A new page on the City of Moose Jaw’s website is aimed at helping those who are considering buying a commercial building, constructing a building, changing the use of a building, or starting a new business. 

“Start Here” goes through everything from national building codes to zoning bylaws within the city. 

Director of Planning and Development Michelle Sanson said even if you buy an existing commercial property, you should still look into the building zoning and if it is up to code. 

“Every time you change that use, you have to bring it up to today's National building code requirements, and some of those can be a little problematic. So, we want to make sure that we can catch some of that stuff ahead of time,” Sanson said. 

Along with answering frequently asked questions, the web page also has links to the appropriate forms, policies, and bylaws. 

Some common building code issues Sanson has seen include doors that should be swinging out and property window sizes for residential properties. 

Knowing the information provided on “Start Here” could ultimately save you money as zones and construction code issues could cause delays or would require “on-the-fly" renovations. 

“I just want to make sure that everybody is aware that we are here and that we're willing to help and get ahead of some of those issues before they get too far down the road. Some of them can be a financial constraint. So just trying to help everybody out,” Sanson said. 

More information can be found on the Start Here web page