t have farm status, which would have relaxed the permit requirements.

“If I were in that building and it fell down would it hurt me?” asked Cache Creek director John Ranta.

“No, it wouldn’t hurt you; you’d be trespassing,” answered MacKay, who then added that it has engineered trusses and “The building’s safe.”

“I’m not convinced,” said Ranta.

The board voted to file the Section 57.