A building permit is your formal permission to begin construction or demolition. It means that the Municipality of Marmora and Lake has reviewed the plans for any new structure, addition or renovation. Plans must comply with the Ontario Building Code, local zoning by-laws and other applicable laws and regulations.
Building permits regulate the type of construction allowed in the community and help to ensure building standards are met. The building permit process protects each home owner’s interests, as well as those of the community and helps to ensure that any structural change is safe, legal and sound.
By obtaining a permit, you can also take advantage of the professional expertise of Building Division staff. Inspectors are good sources of information and can offer suggestions to help solve construction problems, often before they occur.
In many cases your designer or contractor will get permits on your behalf. However it is the building owner who is ultimately responsible for complying with all building requirements.
WHEN DO I NEED A BUILDING PERMIT?
You must obtain a building permit before you do any of the following:
- Construct a new building
- Renovate, repair or add to a building
- Demolish or remove all or a portion of a building
- Change a buildings use
- Install, change or remove partitions and load-bearing walls
- Make new openings for, or change the size of doors and windows
- Build a garage, balcony or deck or enclose an existing deck
- Build a utility shed over 108ft2 (10m2)
- Excavate a basement or construct a foundation
- Install or modify any life safety or fire suppression system such as fire alarms, sprinkler or standpipe or fixed extinguishing systems
- Install or modify heating, plumbing and air conditioning systems, fireplaces, fireplace inserts and woodstoves
- Install kitchen or bathroom cupboards with plumbing
- Reconstruct a chimney
- Build a roofless deck over two feet above grade
- To finish a basement or convert a room to a bedroom
- To install a pool or hot tub
- Erect signage
- Install a septic system
- When you intend to alter the grade of a property greater than one hectare (2.5 acres), or next to an environmentally sensitive area.
You do not need a building permit to:
- replace existing, same-size doors and windows, subject to distance from property lines
- install siding on small residential buildings, subject to distance from property lines
- build a utility shed under 108ft2 (10 m2)
- re-shingle a roof, provided there is no structural work
- install eavestroughs, provided that drainage is contained on your property
- damp-proof basements
- paint or decorate
- reinstall/replace kitchen or bathroom cupboards without plumbing.
- erect a fence (except swimming pools and outside hot tubs require permits)
- electrical work (the Electrical Safety Authority, however, must inspect electrical installations)
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT GET A PERMIT?
It is unlawful to start construction without the necessary permits. If you start construction without the necessary permits, you may be ordered to stop work, ordered to remove work already done, or prosecuted. Contact the Building Department if you are not sure whether you need a permit for your project.
WHAT DOES THE BUILDING INSPECTOR DO?
A building inspector reviews projects during key stages of construction to ensure work complies with the Building Code and the plans originally submitted for review. The inspector may visit a site several times depending on the project. They must be able to see the work that requires inspection. An inspector requires a minimum of 24 hours notice to book an inspection.
WHEN I PURCHASE A HOME, SHOULD I CONSULT A BUILDING INSPECTOR?
The city does not conduct pre-purchase inspections. (For information on purchasing the services of a pre-purchase building inspection service, please refer to the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory.)
However, if you have questions or concerns about your new home, or to determine if a finished basement or apartment is legal and meets the Ontario Building Code and Property Standards requirements, you can contact the Building department.
As the new home owner, it is your responsibility to ensure you use the home in a manner that meets the Ontario Building Code. Do not assume the previous owner obtained a building permit before doing renovations to the home.
WHERE DO I APPLY FOR A PERMIT
You can make an application for any type of permit, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at:
Marmora and Lake Municipal Office
12 Bursthall St
Marmora ON
K0K2M0
Farm Buildings
Farm owners are responsible for obtaining a building permit for all agricultural construction projects, including manure storage facilities, grain bins and silos, along with all other farm structures. Whether building new or modifying an existing farm building, you must consider building code regulations. Farm building construction in Ontario is primarily regulated by the Ontario Building Code, 2006. Planning is critical in the process of constructing a farm building. The Canada Plan Services site offers draft plans for a number of farm structures and explains their key components.
Municipal building officials are enforcing farm building construction to a larger degree.
It is important to know what the building inspector expects from you. Anticipate that you will be asked to comply with regulations pertaining to the following:
- Ontario Building Code
- National Farm Building Code of Canada
- Nutrient Management Act
- Lightning Rods Act
- Gasoline Handling Act
- Pesticides Act
- municipal zoning bylaws
- siting of livestock buildings and manure storage structures using Minimum Distance Separation formula.
- various other codes in effect
Always allow extra time in advance of your starting date to ensure that the requirements have all been met.
FARMSTEAD PLANNING
When planning a new building or adding to an existing farmstead, you must consider such things as:
- site drainage
- services (lanes, power, water supply, waste disposal)
- security
- space allowance for future expansion
- separation distances for snow and wind control, ventilation and disease control
- distance separation from residences for control of noise and odours
- municipal regulations
- distance to wells, surface water, catch basins
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ONTARIO'S NEW NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ACT?
The provincial Nutrient Management Act (NMA) and the Regulation 267/03 regulates the storage, handling and application of nutrients that could be applied to agricultural crop land. The objective is to protect Ontario's surface and groundwater resources. Please consult the regulation and protocols for the specific legal details.
For more information on the NMA call the Nutrient Management Information Line at 1-866-242-4460, e-mail nman.omafra@ontario.ca.
