Building Permits

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.

 

 

Please contact the Building Department with details of the work you're planning. Our staff will be able to assist you in determining if a permit is required. Making early inquiries about your project will help to resolve any possible issues you may encounter. 

A Building Permit provides the means to review the project designs, to inspect the actual construction and to ensure that the health, safety and welfare of the occupants of the building are maintained. By reviewing and approving plans before any work is done, ensures that construction complies with the Ontario Building Code (which sets minimum standards for design and materials), the local zoning by-law (which controls building location, height, parking, etc. and uses that are suitable to the area) and other applicable law.

A building permit is formal approval to construct, add to, or renovate a building on your property. Building permits allow the Township to protect the interests of both individuals and the community as a whole. 

The Ontario Building Code Act requires a Building Permit when a person constructs or demolishes a building or causes a building to be constructed or demolished. A building is defined as: (a) a structure occupying an area greater than 10 m2 (107.6 ft2) consisting of a wall, roof, and floor or any of them or a structural system serving the function thereof including all plumbing, works, fixtures, and service systems appurtenant thereto,

A structure occupying an area of 10 m2 (107.6 ft2) or less that contains plumbing, including the plumbing appurtenant thereto,

• Plumbing not located in a structure
• A sewage system; or
• Structures designated in the building code

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
• 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 10 m2 (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)
• 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 on 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)

Yes. As regulated under the Ontario Building Code, a 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 

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

The Application for a Permit to Construct or Demolish is required to be submitted along with confirmation from all utilities that the services have been disconnected to the building. 

The Ontario Building Code requires an Application for a Permit to Construct or Demolish 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 for a Permit to Construct or Demolish 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

The owner of the property or an authorized agent for the owner (contractor) must apply for the building permit. Authorized agents can submit the form Authorization of Owner(s) for Applicant/Agent to Make the Application or similar form with the permit application. 

Building Permit Applications should be submitted to the Building Department and or the Township of North Huron Office. 

Depending on the project, a permit must be issued from within ten business days 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, ensure you submit all required documentation.

Constructing or altering a structure without a Permit can result in numerous problems including:

• not conforming with the Ontario Building Code
• putting yourself and your family at potential risk
• putting yourself at liability should an injury occur to someone while visiting your property as a result of a structure not conforming to the Ontario Building Code
• extra costs in having to reconstruct, replace, or remove the structure according to the Zoning By-law and Ontario Building Code
• increased permit fees / fines
• difficulty selling the property
• complaints from neighbours

The Ontario Building Code requires the inspection to be completed within two (2) business days for regular inspections and no later than five (5) business days for sewage systems. The time begins on the following day after the request has been received. 

The Owner and/or Contractor is responsible for contacting the Building department when the work is ready for inspection.

If at time of inspection the inspected work does not meet the appropriate criteria according to the Ontario Building Code, the issue must be rectified and, in most cases, a re-inspection will be required before the project can proceed.