Building Department

 

The Building Department reviews permit applications for compliance with the Ontario Building Code Act and the Building Code however permit applications may be circulated to other Township Officials to ensure compliance with other applicable law and regulations such as the Zoning By-Law. 

All inquiries related to the Planning Act, Zoning By-Law or other Planning related legislation should be directed to the Planning Department 

 

Why You Need to Obtain a Building Permit 

Building permits allow the Township to protect the interests of both individuals and the community as a whole. By reviewing and approving building permit applications before any work is done, the Township can ensure that buildings comply with: 

  • The Ontario Building Code 
  • Bonfield’s Zoning By-Law and other planning controls on buildings 
  • Other applicable legislation, including conservation authority approvals and certain requirements under the Environmental Protection Act 

  

When do you need a building permit? 

You must obtain a building permit before you: 

  • construct a building greater than 108 sq. ft. in area or place another structure, such as a mobile home, on your property 
  • construct or place a shed or shipping container greater than 161.45 sq. ft. (implement/storage use only) 
  • construct a deck greater than 108 sq. ft. more than 24” above grade or any size deck attached to a Building 
  • Install a swimming pool capable of holding water greater than 24” in depth 
  • construct any size Bunkie for human habitation 
  • make renovations, repairs or add to a building 
  • change the use of a building 
  • excavate or construct a foundation 
  • installation of a Cover-All Building  
  • installation of any Tent or aggregate area of group of Tents greater than 645.8 sq ft or any tents less than 3 metres from any building 
  • undertake work regarding the installation, alteration, extension, increasing occupant load or repair of an on-site sewage system 
  • installation of a Woodstove

Resources and Samples

Shipping Containers

With the increasing popularity of retired shipping containers being given new life in building or storage, the Town of Bonfield is reminding residents and landowners that a Building Permit must be obtained prior to bringing shipping containers with an area greater than 161.5 sq. ft, or greater than 108 sq. ft. when shipping containers have a proposed use other than a shed. And in all cases shipping containers are prohibited from being placed on vacant land where a principal building is not firstly in place.

The Ontario Building Code recognizes shipping containers, which range in area from 160 to 320 square feet, as structures when used on land. The construction or placement of any structure over 15 square meters, (161.5 square feet) requires a Building Permit. Remembering that the 161.5 sq ft limitation is reserved for implement storage use only and as ancillary buildings on a property with a primary building as the code describes below:

Recently the Ontario Building Code was amended to exempt sheds up to 160 ft sq from the requirement to obtain a permit under section 8 mentioned above.  However there are certain conditions for exemption.  See excerpt below:


OBC 1.3.1.1. of Division C of the Regulation is amended by adding the following Sentence:

(6) A shed is exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit under section 8 of the Act and is exempt from compliance with this Code, provided that the shed,

(a) is not more than 15 m2 in gross area,

(b) is not more than one storey in building height,

(c) is not attached to a building or any other structure,

(d) is used ONLY FOR STORAGE purposes ancillary to a principal building on the lot, and

(e) does not have plumbing.

 

Since a “shed” over 108 ft square is considered a building as per the Ontario Building Code Act 1992, the Act would otherwise apply making a permit necessary.  However the changes to the Building Code outlined above now allow a “shed” (or building) to be built up to 15 meters square (160 ft sq approx) without a permit, providing it is only used for storage and the other conditions mentioned above.  

 

Shipping containers are also subject to Zoning regulations in respect to permitted uses, maximum lot coverage, placement locations, setbacks to lot lines, easements, etc Please contact the Chief Building Official prior to moving shipping containers onto your property.

 

 

The Building Department
Mike Pilon,  Chief Building Official

Phone: 705-776-2641 ext. 129
Fax: 705-776-1154
Email:  bylaws@bonfieldtownship.com