BUILDING PERMITS

WHY DO YOU NEED PERMITS? Building permits allow your municipality to protect the interests of both individuals and the community as a whole. Interests such as: Proposed building meets health and safety, fire, accessibility and resource conservation Zoning by-laws are kept Other applicable legislation : Environmental Protection Act (EPA)

When do you need to apply for a permit? Structure is more than 10 m 2 or 100 square feet. Renovations or repairs Excavate or construct a foundation Construct a seasonal building (greenhouse)

What inspections are required to comply with my building permit? 1.Storm and sanitary sewer connections/waterline OR septic system/weeping bed prior to backfill (separate permit required) 2.Footing (prior to pouring concrete) 3.Foundation (prior to backfilling) 4.Underground plumbing 5.Framing 6.Rough-in plumbing 7.Heating, Venting and Air Conditioning (HVAC) 8.Insulation and Vapour Barrier 9.Fire separations, Access routes, Protection systems 10.Inspection of solid fuel fireplaces, woodstoves 11.Occupancy permit (include final plumbing and septic inspections) 12.Final inspection

What other permits do you need? Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) - enforces electrical safety and requires electrical permits on projects where new, renovation, or maintenance work is being done on electrical systems. Entrance permit – depending on location of site, road access must be completed and passed.

Permit continued: Conservation Authority – if you are building near water (lake, river, creek, or drains) you will need approval and permits from the local conservation authority for flood/fill line. Unrestricted development within a floodplain can result in flood damage to buildings and threaten public safety. Development can also affect neighbouring properties both upstream and downstream by changing the physical characteristics of the floodplain and the watercourse. Fill placed on a valley slope can aggravate existing erosion problems or create new ones.

What other approvals may you need? In addition to the planning approvals and building permit which are required for a building project, other permits and approvals may be required in particular circumstances, e.g., Conservation Authority and Ministry of Transportation approvals. These approvals are considered applicable law.

What about industrial/commercial/agricultural stuctures? The structures require special approvals or permits before or during construction of the project: 1.Pre-start health and safety review 2.Building health and safety inspections (sort of a secondary inspection of electrical, fire as well as health and safety during construction) 3.Technical safety inspections and approvals (ski lifts, amusement parks, elevators, fuels, boilers)