Building and Renovating

If you're planning a construction project, our building department is here to help.

Your project may include additions, renovations, new construction, demolition, septic systems, plumbing, signs, tents, a change of building use, and more!

Explore the service options below and, if at any point you have questions or need some help, please reach out to us by e-mail or call 519-396-3468 ext. 2.

Building Permits

Whether you're a resident, builders, or a business, you can apply for and track your permit applications right here online.

Development, Planning, and Zoning

Visit this section to learn more about development fees and charges, subdivisions, zoning and severances, and our Official Plan.

Digging and Locates

Before you dig visit Ontario One Call to submit a locate request. Allow 5 business days for locates to be completed. Please note: we do not locate on private land. Please call a contractor.

Fences

Learn about when you need to have a permit for building a fence as well as more information on Line Fences.

Inspections

Understand the stages of your project will require inspections and make sure that you're booking them in advance to keep things progressing as planned.

Site Plan Control

Before a building permit is issued a Site Plan Agreement between the Municipality and the developer must be executed.

Effective January 1, 2025

Changes to the Ontario Building Code and National Farm Building Code of Canada

The Province of Ontario has released the 2024 Ontario Building Code which comes into effect on January 1st, 2025. Completed applications received until December 1st, 2024, will be subject to the 2012 Ontario Building Code.

Certain transitional guidelines are included for applicants whose working drawing were substantially complete by December 31, 2024.

By April 1st, 2025, all permit applications must be submitted using the 2024 Building Code.

Release of the 2024 Edition of Ontario's Building Code

The province's new Building Code looks to reduce regulatory burdens for the construction industry, increase the safety and quality of buildings, and make it easier to build housing.

The new code is streamlining processes for the building sector and increasing harmonization with the National Construction Codes through the elimination of at least 1,730 technical variations between the provincial and national requirements.

2024 Building Code Format

The full-length version of Ontario's Building Code will no longer be available on e-Laws. Please see the following links to the 2020 National Building Code and the Ontario Amendment document that make up the entire new 2024 Ontario's Building Code:

The 2024 Ontario Building Code Technical Bulletins help to identify where changes have been made and provide additional information about each change.

Updates to the National Farm Building Code

The updates to the National Farm Building Code will be released January 1, 2025, harmonizing with the National Building Code of Canada. Farm buildings will be captures in Part 2 of the 2024 Ontario Building Code.

With this, new farm buildings and additions will be subject to Code classifications under Part 2 of the Ontario Building Code. These will categorize farm buildings based on their hazard classifications.

G1 - High Hazard
G2 - Agricultural Occupancies not classified in Group G
G3 - Greenhouses
G4 - Agricultural Occupancies with no human occupants

For some additional information, see Slide Deck 1 and Slide Deck 2. These were presented by Tyler Griffith of Tacoma Engineers and Bram Van Den Heuvel of Stonecrest Engineers at the 2024 Canadian Farm Builders' Association (CFBA) Conference.

Municipal and County Development Charges

Municipal and County Development Charges are increasing January 1, 2025 under By-Law 2021-114. This applied to all qualifying development projects as outlined in our Legislative Services Guide on Development Charges.

The County of Bruce has implemented a county-wide Development Charge under their By-Law 2023-048 which is subject to a multi-year phase-in. It is applicable to qualifying development projects within the Municipality of Kincardine.