Building Department

Services Provided at 60 Fourteenth St. N., 2nd Floor.

The public is welcome to visit the above address without an appointment during the hours of 8:30 am. to 12:30 pm. All afternoon consultations require an appointment to be set up at least 24 hours in advance. Required inspections are normally made between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

Provincially mandated services provided at the above address include

• Inquiries related to Building Permits, Change of Use Permits and/or Plumbing Permits. For Electrical Permits call 1-877-372-7233.
• Receive applications for Building Permits, Change of Use Permits and/or Plumbing Permits
• Accept payment for Building Permit, Change of Use Permit and/or Plumbing Permit applications by cash or cheque only
• Plans examination for Building Permit and/or Plumbing Permit applications
• Issuance of Building Permits, Change of Use Permits and/or Plumbing Permits
• Inspections of new construction, renovations and changes of use at mandatory stages
• Enforcement of the Ontario Building Code Act and Regulations
• Issuance of Occupancy Permits for new buildings and changes of use of existing buildings

Due to the requirements of the Building Code Act, Building Permits cannot be obtained “while-you-wait”. Permits will normally be sent out by mail and must be posted on the construction site before work is started. Starting without a permit or before the permit is posted at the work site is illegal and can result in additional fees and other enforcement action.

Where Building Permit applications are for new dwellings or additions to existing dwellings on property served by private sewage disposal, a permit from the Northwestern Health Unit must be in effect before a Building Permit can be issued. NWHU contact is 807-468-3147.  When Building Permit applications are for new dwellings or additions to existing dwellings on property adjacent to a Provincial Highway, permits for an entrance and/or land use within the MTO Control Zone must be in effect before a Building Permit can be issued. MTO contact is 807-468-2740.

All applications for Building Permits for new construction in areas served by City utilities cannot be processed until all requirements from respective departments have been received through internal circulation. Managers of the respective departments may impose requirements that must be met before permission for occupancy can be granted.

Where a Building Permit application is for construction on property without an existing entrance, an Entrance Permit is also required and application can be accepted and paid for concurrent with the Building Permit application. The Entrance Permit issuance and inspections will be performed by the Roads Supervisor who will specify the construction standard and materials to be used.

Where a Building Permit application is for construction work that will require obstruction of, or work on, over or under a municipal property or street, an Encroachment Permit is also required and application can be accepted and paid for concurrent with the Building Permit application. Proof of liability insurance is required before the permit can be issued by the Roads Supervisor who will specify the City requirements and time limit on use of the property. In some cases, bagging of parking meters at the required daily fee may also be required.

Change of Use Permit applications are required for any existing building when a change of occupancy type is planned even if construction is not planned. For instance, where a retail outlet is planned to convert to a restaurant with more than 30 seats, or where a home is planned to convert to a lodging house, etc., the Change in Use must be investigated to determine whether there is a reduction in the performance level of the building as a result of the change. A reduction in performance level is not acceptable because it increases the risk of harm to the occupants of the building. Where it is determined that the performance level will be reduced, a Building Permit becomes necessary for the construction needed to raise the performance level to an acceptable standard.

Building Permits