Building Services

1. Construct a new building

2. Construct an addition to an existing building, such as

• • first, second or third story additions
  • attached garages, carports
  • sunrooms, solariums
  • porches, decks

3, Make structural or material alterations, such as

• adding or removing loadbearing walls
• adding new windows or doors where there were none before
• enlarging or relocating existing windows or doors
• enclosing an existing deck, porch or patio of any size

4. Construct a shed with an area of 15 square meters (161 square feet) or more.

• Note: Sheds under 15 square metres in area, do not need a building permit.  See “When is a Building Permit not required?” for exceptions to this rule

5. Construct an accessory structure larger than 15 square meters (161 square feet) in area, such as a

• Detached Garage
• Workshop
• Carport
• Pool house or cabana
• *Note: If you are constructing an accessory structure and it is attached to an existing building and/or has plumbing, regardless of its size, a building permit is required.

6. Finishing a basement, if the work proposed includes any of the following,

• structural or material alterations (i.e. adding bedrooms, walls, washrooms)
• installing or modifying heating and or plumbing systems
• excavating and/or constructing foundations
• basement underpinning
• constructing a basement entrance
• adding an additional residential unit

7. Energy and environmental building improvements, such as

• rooftop storm water retention systems
• green roofs
• structures used in the support of a wind turbine generator with a rated output of more than 3kW
• roof mounted solar projects such as installation of solar collector systems and solar hot water systems

8. Construct a deck more than 60 centimetres (24 inches) above ground

9. Construct a retaining wall more than one metre (3 feet 3 inches) in height provided the retaining wall is on or adjacent to public property (including streets), building entrances, and on private property accessible to the public

10. Demolish or remove all, or a portion of a building

11. Install or reconstruct a chimney or fireplace

12. Install a wood burning stove or fireplace

13. Install or modify heating and or plumbing systems

14. Install a backwater valve

15. Install a backflow prevention device

16. Change a building’s use (i.e. from residential to office or single dwelling unit house to multi-dwelling unit house). Even if no construction is proposed, if a change of use is proposed a building permit is required.

  An uncovered platform (e.g. deck) provided:

• its finished deck level is not more than 60 cm (24 inches) above the adjacent finished grade; and/or
• it does not form part of an exit required under the building code; and
• complies with the Zoning Bylaw.

·  A shed is exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit under section 8 of the Building Code Act and is exempt from compliance with this Code, provided that the shed:

• is not more than 15 m2 (161 sq ft) in gross area,
• is not more than one storey in building height,
• is not attached to a building or any other structure,
• is used only for storage purposes ancillary to a principal building on the lot, and
• does not have plumbing.

·  Re-cladding of a house or small building

·  Adding or replacing insulation

·  Finishing a basement of a house, if:

• the work does not include structural or material alterations (i.e. does not include adding bedrooms, walls, washrooms etc.)
• no additional residential unit(s) is (are) created (i.e. a second unit); and
• the work does not include the installation of new plumbing;

·  The replacement of windows or doors provided:

• there is no change in the location or size of the window and/or door;
• the structural support for the opening (i.e. lintel) is not affected; and
• a new exit is not created;

·  Installing a skylight in an existing building provided:

• the building is a house or small building (3 storeys or less) and
• the installation does not require the removal of more than one rafter, joist, or other similar structural member (with the exception of a truss);

·  Replacing a furnace or boiler in a house;

·  The installation of additional cooling systems, gas fireplaces, air cleaners, in-line humidifiers, or hot water tanks in a house;

·  Repairing and replacing plumbing fixtures;

·  Replacing existing roofing material provided no structural work is required;

·  Undertaking waterproofing repairs to a basement;

·  Installation of cabinetry and millwork.

·  Plastic Sheet Covered Accessory Structures less than 15 sq m in floor area (i.e. snow canopies, driveway tents, automotive canopy)

·  Constructing a retaining wall that is on private property, not accessible to the public and/or where the height is less than 1 metre (3 feet 3 inches) in height at any location.

·  Installing a sump pump.

·  A tent or group of tents is exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit under section 8 of the Act and is exempt from compliance with the Code provided that the tent or group of tents are,

• not more than 60m2 in aggregate ground area, not attached to a building, and
• constructed more than 3 m from other structure.

Permits ensure construction meets minimum health, safety, fire protection, structural, and accessibility standards.

Unpermitted work may result in stopwork orders, fines, orders to uncover or remove work, and delays.

The review of a building permit application begins on the day following the day on which the application was submitted. Building department staff will review the completeness of the application to ensure all documents, forms, plans, and applicable laws are provided and complied with within 2 business days. Once an application is deemed complete, the application will be reviewed for Ontario Building Code compliance. The time periods differ depending on the nature, scope and scale of the building. The review time periods do not include weekends, holidays and other days when the office is closed.

• 10 business days
• House
• Tent
• Sign
• Demountable stage or support structure
  
  
• 15 business days
• Part 9 buildings not more than 3 storeys and not exceeding 600 m2 (6459 ft.sq.) in building area
• Residential buildings
• Business and personal service buildings
• Mercantile buildings
• Medium and low hazard buildings
• Farm buildings not exceeding 600 m2 (6459 ft.sq.) in building area
  
  
• 20 business days
• Assembly buildings
• Care, care and treatment or detention buildings
• High hazard industrial buildings
• Part 3 buildings greater than 3 storeys or exceeding 600 m2 (6459 ft.sq.) in building area
• Residential buildings
• Business and personal service buildings
• Mercantile buildings
• Medium and low hazard buildings
• Farm buildings exceeding 600 m2 (6459 ft.sq.) in building area
• Retirement Homes
  
  
• 30 business days
• Post disaster buildings
• High buildings referred to in Subsection 3.2.6. of Div B

Building permit fees are set by the municipality and are calculated based on construction value or floor area. View the Fees and Charges By-law. 

Occupancy is permitted only after required inspections are passed and an occupancy permit has been issued. Occupying a building prior to receiving an occupancy permit is a violation of the Building Code Act and may result in an Order.

Inspections are required at specific stages of construction, such as foundation, framing, insulation and occupancy. Your permit will indicate all required inspections for the building. Please contact the building if you are unsure how to determine when these building components are ready for inspection.

The permit holder is responsible for requesting all required inspection. However, contractors, trades and installers can also book inspections at the permit holders direction.

Inspection reports are produced through Cloudpermit and can be found in the permit workspace under the inspection type. Email notifications with a link to the workspace are automatically sent to the applicant when an inspection report is generated.

Deficiencies must be corrected and a re-inspection requested and passed before work can continue.

Electrical permits are issued by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), not the municipality.

Adding a Second Unit in Your House

Additional Residential Unit Toolkit

Build or Buy a Tiny Home

Building a Modular House

Citizens’ Guide to Building Permits

Electrical Safety Authority

Tarion

Occupational Health and Safety Act

Grey Bruce Health Services

It is the role of every person who causes a building to be constructed,

(a)  to cause the building to be constructed in accordance with this Act and the building code and with any permit issued under this Act for the building;

(b)  to ensure that construction does not proceed unless any permit required under this Act has been issued by the chief building official; and

(c)  to ensure that construction is carried out only by persons with the qualifications and insurance, if any, required by this Act and the building code.  2002, c. 9, s. 3.

It is the role of a designer,

(a)  if the designer’s designs are to be submitted in support of an application for a permit under this Act, to provide designs which are in accordance with this Act and the building code and to provide documentation that is sufficiently detailed to permit the design to be assessed for compliance with this Act and the building code and to allow a builder to carry out the work in accordance with the design, this Act and the building code;

(b)  to perform the role described in clause (a) in respect of only those matters for which the designer has the qualifications, if any, required by this Act and the building code; and

(c)  if the building code requires that all or part of the design or construction of a building be under general review, to perform the general review in respect of only those matters for which the designer has the qualifications, if any, required by this Act and the building code.  2002, c. 9, s. 3.

It is the role of a builder,

(a)  to ensure that construction does not proceed unless any permit required under this Act has been issued by the chief building official;

(b)  to construct the building in accordance with the permit;

(c)  to use appropriate building techniques to achieve compliance with this Act and the building code; and

(d)  when site conditions affect compliance with the building code, to notify the designer and an inspector or the registered code agency, as appropriate.  2002, c. 9, s. 3.

It is the role of manufacturers, suppliers and retailers of products that are intended for use in Ontario in the construction of a building for a purpose that is regulated by this Act or the building code to ensure that the products comply with the standards established under this Act and the building code.  2002, c. 9, s. 3.

It is the role of a building owner,

(a)  to ensure that the building or part of the building is maintained, repaired and evaluated in accordance with this Act and the building code; and

(b)  to ensure documents, records and other information about the building are kept and provided in accordance with this Act and the building code. 2017, c. 34, Sched. 2, s. 2 (1).

It is the role of a person who conducts a building condition evaluation,

(a)  to carry out the responsibilities of that person under a building condition evaluation program in accordance with this Act and the building code; and

(b)  to perform the role described in clause (a) in respect of only those matters for which the person has the qualifications, if any, required by this Act and the building code. 2017, c. 34, Sched. 2, s. 2 (1).

It is the role of a registered code agency,

(a)  to exercise powers and perform duties under this Act and the building code in connection with reviewing plans, issuing certificates, inspecting construction and performing other functions in accordance with this Act and the building code; and

(b)  to carry out the duties of a registered code agency under this Act and the building code in respect of only those matters for which the registered code agency is qualified under this Act and the building code.  2002, c. 9, s. 3.

It is the role of a chief building official,

(a)  to establish operational policies for the enforcement of this Act and the building code within the applicable jurisdiction;

(b)  to co-ordinate and oversee the enforcement of this Act and the building code within the applicable jurisdiction;

(c)  to exercise powers and perform the other duties assigned to him or her under this Act and the building code; and

(d)  to exercise powers and perform duties in an independent manner and in accordance with the standards established by the applicable code of conduct.  2002, c. 9, s. 3; 2017, c. 34, Sched. 2, s. 2 (2).

It is the role of an inspector,

(a)  to exercise powers and perform duties under this Act and the building code in connection with reviewing plans, inspecting construction, conducting maintenance inspections and issuing orders in accordance with this Act and the building code;

(b)  to exercise powers and perform duties in respect of only those matters for which he or she has the qualifications required by this Act and the building code; and

(c)  to exercise powers and perform duties in an independent manner and in accordance with the standards established by the applicable code of conduct.  2002, c. 9, s. 3; 2006, c. 22, s. 112 (2); 2017, c. 34, Sched. 2, s. 2 (3).