Building Permits

You need to apply for a building permit before you begin your next home renovation or construction project.

Apply for a permit

The Municipality of South Bruce now offers Cloudpermit, an online system that allows you to apply for and to see the status of your application anywhere, at any time. You can start an application and finish it later, and receive email updates on the status of your permit application.

Apply for a building permit

Need help getting started with Cloudpermit? A step-by-step guide to help you from login, to submitting your first application is available through the online portal.

Need help?

Permit applications can also be made through mail, email or in person at the Municipal Office by printing and completing all required forms required for your project, and submitting them with your project drawings, etc. If you have any questions, please contact the Building Department.

Residential and commercial permits

Permits are required for new construction projects, additions and some renovations, and for accessory buildings, decks and swimming pools.

New construction

Building permits are required for all new construction projects. Required documents include:

Building Permit Application or through Cloudpermit
Schedule 1 Form
Energy Efficiency Design Summary - Prescription Method
Site Plan including location of proposed building, including setbacks to property lines
A Lot Grading Plan (if your property is located within a subdivision)
Construction plans including structural and architectural details (preferably in pdf format)
Roof truss drawings, stamped by an engineer (preferably in pdf format)
Septic system design and permit (if applicable)
Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area
Drinking Water Source Protection Screening form (if applicable)

Renovations and additions

Building permits are required for all additions to residential and commercial buildings and some renovations. Renovations such as finished basements, installing roof mounted solar panels, altering location of or installing new plumbing appliances, etc. require building permits. Required documents include:

Building Permit Application or through Cloudpermit
Schedule 1 Form
Site Plan including location of proposed building, including setbacks to property lines and septic system (if applicable)
Drawings specific to the project (construction/building layout plans)
Evaluation of septic system (if applicable)
Roof mounted solar panels will require engineering for the connection system and an evaluation of the supporting building by a professional engineer
Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area
Drinking Water Source Protection Screening form (if applicable)

Accessory buildings and decks

Building permits are required for all accessory buildings greater than 15 square metres, such as sheds, detached garages and decks. Required documents include:

Building Permit Application or through Cloudpermit
Schedule 1 Form
Site Plan including location of proposed building, including setbacks to property lines and septic system (if applicable)
Construction plans including details pertaining to footing, framing, posts, beams, rafters, floor joists and guards (for decks) and building height
Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area
Drinking Water Source Protection Screening form (if applicable)

Swimming pools

Building permits are required for all swimming pools which are capable of holding more than 0.76 metres of water in depth at any point. Required documents include:

Building Permit Application or through Cloudpermit
Site Plan including location of proposed pool, including setbacks to property lines, fencing detail and location of pool equipment
Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area
Drinking Water Source Protection Screening form (if applicable)

Agricultural buildings

Permits are required for the construction of agricultural buildings and additions. If you have any questions please contact our Building Department.

Livestock and manure storage

Building permits are required for new and expanding livestock buildings and manure storage. Required documents include:

Building Permit Application or through Cloudpermit
Schedule 1 Form
Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) formula
Letter of approval from OMAFRA, which includes a Nutrient Management Strategy
Site Plan including location of proposed building, including setbacks to property lines, wells, septic systems, buildings and natural areas
Construction drawings (designed by professional engineer for buildings greater than 600 square metres and all manure storages require Engineer’s Commitment to Review
Truss drawings, stamped by a professional engineer (preferably in pdf format)
Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area
Drinking Water Source Protection Screening form (if applicable)

Not housing livestock

Building permits are required for all farm buildings such as grain bins, silos and drive sheds. Required documents include:

Building Permit Application or through Cloudpermit
Schedule 1 Form
Site Plan including location of proposed building, including setbacks to property lines, wells, septic systems, buildings and natural areas
Construction drawings (designed by professional engineer for buildings greater than 600 square metres require Engineer’s Commitment to Review
Truss drawings, stamped by a professional engineer (preferably in pdf format)
Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area
Drinking Water Source Protection Screening form (if applicable)

Other permits

Permits are required for a number of improvements or changes to your property, including special occasion tents. For installation of a new entrance or driveway to your property please refer to the Entrance Permit Application.

Tents

As regulated under the Ontario Building Code, any tent over 60 m2 (646 ft2), any size tent attached to a building, or any size tent constructed less that 3 m from other structures, requires a building permit. Required documents include:

Building Permit Application or through Cloudpermit
Tent Drawings
Site Plan including location of tent, setbacks to property lines and buildings

Septic Permits

All septic systems with the exception of portable toilets require building permits for both new installations and repairs or replacement of existing systems. Required documents include:

Septic Permit Application or through Cloudpermit
Schedule 1 Form
Schedule 2 to Schedule 3D sewage system design information including soil information
Site Plan including location of proposed sewage system, including setbacks to property lines, wells, buildings and natural areas
Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area
Drinking Water Source Protection Screening form (if applicable)

Demolition

Demolition permits are required prior to demolition of any building with the exception of farm buildings. Prior to demolition, please ensure the following:

Obtain a Demolition Permit via Application to Construct or Demolish or through Cloudpermit
Disconnect all services (hydro, telephone, gas, cable, water, sewer, etc.)
Upon completion of demolition owners are responsible to contact the building department for inspection and the tax department for request for reassessment
Site must be leveled and graded upon completion of demolition

Inspections

Once we issue a building permit, it is your responsibility to schedule all necessary building inspections.

Building permit fees

Fee Schedule

What projects don’t require a building permit?

The following construction projects don’t require a building permit:

Structures under 10 square metres in size
New roofing shingles
Minor roof sheathing repairs
Replacing siding
Replacing doors and windows
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets
New flooring
Boundary fences
Pool heaters
Painting and decorating
Landscaping