Building & Renovation Permits

Building and Renovation Permits

The Building Division is responsible for ensuring that all construction within the municipality is safe, legal and compliant with the Ontario Building Code Act, Ontario Building Code, applicable zoning by-law, applicable law and other relevant legislation. Our team reviews building permit applications, conducts inspections during stages of construction and provides guidance to property owners, contractors and designers throughout the building process.

When do I need a building permit?

A building permit is required for most construction, renovation, sewage systems and demolition projects. In general, you need a building permit before starting any work that affects the structure, systems, or use of a building. If you are unsure whether your project requires a permit, it’s always best to contact the Building Division before starting work.

Common examples include (not limiting to):

  • Constructing a new building or addition
  • Renovating or finishing a basement
  • Building or replacing a deck
  • Structural changes
  • Demolition
  • Installation of fuel burning appliances
  • New, repair or replacement of sewage systems
  • Tents that exceed 60m2
  • Signs not attached to a building
  • Installing or altering plumbing systems
  • Constructing garages, sheds, or accessory buildings (depending on size)
  • Changing the use of a building (even if no construction is proposed)

You may not need a permit for:

  • Minor repairs (e.g., replacing flooring or cabinets)
  • Painting or decorating
  • Replacing the same size windows and doors
  • Replacing fixtures without altering plumbing
  • Small detached structures under a certain size

For more information regarding signs not attached to a building, please visit our Signs permit page.

For more information regarding pool enclosures, please visit our Pool Enclosures page.

Zoning Inquiries

Are you looking for information on property you are thinking about buying or looking for information on property you already own? If you have any concerns or questions about Official Plan and/or Zoning By-Law compliance please call the municipal office.

You can also use Bruce County Interactive Mapping as a resource.

Accessory Structures

a) Backyard Poultry shall be permitted on lots in which a main residential dwelling is established and permitted but shall not be permitted in any EH or EH-1 zone

b) Backyard poultry enclosures shall be considered an accessory use/structure; all provisions as they relate to accessory uses and structures shall apply unless otherwise stated in this by-law

c) One backyard poultry enclosure is permitted per lot and must be less than 10 sq m and may be no higher than 3 m

d) The sale of the backyard poultry or backyard poultry products is not permitted

e) No roosters are permitted

f) The maximum number of backyard poultry shall be 10 (ten)

Definitions:

Backyard Poultry: a pullet or hen kept for companionship as a pet or for the purpose of providing food for the personal consumption of occupants of a dwelling on the same lot, and shall not include roosters, waterfowl or birds

Backyard Poultry Enclosure: an accessory structure including pens, runs, and similar enclosures meant for the keeping or containment of poultry but shall not include farm buildings nor livestock facilities

Those with backyard poultry are advised that the Property Standards By-Law applies and you must keep the poultry on your own property.

As per the Ontario Building Code, a shed is exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit under section 8 of the Act and is exempt from compliance with the Ontario Building Code, provided that the shed,

a) is not more than 15m2 in gross

b) is not more than one storey in building height,

c) is not attached to a building or any other structure,

d) is used only for storage purposes ancillary to a principal building on the lot, and

e) does not have plumbing.

If such buildings/structures meet the above noted criteria, they are still required to comply with all applicable law including but not limiting to the Town of South Bruce Peninsula Comprehensive Zoning By-Law 122-2009, clearance distances to sewage systems as per the OBC etc.

Call Before You Dig

If you are planning to dig, build or excavate, it is important that you locate all of your utility lines first. In fact, under Ontario regulations, it is the law. To have municipal infrastructure located, please contact Ontario One Call to register your locate request.

Apply For a Permit

The Building Department is now accepting applications for all building permits through CloudPermit. Residents can take advantage of the user-friendly Cloudpermit platform to submit building permit applications online (ca.cloudpermit.com). The streamlined process allows users to upload required documents, monitor application status in real time, and communicate directly with Building Division staff, creating a more convenient, transparent, and efficient permit experience. Cloudpermit is best supported on Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Mozilla Firefox browsers. Internet Explorer is not currently supported.

If you are having difficulty with Cloudpermit and have verified that you are using one of the supported browsers listed above and have reviewed the Cloudpermit Guide, please contact the Building Division for assistance at 519-534-1400 or by logging a ticket with the support system (upper right hand corner on the Cloudpermit main page).

Apply for a building permit
Permit Fees