ZERO PERMITS, ZERO JUSTICE — West Vancouver's Double Standard
Published: August 2025 · By Tina Winterlik (Zipolita)
The facts
A newly constructed ~1,500 sq ft structure built over a creek in West Vancouver has been ordered demolished after municipal staff found it was constructed with no building permits and no inspections. The District gave the owners 60 days to remove the illegal structure. 0
Property records list the primary owners as: Naib Gerami and Ayesheh Mansouri, with Omid Gerami and Kamran Gerami named as additional owners. (These names are taken from property records and reporting; they are public information.)
There is no justice — and here’s why that matters
This case is more than one illegal build. It’s an example of a system that treats the wealthy and connected differently:
- Big, costly builds can be erected without permits and sometimes sit for months or years before enforcement catches up. The owners here didn’t appear in court — yet the structure still took months to be discovered and acted on. 1
- Meanwhile, poor people trying to live affordably in tents, tiny houses, or other small dwellings are often criminalized, fined, or forced out — sometimes facing immediate eviction or demolition for minor non-compliance. These are real people with few other options.
- The result: the rules feel selectively enforced. That’s not just unfair — it’s unsafe for our communities and our environment.
Why permits and inspections matter (when they’re actually enforced)
Permits and inspections exist to protect occupants, neighbours, and the natural environment:
- Ensure structural safety and fire protection.
- Protect creeks, setbacks, and sensitive ecosystems from damage.
- Keep neighbours informed and prevent dangerous short-cuts by contractors.
But rules only work if they apply equally. When the wealthy build big and dodge rules, while low-income households are shut down for tiny infractions, that’s not regulation — it’s injustice.
What you can do — concrete actions
We need community pressure and civic action, not vigilante justice. Here’s how to help make change legally and effectively:
- Share this post and the news articles so more residents know who’s involved and what happened. (See sources below.) 2
- Report suspected unpermitted construction to the District of West Vancouver bylaw enforcement. Public tips often start investigations.
- Contact your municipal councillor and demand regular public reporting on: enforcement actions, bylaw complaint outcomes, and any business or contractor licensing tied to repeat offenders.
- Avoid spending money with businesses tied to these owners until the record is clear — and encourage friends and community groups to do the same.
- Push for fair housing rules that allow safe, affordable tiny homes and clarify provincial/regional standards so low-income people aren’t criminalized for trying to keep a roof over their head.
Legal and ethical note
This post sticks to verifiable facts reported by news outlets and property records. It does not allege criminal activity beyond the official finding that the structure was built without permits and inspections. If you have more verified information about business ties or corporate filings for the named owners, we will cite those sources directly.
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