Halifax officials are investigating after a house was demolished on Quinpool Road before the developer was given the OK to do so.

The two-storey house at 6860 Quinpool Rd., between Prince Arthur Street and Armview Avenue, came down on Nov. 16 after power was disconnected a day earlier.

When surprised neighbours called city hall, a check of the paperwork revealed the property had been razed without a permit.

"The contractor believed he had a permit. That was a mistake," said Brendan Elliott, a city spokesman. "As soon as that was brought to their attention, they came in, applied for a permit and it was granted."

This is what the property looks like now. (Submitted)

The contractor was hired by Steve Tsimiklis, the head of Tsimiklis Holdings Ltd. and owner of the property.

Michael Moore, Tsimiklis's lawyer, said in an email that his client applied to the municipality for a number of demolition permits for different properties in July, including the home that was torn down. Permits were issued for most of the properties. Moore said his client believed the demolition permit was in place when the Quinpool house was demolished.

Moore said Tsimiklis contacted the municipality and provided the necessary information as soon as he learned the permit had not been issued.

2 years to lay a charge

Elliott said the contractor had a list of 11 properties to tear down. As the work was insured, the contractor assumed the proper documentation was in place.

"We have two years to lay a charge," said Elliott. "The bottom line is that house was demolished without a permit."

The charge in question would be for violation of a city bylaw.

This is what the property looked like in June 2015. (Google Maps)

It isn't known what the plans are for the site.

Tsimiklis was also involved in the demolition of two large homes on Young Avenue. Work began on one of them before a tenant had moved out, so a stop-work order was issued. The home was eventually demolished earlier this month.