Permit Application

Questions and Answers – Permit Application

Visitor: Anthony
Bay Roberts, Newfoundland
February 2009.

Question:
Which office would issue building permits (for renovations) for a house within the town of Bay Roberts, Newfoundland?
Which permits would be applicable for a Kitchen renovation (new plumbing and electrical, doors and windows?

Answer:
A building permit is not required if you are simple replacing existing doors and windows, with no additional structural work. If you are creating new window or door openings, then this is structural work and a building permit is required.
Depending on the type and extent of the plumbing and electrical work, a plumbing permit and electrical permit may be required. Discuss the details with the town office in Bay Roberts. Contact information is found on the page for Building Departments Newfoundland-Labrador.
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Visitor: Cindy
St. Albert, Alberta
January 2008.

Question:
Could you please refer me to the website where we may obtain a gas & plumbing permit for our commercial project.

Answer:
A gas or plumbing permit is issued by The City of St. Albert Planning & Engineering Department.
The St. Albert website (stalbert.ca) has application forms. I believe you would use the one for development. For confirmation, call the Department at 780-459-1642.
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Visitor: Dennis
Madoc, Ontario
January 2008.

Question:
In Ontario a new law requires that in order to get a building permit for any residential modification, even though a designer may be familiar with code and has had years of architectural drawing experience, he/she must be licenced, meaning to have studied and passed exams on the building code, in order to make drawings and submit them for a building permit. The key word here is 'licensed'.
Does this new licensing law apply to all provinces or only Ontario?
How do firms who make hundreds of house plans and offer them for sale anywhere in North America, including Ontario, deal with this requirement?
How does the purchaser of the house plans obtain a permit if he/she is not licensed to submit plans for a permit?

Answer:
In Ontario, Bill 124 requires that design firms or freelance designers producing plans for a building permit application must have a BCIN on the drawings. Bill 124 took effect on January 1, 2006. This is a ‘Building Code Identification Number’.
It is issued to a designer who has passed the Ontario Building Code exams. The purpose of this Bill is to create a licensed body of professionals. It will force all house plans or structural renovation plans to be building code compliant. It is intended to speed up the building permit process.
The Bill was passed to ensure professional, experienced designers are recognized for their skills and knowledge of the codes. It also ensures that anyone paying for residential plans is getting a professional job that will not be rejected by the building department.
Firms who make hundreds of plans for sale do not usually concern themselves with local permit issues.
That is up to the purchaser. That means that in Ontario the plans will have to be reviewed by a qualified and registered designer with a BCIN.
Bill 124 applies to Ontario. Other provinces have their own requirements for permit applications. Please contact the building department for the city or town in the province where the work is to take place to determine their requirements. _________________________________________________________________

Visitor: John
Calgary, Alberta
January 2006.

Question:
Who is the permitting authority for the town of Okotoks, AB?

Answer:
The department for the town of Okotoks, Alberta has been added to the listing Building Departments Alberta.
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