Development & Building Permits

Development & Building Permits

A Development Permit ensures that your plans and project meet the intention of the Land Use Bylaw(s) and Zoning Regulations in that particular municipal location. It provides permission for a specific type of development to take place on a site. On the other hand, the Building Permit process is to confirm that these specific plans and construction for this project meet the Building Code. Once a development permit is approved, a building permit is generally required prior to the start of construction. It is at this stage that a structural engineering firm like TOK Engineering may be your “go to” option.

A building permit is one that allows for the construction of a building or structure to move forward on the condition that it addresses and is in compliance with the building code of a city, town or county. A building permit is necessary when any construction, relocation, alteration, demolition or repair is taking place on a property. In some instance, some buildings and structures are exempt, such as accessory building or repairs not altering the structure of a property. Once applied for, building permits are reviewed under the requirement of the Building Code to ensure that the project is in compliance with things like minimum window size, structural stability, height of the railing, etc. Following the approval, inspection will take place during the construction process to ensure that the work is carried out according to the approval.

Building permits approve how your construction will take place. They require a review of detailed building plans and drawings to confirm compliance with the National Building Code and other applicable codes, standards and bylaws. Building permits must always align with prior development permit approvals.

Some examples of residential projects that may require a building permit are as follows:

• Building additions & attached garages

• Barrier-free ramps

• Basement development

• Decks

• Demolitions

• Detached garages & accessory structures

• Foundation repairs

• Home-based business

• Home renovations

• Outdoor pools & hot tubs/spas

• Secondary suites

• Single family dwelling

• Solar photovoltaic installations

• Temporary structures

• Wood stoves & fireplaces

Note: We also provide Commercial and Industrial project support.

TOK Engineering will first confirm if your project requires a building permit. If so, we can then provide an on-site inspection as necessary, create required layout drawings or review of existing drawings, engineering-stamp approved documents, and supply Building Schedules required for both the pre-building and post-building stages of your project. Give us a call. We are here to advise and help.