OWNERS OF HOMES WITH GROW-OPS OR LABS MAY BE HIT WITH BIG CLEANING BILLs

Residences where marijuana was grown or methamphetamine manufactured could
be declared unfit to live in if a proposed bylaw is adopted in Port Coquitlam.

The city is considering requiring owners of such homes to pay thousands of
dollars for repairs and inspections before occupancy is allowed.

Under the proposed bylaw, police would inform the city when a grow-op or
lab has been dismantled, and the owner would be ordered to have the
premises professionally cleaned within 30 days, and inspected to ensure
mould, toxins and other health hazards are cleaned up. The bylaw may
require an inspection by a licensed industrial hygienist -- at a cost of
'tens of thousands of dollars,' according to a staff report -- and to pay a
$300 inspection fee to the city.

Marijuana grow-ops degrade houses and apartments, according to police:
pesticides and other chemicals are used and absorbed into finishings;
excessive humidity can cause structures to rot or develop toxic moulds;
electrical systems are frequently altered, which, if not repaired, pose a
serious threat to the safety of future occupants.

There are an estimated 300 to 800 grow-ops in Tri-City.

Although many landlords are stunned to learn what their tenants have been
up to, several houses have been the scene of repeated busts.

'If we find some small grow-op for personal use and the [RCMP] members
decide it's simple possession and dismantle it, my guess is the city won't
even hear about it,' said Insp. Dave Debolt of Coquitlam RCMP.

Port Coquitlam is the first city in B.C. to consider requiring landlords to
be responsible for the post-bust livability of their property although
several, including PoCo, charge back some police or fire department costs.
The proposed bylaw has already been approved by the provincial government,
said Jim Maitland, treasurer/deputy administrator.

'The ministry of health expects other municipalities to follow, so it took
a close look at it,' he said.