|
Municipality of Powassan Zoning Bylaw
Municipality of Powassan's Building Permit and Owner's Guide
The Municipality of Powassan's Property Owner's Guide to Building Permits includes a checklist, the permit application, a fee guide, as well as information on what is needed to submit your permit.
If building a new home, please include the Energy Efficiency Design Summary form (included in the package above) with your building permit application.
What you need to apply for a building permit:
- A completed application
- A site plan
- Construction drawings with sufficient detail.
How long does it take to get my permit?
A permit can usually be issued in a few days, provided the application is complete and the drawings are adequate. More complex projects may take more time. In some instances, approvals are necessary from the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority, which can lead to undetermined wait times. Provincial mandate gives the CBO 10 days to process an application.
How do I know when I need a permit?
If you are unsure, please contact the Chief Building Official directly. As a general rule if it deals with structure, safety items including (but not limited to) railings, insulation, masonry or plumbling a permit is required. Decks under 24 inches from grade (measured from walking surface to the adjacent ground) that don’t have or require a railing, reshingling a roof, replacing deck boards, replacing siding (unless it involves masonry), replacing doors and windows (unless you are enlarging the opening) all do not require a permit.
When building decks, please fill out the Deck Checklist to accompany the drawings.
If thinking about installing a pool, please review By-Law 2019-21 Fences-pools.
A Guide to Residential Wood Heating.
What are the permit fees?
For a list of fees please see Building Permit Fees Schedule 'K' of the 2023-16 User Fee ByLaw. Note: User Fee list covers from 2022 until 2027
Changes to the Building Code
As of Jan 1st, 2012, the rules for insulation and energy efficiency for housing will change. There are different approaches, through Energuide, or compliance to the new SB-12 component of the code. New home plans will have to be considerably more detailed with Information concerning window performance, type of heating and efficiency ratings of the furnace, window to wall ratios, and so on. It will be a lot more work and planning on the designers shoulders for the most part.
Another change is the mandatory occupancy inspection for new houses constructed after 2012. Contractors/homeowners/representatives are required to contact the building department to perform an occupancy inspection prior to any habitation of the home. While in the past it was good practice in general, it is now mandatory. Please ensure your home has had an occupancy inspection by the CBO prior to moving in. It is now law. Occupancy Permit Requirements are referenced in Part 3, 1.3.3.4 under Division C of the Building Code.
View the Are You Ready? pamphlet for more information regarding these code changes.
What is an Occupancy Permit?
An occupancy permit attests to the general conformance of the new construction or renovations to the Ontario Building Code based on the inspections undertaken at the completion of key stages of construction pursuant to the Building Code Act.
An occupancy permit does not certify or warrant the work or workmanship of a builder, only general conformance with the Ontario Building Code.
For the Municipality, it confirms that the minimum requirements for occupancy as set out in the Building Code have been met and that all inspections have passed.
For the legal representatives acting on behalf of a purchaser of a home, it is a tool for assessing the status of the building/property being transferred.
For the property owner, it confirms that any identified Building Code deficiencies noted during any of the scheduled inspections by a the Building Official have been resolved.
There are two kinds of Occupancy Permits: Partial Occupancy Permits and Final Occupancy Permits.
A Partial Occupancy Permit is issued where the permit holder wishes to allow occupancy to occur in an unfinished building. For a residential occupancy, the above minimum occupancy requirements apply.
A Final Occupancy Permit is issued when construction is complete and all outstanding Code deficiencies as listed in Inspection Reports have been addressed.
An “Occupancy Permit” is issued in accordance with the Building By-Law. The Building Code requires a “permit” to be issued, stating that occupancy not occur until the builder/permit holder has completed construction to the extent that the new construction or addition meets the minimum occupancy requirements set out in the Code.
For example: the “minimum occupancy requirements” for a single-family residence include:
- Required exits, handrails and guards, fire alarm and detection systems, and fire separations must be complete, operational and inspected;
- Water supply, sewage disposal, lighting and heating systems must be complete and operational.
- Building water systems, building drains, building sewers, and drainage and venting systems must be complete, operational, inspected and tested.
|