The mayor of a town in eastern Newfoundland isn't budging on a stop-work order that halted construction of a home that exceeded its margin by just nine centimetres.

Conception Bay South Mayor Woodrow French says the order will continue to be enforced, even though the plight of Steven Boyd and Karen Bursey attracted national headlines when CBC reported on it last week.

Mayor Woodrow French says the rules are the same for anyone looking to build a home in the town. (CBC)

Boyd and Bursey wanted the town to give them an exemption.

But French says that is not going to happen. He says rules are rules.

"It's not about an inch, it's not about two inches, it's not about four inches, seven inches," French said.

"It's about the policies of the town and where buildings have to be located within the town."

French says the same rules apply to anyone looking to build a home in Conception Bay South.

"We have rules and regulations in place, and everybody has to follow those rules and regulations," French said.

Couple 'devastated'

Boyd and Bursey discovered the problem after their foundation was laid. Their property is curved, because of where it is located on the cul–de–sac.

The new home is supposed to be 1.5 metres from the property line. Instead, it is 1.26 metres away. The couple was given an exemption by the council of up to 1.35 metres.

The difference — nine centimetres — is about the length of a poker-sized playing card.

Bursey told CBC News last week that tearing down that wall to fix the problem would cost $25,000.

That's the same amount their neighbours want for the nine centimetres of land.