Building and Renovating

Home/Invest and Build/Building and Renovating

The Building Department's response to the COVID-19 outbreak can be read on the Township's COVID-19 webpage.

As the Province continues with COVID-19 recovery, the Township of Lake of Bays continues to slowly reopen the select municipal services by appointment only to the public. To book an appointment, call 705-635-2272. For more details, please read the full media release.

Building permits ensure that we follow the minimum standards of the Ontario Building Code. These standards protect the health and safety of building occupants by managing:

Design
Construction
Quality of materials
Use and occupancy of buildings and structures
Protection of the environment

Before starting any work you must ensure the Township has issued a building permit, you've picked it up and posted it at the entrance to the property. Please review the building by-law 2013-037 respecting construction, demolition, change of use, conditional permits, sewage systems and inspections.

Permit applications and construction guides can be found under Applications, Licences and Permits.

Building Services Information Meeting 2019

Building Services Presentation November 2019

Projects that require a building permit

New residential dwellings
Attached garage, carport, shed or other roof structure of any size
Detached garage, shed or accessory structure 10 m2 (108 ft²) and greater (measured to the outside face of exterior walls)
Adding or creating a Bunkie (any size)
Free standing decks 10 m² (108 ft²) and greater (any height)
Dock , boathouse or boat port 10m² (108 ft ²) or greater
Finishing the basement of a house
Adding a bedroom
Additions to a building
Replacing or repairing foundation drainage
Shipping containers 10 m² (108 ft²)
Enclosures for swimming pools with a depth of 24 inches or greater (including temporary or inflatable)
Creating an accessory apartment
Plumbing fixtures added or relocated
Removing a load bearing wall, column, lintel or beam
Re-insulating walls, ceilings or floors
Wood stove, wood burning fireplace, or a wood furnace (interior or exterior)
Installing a new window or door when increasing the width of the existing opening
Retaining wall that is greater than 1 m (3'-3”), adjacent to public property, access to a building or private property to which the public is admitted
Solar panels that are mounted to a building and have a face area of 5 m² (53.8 ft²) or greater
Septic system installations and alterations including septic tanks
Site servicing (water or sewer lines) for all building types
Demolition of a structure greater than 10 m² (108 ft²) in building area
Tent or group of tents that is more than 60 m² (646 ft²) in aggregate ground area, attached to a building or constructed within 3 m (9'-10”) of any structure
Industrial, commercial, institutional and multi-residential construction or alterations or changes of use

If you're still not sure whether you need a permit, contact Building Services at 705-635-2272.

Projects that do not require a building permit

Replacing kitchen cabinets
Replacing shingles
Replacing a window or door that is one for one
Replacing flooring or decking
Replacing siding

Booking an inspection

Required inspections are listed on your permit. To book inspections please email us or phone (705-635-2272 ext. 228). We complete inspections in the mornings, Monday to Friday.

When booking your inspection make sure that you include:

Permit number
Your name
Owner's name
Date of inspection
Inspection type

If you are booking an inspection where the inspector is required to travel over ice or water, the following form is required to be submitted to Building Services 48 hours prior to the inspection.

Building Safety Month

We rarely question our safety when we are in the buildings that we live, work, shop or play in. This is because of the high standard in which buildings in Ontario are constructed. Building Services enforces the Building Code by examining building plans and specifications, issuing permits, and performing inspections through the various stages of construction.

Every May, the Township promotes Building Safety Month to raise awareness about building safety and the vital role of building officials. This year, the Ontario Building Officials Association's Building Safety Month campaign theme is, Top 10 Tips for Home Renovations. While Ontario is still practicing social distancing, homeowners can use this checklist to start planning for upcoming renos to homes and cottages.