Building and Renovating

Under the Ontario Building Code Act, a building permit is required to construct, demolish, renovate, alter, or change the use of a building.

The following is a list of typical projects that require a building permit:

• Adding a bedroom to the basement
• Adding a dormer to existing roof
• Additions to an existing building
• Attached garage, carport, shed or other roof structures
• Basement or main floor walkouts
• Creating a duplex (in-law suite, accessory apartment, granny flat)
• Decks greater the 24 inches in height above grade
• Demolition of a structure greater than 108 square feet in building area
• Detached garage, shed or accessory structure 108 square feet and greater (measured to the outside face of exterior walls)
• Finishing the basement of a house
• Industrial, Commercial, Institutional and multi-residential construction or alterations or changes of use
• Installing a new window or door (when increasing the width of the existing opening)
• New Residential Dwellings
• Pending location, a retaining wall that is greater than 1 meter in height
• Plumbing fixtures added or relocated
• Re-insulating walls, ceilings, or floors
• Removing a load bearing wall, column, lintel, or beam
• Renovation or converting an existing building (change of use)
• Septic system installations and alterations, Septic System Application
• Site servicing (water or sewer lines) for all building types
• Solar Panels that are mounted to a building
• Swimming pool and fence
• Tent or group of tents that is, more than 60m2 (646 ft2) in aggregate ground area, attached to a building, or constructed within 3m (9'-10") of any structure
• Woodstove or wood burning fireplace

A building permit is not required for a detached accessory structure such as a gazebo or tool shed that measures an area of ten square meters (108 sq. ft.) or less.

The following is a list of typical projects that do not require a building permit:

• Decks less than 24 inches in height, not supporting a roof, not attached to another building
• Door and window replacements (within the existing opening, where no structural members are changed)
• Fences, unless installed around swimming pool
• Installing a gas fireplace
• Installing new shingles or steel on an existing roof
• Installing a water softener
• Painting, wall papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Replacing a plumbing fixture (i.e. toilet, bathtub or sink) with a new fixture in the same location.
• Structure less than 108 square feet measured from the outside face of walls (that does not contain plumbing)

The Ontario Building Code requires an Application to Construct and or Demolish and or the Installation of Septic System to be applied for by the registered owner of a property or an authorized agent acting on behalf of the owner.

Fill in and complete the Application to Construct and or Demolish, and/or the Application for Septic System and submit to the Building Department with:

• 2 sets of Construction Drawings (foundation, floor plan(s), cross section, elevations, pre-engineered building components, etc., as appropriate).
• 2 copies of the site plan or property survey; or lot grading and drainage plan
• HVAC design and Schedule 1 Designer Information Form
• Energy Efficiency Design Summary Form
• Conservation Authority approval if required
• If you are uncertain what is required, please contact us via email or phone

Below is a summary of the Checklist to ensure you submit the necessary paperwork along with your application when proposing to do the following:

• Single Family Dwelling/Semi-Detached/Duplex/Townhouse
• Residential Additions
• Attached Garages / Carports
• Accessory Building for Residential Houses
• Decks & Porches
• Agricultural Building
• Tent
• Demolition
• Demolition - Utility Sign-off Form

Building fees are outlined in the fees and charges by-law. Fees are calculated based on variables and project specifications. Your permit fee will be calculated upon the review process and will be payable upon picking up your permit. 

A demolition permit is required for all buildings that would normally require a building permit. The Ontario Building Code exempts farm buildings located on agriculture property; however, you should complete a Form 357.

Depending on the project, a permit must be issued from within ten to thirty business days pending the type of project, providing all applicable drawings have been received, all fees paid, and any other applicable law has been approved. To ensure your permit application is expedited, you must submit all required documentation.

North Huron is pleased to announce that it will now accept payment by VISA or MasterCard Credit or Debit card for select municipal bills/services.

Through OptionPay, our third-party payment processor, for a nominal processing fee you can make card payment through our website using the the link below, on your smart phone by scanning the QR Code, via phone to the finance group and in our municipal office. 

Link: https://payment.optionpay.ca/the-corporation-of-the-township-of-north-huron/index.php

All processing fees are charged by OptionPay and are not received by the Municipality.

Utilizing OptionPay enables our Municipality to keep our overall payment acceptance processing costs down yet provide for individual residents to utilize their credit/debit card for payment of municipal bills/services.

Currently the following bill types for our Municipality can be paid through OptionPay:

• Accounts Receivable (invoice)
• Cemetery
• Child Care Services
• Commissioning
• Freedom of Information Requests
• Garbage Bag Tags
• Licenses
• Permits
• Property Taxes
• Tickets/Fines

All payments will be received by the Municipality within 48 business hours, so please be sure to allow for this processing time when making your payment. Also ensure to know your daily and/or transaction processing limit when making credit card payments.

Credit card Rewards are earned on entire purchase, including fees.

For optimal performance please use Google Chrome or Firefox web browser when accessing OptionPay.