New Home Construction
As of April 1, 2009, the HPO has launched a new system for Licensed Residential Builders and home warranty insurance providers to register and enroll new homes online.
The Homeowner Protection Act prohibits a municipality or regional district from issuing a building permit for new home construction unless the applicant provides proof of being a licensed residential builder and that the home is covered by home warranty insurance (if required), or the applicant provides proof that the Act or Regulations excludes the applicant or the home from licensing and/or home warranty insurance. The “proof” referred to above is a HPO New Home Registration Form, valid for enrolled homes or Owner Builder Authorizations.
Those residential builders constructing new homes in unincorporated areas are still expected to be licensed and provide home warranty coverage on any new homes they build. This includes obtaining a HPO New Home Registration Form(s) either for enrolled homes or authorized as an owner builder.
Building Envelope Renovation
In order to obtain a building permit for building envelope renovations applicable to the regulations, building envelope renovators will have to prove that they are licensed as a Building Envelope Renovator through the Homeowner Protection Office and that they have obtained home warranty insurance on the proposed renovation.
Licensed Building Envelope Renovators must complete an HPO Building Renovation Schedule which is available through the HPO and the home warranty insurance providers. This form must be stamped by the warranty provider to confirm home warranty insurance is in place for the proposed renovation.
The completed HPO Building Renovation Schedule should be presented at the building permit counter when applying for a building permit. The building official will accept the completed schedule as confirmation that the renovation will be conducted by a Licensed Building Envelope Renovator and that home warranty insurance has been obtained for the renovation.
The Licensed Building Envelope Renovator will retain the pink copy of the HPO Building Renovation Schedule for their records.
