Building and Renovating

Home/Invest and Build/Building and Renovating

The Municipal Office is now offering in-person services. Please follow these guidelines when visiting:

- Maximum of 2 members of the public will be allowed inside the Municipal Office

1 person per counter (Finance/Corporate Services & Building/Planning Services)
1 person per meeting room

- Please pre-screen yourself before entering the building

- Masks and face coverings are mandatory

To ensure availability, please contact the Building Department by telephone or visit www.lakeofbays.on.ca/Contact to book an appointment during normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

For further information, please visit www.lakeofbays.on.ca/covid19/.

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 2021-125 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 2021

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing: Next Edition of the Building Code & Harmonization

Building Services Information Meeting Presentation 2021

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.

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 call or email us. 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.

General Inquiries

Due to an overwhelming increase in inquiries and application submissions, in order to prioritize the increased workload and maintain compliance with legislated timeframes, and as per Council’s direction, Building and Planning staff will only respond to zoning inquiries from a legal owner of the property.

As it pertains to general development inquiries, we ask that you please consult the Township’s by-law documents and mapping, which contains an extensive amount of information and may assist with your inquiry.

Development Permit By-law 04-180

Comprehensive Zoning By-law 04-181

Community Planning Permit By-law 2021-111

Mapping

If you are a legal owner of a property, please email planning or building with your inquiries. For all inquiries, staff require the property roll number and/or address, a detailed (to scale) site plan of existing and proposed development, as well as details of your proposal. Staff will respond to submitted inquiries within 4-5 weeks.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

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.