The City of Saskatoon through the administration of various programs and services, maintains documents, which may contain important historical information about commercial and residential properties.
A Building Information Abstract (BIA) is a document that outlines this information and is available to interested parties for a fee through the Building Standards Branch.
NOTE: If you require research conducted for a residential property only, but you do not have or cannot supply a Real Property Report or are not concerned with zoning bylaw compliance information, you may request a Property Information Disclosure (PID).
WHO CAN REQUEST A BIA?
Real estate agents, property owners, property purchasers, lending institutions and lawyers may request a BIA.
HOW TO APPLY
- Each individual property request requires an application form, available for pickup from the Building Standards Branch on the 3rd Floor, City Hall, or available for download above.
- The application must be accompanied by the appropriate application fee, or it will not be processed. Payment for the $50.00 application fee may be made by cash, debit, or cheque (payable to the City of Saskatoon).
- The application must be accompanied by a Real Property Report (signed and dated) or it will not be processed.
- Submit application, registration fee and any appropriate supporting materials to the Building Standards Branch, 222-3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0J5.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Once an application form and payment is received, Building Standards Branch staff will:
a) review the Real Property Report to determine zoning and building bylaw compliance;
b) research the property by checking information sources within our department.
Specifically, this will include a review of:
- Zoning maps
- Previously issued BIA's
- Written department correspondence
- Encroachment files and existing permit drawings on microfiche
- Outstanding orders and correction notices
- Outstanding building code deficiencies
- Outstanding or open building and plumbing permits carried by an inspector
- The history of building and plumbing permits
NOTE: The research that is performed for a BIA is limited to files that are currently available in the Community Services Department.
A minimum of three days is required to complete the final BIA report.
Reasons why a BIA may not be issued:
There are specific instances when a BIA will not be issued. In these cases a research letter outlining permit information, but not including any zoning data, will be sent and the application fee will be retained. This may occur:
- If the Real Property Report is illegible, missing the date, signature, measurements of the building(s), property or distance to the property lines, and/or major additions to the property which would affect the yard coverage or distances to property lines;
- If there are Building Code deficiencies at the time of the last inspection;
- And/or the department has major concerns regarding the use or on-going problems with the property.
THE FINAL REPORT
The Building Information Abstract final report for any commercial or residential property will include:
Location Information
- Site Address
- Legal Description
- Zoning Designation
- Heritage Designation
- Building Type or Occupancy Class
Permit and Order Information
- Building and Plumbing Permits
- Outstanding Deficiencies & Orders
- Fire, Health, Zoning and Infrastructure Services Department Orders
Zoning Information
- Zoning Designation
- Zoning Bylaw Compliance
NOTE: Where zoning non-compliance issues exist, the BIA report will contain, or be accompanied by, additional information that will explain the courses of action required to resolve the issue where necessary.
The information provided will reflect the results of existing City of Saskatoon building records ONLY and is provided for general information purposes.
Any reference to a building code deficiency indicates the condition of the property at the time of the last inspection.
Since a current site visit will not be performed, the City of Saskatoon cannot verify whether all buildings on the property comply with applicable codes and standards.
The BIA final report will be sent, as requested on the application form, by mail, email (Adobe Acrobat Reader required), fax or may be picked-up.