Building & Renovating
Plan your next project with confidence. Find permit requirements, inspection details, building standards, and helpful resources for construction and renovations.
Building and Renovating
The Town of New Tecumseth can help you with building and renovating. Learn how you can protect your home and your property and ensure everyone’s safety.
The Building Standards Branch recently created a brochure to help guide you through the building permit process and understand what you’ll need to get started. You can take a look at the brochure here.
Applicable Law
Use our Applicable Law Appendices to find out which agency approvals that you need before we can issue a building permit. It is your responsibility to obtain the proper approvals.
Make sure that you have the necessary development and planning approvals before applying for a building permit.
When adding a structure to your property Engineering typically reviews the lot grading. When considering to bring in fill please consider our Site Alteration By-Law.
Before you make any changes, confirm that your house is not designated as a Heritage property by checking the Register of Designated Properties list.
Depending on your project and its location, a permit may be required from a conservation authority. We will help you determine which conservation authority you need to contact.
Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority helps with development, planning and permits
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority provides landowner assistance, permits and regulations
Building Permit Application Process
Current Building Department Permit Application and Inspection Protocol
Building permits ensure that your project and all the changes you make are safe and legal. Find out what’s required, our fees and more.
You must obtain a building permit if you’re planning to build new, demolish, renovate, repair or add onto a building or structure.
Building
Examples of when a building permit is required includes but is not limited to:
- A new building or structure that is larger than 15 square metres (161 square feet)
- An addition or sunroom that’s attached to a building or structure
- Agricultural buildings
- A pre-fabricated building/structure, which is greater than 15 square metres
- Any building or structure that contains plumbing regardless of size
- Any plumbing or HVAC work
Garages, Foundations, and Basements
You will need a building permit if you’re excavating a basement or constructing a foundation, or if you are converting an attached garage into a liveable space. You also need a building permit if you’re installing:
- A door between an attached garage and a house or its basement
- An exterior staircase for basement access
Load-Bearing Walls and Beams
You will need a building permit anytime you:
- Install, change, remove or move load-bearing walls and beams
- Install new openings in load-bearing walls, exterior walls or change the size of doors and windows
- Install a skylight in the roof of a building/structure
Decks
You need a permit to build a wood deck greater than 600 mm (23-5/8 inches) in height above ground level. This includes decks around private swimming pools and if you’re adding a roof over a wood deck.
On-Site Sewage, Heat, and Air Conditioning Systems
Installing or modifying a septic system, water service, sewer line, heating system, air-conditioning system, fireplaces, or wood-stoves requires a building permit, as well as:
- Installing or repairing a chimney
- Installing, renovating or modifying plumbing fixtures or plumbing systems
- Constructing, renovating or repairing a sewage system, septic tank or septic field
Secondary Accessory Dwelling Units
If you are contemplating constructing a secondary dwelling unit please confirm the property’s zoning with the Planning Department. If your property is located within a Conservation Authority further authorization may be required.
Effective February 16, 2026, you are required to use the updated Ministry form for building permit applications.
If you are applying for a permit to finish your basement, you may be required to fill out the Single Dwelling Unit Declaration form:
Non-residential projects may need to include:
Amendment to an existing issued permit:
View our “What You Should Know About Building Permits” guide for the drawings and documentation you’ll need to prepare.
Building Permit Fees
Full permit fees are calculated based on our Building Permit By-Law Fee Schedule and currently collected at the end of the permitting process when your permit is ready to be issued. Other fees can include:
Fire Services fees
Current Application Procedure
We are currently accepting digital applications.
- Please email your application to building@newtecumseth.ca;
- Drawings shall be submitted digitally and be in a PDF format. The drawings shall be scaled and legible. Pictures of drawings will not be accepted. Building staff will circulate digital applications to the required internal departments (Planning, Engineering, Fire, Finance) for their approvals and/or comments.
Registered Owner of the Property
If you submit an application but you are not the registered owner of the property, include a letter of authorization from the registered owner of the property.
Building Guides and Sample Drawings
Building a new accessory building on your property? Check the height, location and size restrictions with the Planning and the Zoning By Law.
An accessory building/structure is exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit provided that:
- the accessory structure is not more than 15m2
- it is not more than one storey in building height
- it is not attached to a building or any other structure
- it is only used for storage purposes
- it does not have plumbing
Although the accessory building may be exempt from obtaining a building permit you still must meet all zoning requirements.
If you’re building a deck in your backyard or on your property, please ensure you meet the zoning requirements. If you’re adding wooden guards to your deck, then make sure you follow the Wooden Guard Building Code Standards.
Check out our Guide to Residential Wood Heating to make sure that you’re properly installing a wood stove or chimney. Here you will find the information you need for permits and to make sure your wood heating system is safe. It also has helpful tips on how to use and maintain it effectively.
If you’re wondering what location to use for any climatic data calculations, we use Alliston in the Design Data for Selected Locations in Ontario chart for all of New Tecumseth.
View our sample plans to help you with your next project:
Basement Apartment Sample Plan & Guide (Separate Exits)
Municipal Pool Permit
Application Forms
Along with your plans, we will require a complete application form:
Pool enclosures must meet Section 7 of the Fence By-Law.
Sample Plans
View our sample plans to help you with your Municipal Pool Permit application:
Conservation Authority
If your property is located within the LSRCA or the NVCA please contact them directly to ensure the appropriate approvals are obtained to construct in this area.
- Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority provides landowner assistance, permits and regulations
- Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority helps with development, planning and permits
Current Application Procedure
We are currently accepting digital applications.
- Please email your application to building@newtecumseth.ca;
- Drawings shall be submitted digitally and be in a PDF format. The drawings shall be scaled and legible. Pictures of drawings will not be accepted. Building staff will circulate digital applications to the required internal departments (Planning, Engineering, Fire, Finance) for their approvals and/or comments.
Registered Owner of the Property
If you submit an application but you are not the registered owner of the property, include a letter of authorization from the registered owner of the property.
Building Plans and Property Surveys
The Town of New Tecumseth receives many requests from the public for copies of building plans, property surveys, and structural/engineering/architectural drawings. In most cases, the requests are from the current property owners who wish to complete renovations and need to know the original structure of the building. In some cases, a representative such as a real estate agent or contractor may also request access to the plans for their client(s). It should be noted that these documents are copyrighted.
There are several ways to obtain a copy of these types of documents. An individual can:
- visit the Land Registry Office as the document may be registered on title; or
- contact the original creator of the document (i.e. the architect or surveyor) directly; or
- contact the original builder directly; or
- contact the previous owner; or
- have the Town of New Tecumseth conduct a search for the record(s). Access a complete list of what records may be disclosed, including who can request those records.
It is the The Town of New Tecumseth’s policy that access to these types of records shall only be given to the registered owner of the property or if the requester has written permission from the registered owner of the property.
Requests for these records can be made by completing a Routine Disclosure application and submitting it to the Building Standards Department. Requesters should be aware that there are costs associated with this service as per the Town’s Fees and Charges by-law (as amended) and the Town’s Building Permit by-law (as amended).
The application form includes a declaration regarding copyrighted records. By signing and submitting the application form, the requester is declaring to adhere to the Copyright Act, acknowledging that copyrighted records must not be reproduced for profit, nor submitted as plans for construction nor presented as original work.
Water and Sanitary Connection Permit
Follow these steps to obtain a Connection Permit
Download and fill out a Connection Permit. Please ensure a drawing is included with the application.
Submit your permit to the Public Works email.
If the water and sanitary connection permit is approved, the Permit must be submitted along with the Building Permit Application.
You must have a connection permit to connect to municipal water and sanitary mains. All piping, exterior and interior, must be inspected by the appropriate department.
Inspections
Inspections
Once a building permit has been issued, it is the permit holder’s responsibility to ensure that all required inspections are requested and completed. The required inspections for your project are listed on the back of your permit card.
Booking an Inspection
- Inspections must be requested a minimum of 24 hours in advance.
- Requests received before 3:00 p.m. will be scheduled for the next business day, unless otherwise requested.
- Inspections are conducted Monday to Friday, excluding holidays.
- If there are any conflicts, concerns, or issues identified during scheduling, our administrative staff or an inspector will contact you.
How to Request an Inspection
Inspection requests can be submitted by:
- Email: inspections@newtecumseth.ca
- Telephone: 705‑415‑1909
Required Information
Please include the following information with every inspection request to avoid delays:
- Permit number
- Address where the inspection is required
- Type of inspection being requested
- Contact name and telephone number
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If an inspection is missed or fails three (3) times, the Town’s Building Department may apply a $70.00 re‑inspection fee. This fee must be paid before another inspection can be scheduled. Re‑inspection fees help cover administrative and inspection resources and encourage readiness prior to requesting inspections.
The Town’s Building Department does not schedule time‑specific inspections. However, when submitting your request, you may ask for:
- AM or PM preference
- Call‑ahead request
While these requests cannot be guaranteed, staff will make reasonable efforts to accommodate them depending on the inspector’s schedule.
The required inspections will depend on the scope of your project. Common inspections may include, but are not limited to:
- Footing inspection
- Foundation inspection
- Framing inspection
- Insulation and vapour barrier inspection
- Plumbing rough‑in inspection
- HVAC inspection
- Final building inspection
Please refer to the back of your permit card or your approved permit drawings for a list of inspections specific to your project.
Work must not continue beyond the stage requiring inspection until the inspection has been completed and approved. Proceeding without a required inspection may result in work needing to be exposed, corrected, or removed, and could cause delays in project completion.
The permit holder or their authorized contractor is responsible for booking inspections and ensuring the work is ready at the time of inspection.
Placemaking Week
The Town of New Tecumseth is excited to host its 4th Annual Placemaking Week in June 2026, with the dedicated theme of Heritage. Placemaking Week is a Town-led initiative that invites residents to engage with the places, stories, and spaces that shape our community, promoting reflection, dialogue, and connection across generations.
Placemaking Week encourages residents to engage with the places they live, work, and gather, and to consider the ways in which history, memory, and shared experiences shape the character of our Town. By participating, residents contribute to a stronger sense of belonging and civic pride and help guide the ongoing stewardship of the Town of New Tecumseth’s heritage.
Stay tuned for updates on specific events and activities—this page will be updated as programming develops.
Heritage is embedded in both our physical spaces and our collective memory. It includes historic buildings, public spaces, streetscapes, community traditions, and the everyday stories of residents. Recognizing and celebrating heritage through placemaking:
- Strengthens connections between people and the places they share
- Promotes understanding and appreciation of local history
- Supports civic engagement, volunteerism, and community stewardship
- Creates resilient and thriving communities that value their past while shaping the future
Placemaking Week offers opportunities to explore heritage as an aspect of everyday life that informs how residents experience and care for their community today.
Placemaking Week is designed for residents of all ages and backgrounds. Everyone can engage in activities that explore heritage, share stories, and reflect on the spaces that matter most in their daily lives. Whether through interactive installations, participatory displays, or conversations with Planning staff, residents contribute to a collective understanding of what is important to the Town of New Tecumseth.
While programming for 2026 is being finalized, residents can anticipate a mix of interactive experiences, community engagement opportunities, and placemaking activations. These initiatives will encourage participants to:
- Reflect on the role of heritage in shaping local identity
- Consider the history and evolution of familiar places
- Share personal stories, memories, and perspectives
- Learn about ongoing and future heritage and placemaking initiatives in the Town
These activities are designed to be inclusive, accessible, and welcoming, encouraging meaningful participation and dialogue about the importance of heritage in the Town of New Tecumseth.
Residents can connect with Placemaking Week through a combination of on-site and online opportunities, including:
- Interactive engagement boards and installations
- Digital resources and updates via the Town website and social media
- Participating in Placemaking Week events!
Your feedback, ideas, and participation help guide the Town’s approach to heritage, placemaking, and community planning. We encourage residents to stay connected, explore new perspectives, and share their experiences throughout the week and beyond.
Learn More About Heritage and Placemaking
Want to learn more about heritage and placemaking? Check out these resources:
- What is Placemaking?
- What Role does Heritage Play in Placemaking?
- Placemaking Meets Preservation
- Placemaking: The Role of Historic Preservation and Building Documentation in Creating Inspiring Public Spaces
Stay tuned to this page and the Town’s social media channels for updates, opportunities to participate, the event schedule, and more information about Placemaking Week 2026.
What is urban design and how does it impact me?
“We cannot afford not to invest in good design. Good design is not just about the aesthetic improvement of our environment, it is as much about improved quality of life, equality of opportunity and economic growth.”
– Sir Stuart Lipton
Urban design is the process and outcome of designing and shaping the physical character of towns, suburbs and cities for residents and visitors. Urban design involves buildings, infrastructure, streets, parks, plazas, entire neighbourhoods and districts, and entire urban towns. Urban design is an interdisciplinary field that uses procedures and elements from urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, and engineering, among others.
Urban Design Guidelines Review
The Town has completed it’s review of the Urban Design Guidelines and the final document is available to the public!
This exciting project will impact how our community grows and develops into the future. Urban design benefits all residents despite age or ability. For more information on the project and urban design, please use the drop down menus below.
The Finalized Version of the Urban Design Guidelines
We are very excited to share our final version of the Urban Design Guidelines!! A copy for review can be found here:
Town of New Tecumseth Urban Design Guidelines
This version was adopted by Council on January 24, 2024.
Engagement Activities
During the week of November 8th (World Town Planning Day), the Town Planning Department engaged with local Grade 3s on what is Urban Planning and Urban Design. This fits in well with the Ontario Grade 3 curriculum on communities and local governance. During this engagement we asked students how their local urban environment makes them feel, what they see, how they interact, etc. The students provided our team with important insight into how children feel about the community around them.
We had the students draw their own future community and tell us all about it.
On Saturday November 28th and December 2nd, we set up an information booth to heard feedback from community members on local Urban Design. Residents provided us with urban design features in New Tecumseth that they enjoyed, but also with aspects of urban design that they have experienced elsewhere that we could perhaps incorporate into our communities.
- Public Information Session #2 – Held Thursday, March 30th
- Where: Beeton Memorial Arena (2nd Floor), 22 2nd St, Beeton, ON
- What: The purpose was to solicit feedback on the Draft Table of Contents, Concepts and Ideas.
- View the session posters here.
- Follow-up Survey Link: https://luraconsulting.surveymonkey.ca/r/NEWTECUMSETHUDG2
Why is Urban Design Important?
Urban design influences how people interact with each other, how they move around, and how they use a place. Urban design adds value by providing economic, social and environmental benefits:
Social and environmental benefits. Urban design can contribute to improved environmental and social-cultural health by promoting active lifestyles, reducing obesity and chronic disease, fostering social interaction, broadening universal accessibility, encouraging inclusiveness, enhancing “sense of place” and community identity, creating more energy efficient and less polluting development, and revitalizing heritage.
Economic benefits. Urban design can contribute to creating safe and livable neighbourhoods, which attract more customers, residents, and businesses. The economic benefits of good urban design can include: reduced transportation costs; and reduced management, maintenance, energy and security costs.
Project Information
The Town is poised for significant growth over the next thirty years. By 2051, the Town is expected to reach a total population of approximately 81,000, welcoming over 40,000 new residents and over 31,600 total jobs to its communities. Already, Statistics Canada data indicates that the Town was the 7th fastest growing community in Canada, and 3rd in Ontario, between 2016 and 2021.
Future growth will transform the Town’s mainly rural towns into small to medium sized urban centers, while maintaining a thriving rural and agricultural area. During this period of growth, the Town is committed to developing and supporting sustainable neighbourhood and building design, increased opportunities for placemaking, and a diverse economy of entrepreneurs, creative enterprises, and small-and large-scale manufacturing.
That is why, in the Fall of 2022, the Town retained private consultant DTAH to review and update the Town’s Urban Design Guidelines. View the Town’s 2002 Urban Design Guidelines.
Phase 1: Project Initiation – Q4 2022 – Q1 2023
During this Phase, the Town and its consultant will undertake detailed background analysis, a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis and a Public Information Session. The deliverable for this Phase will be a Needs Assessment Report.
Phase 2: Education and Awareness Campaign – Q1 – Q3 2023
During this Phase, the Town and its consultant will develop a set of guiding principles for the guidelines and a draft table of contents. We will also undertake a series of engagement and awareness initiatives to help increase knowledge of Urban Design. This Phase will include another Public Information Session and a Council Working Session.
Phase 3: Development of Draft Guidelines – Q2- Q4 2023
During this Phase, the Town and its consultant will develop a draft set of Urban Design Guidelines for review and feedback by stakeholders, the public and Council. This Phase will include another Public Information Session, a Council Working Session as well as a final Committee of the Whole presentation to deliver the final proposed guidelines.
The objective of the Urban Design Guideline Review is to consultant with members of the community and stakeholders to develop a new set of Urban Design Guidelines that help guide the development of our communities with a primary focus on overall resident well-being and a high quality of life.
The new Guidelines will aim to enhance the Town through high quality, inclusive design, ultimately contributing to improved overall community well-being.
Overall, the Urban Design Guidelines will provide clear direction supported by good design
rationale. The Guidelines will be easily implementable by staff and understood by developers, residents and Council.
The Urban Design Guidelines are for everybody but typically have three primary audiences: developers and landowners who use the guidelines to understand the Town’s aspirations and inform their proposals; Town staff and elected Officials to review and approve projects; and the broader community who are interested to know how future private and public development will respond to and respect the local context and character of our Town while at the same advance innovative ideas and best practices.
Resource Corner
What to learn more about Urban Design? We’ve included articles, infographics, and more below!
The Link Between Kids Who Walk or Bike to School and Concentration; Sarah Goodyear for Bloomberg (2013)
Are Girls Being Left Designed Out of Public Spaces?; Dr. Julia King and Olivia Theocharides-Fledmen, London School of Economics (2022)
The Life-Saving Benefits of Street Trees; Robert Steuteville, Congress for New Urbanism (2022)
Forget the conspiracies, 15-minute cities will free us to improve our mental health and wellbeing; Christopher Patterson and Lance Barrie, The Conversation
Walkable Neighbourhoods, Linkages Between Place, Health, and Happiness in Younger and Older Adults; Kevin Leyden, Michael Hogan, Lorraine D’Arcy, Brendan Bunting and Sebastiaan Bierema, Journal of the American Planning Association (2023)
Why did kids stop walking to school?
This video was produced by About Here in partnership with the Vancouver Transit Authority, Translink. Hopefully it provides some food for thought when it comes to the urban design of our communities and the habits it supports.
What are complete streets?
During our Council Working Session we were asked, what are complete streets? Complete streets is a concept that we will be implementing, in part, through the new Urban Design Guidelines. You can learn more about the concept of Complete Streets here:
What is the role of Urban Forests, within the Urban Design concept and out communities?
Here is a great infographic. You can learn more here.
What do we mean when we say, designing for all ages and abilities (mobility)?
How do street trees benefit our community?
April Monthly Spotlight – Urban Design and Active Transportation
This Month’s spotlight is on Palo Alto, California!
You may know Palo Alto as Silicon Valley or home to Stanford University, but did you also know it has some of the highest walking and cycling rates among school students!
According to their local school board, 68% of middle school student bike to school! And their elementary and high schools have equally high numbers.
These are phenomenal numbers for a medium-sized, predominately low density community. Why is it so successful? The City of Palo Alto has invested specifically in safe active transportation with a focus on increasing walking and biking to schools.
You can learn more here:
Article: Palo Alto bicyclists get boost in push for ‘safe system’; Palo Alto Weekly
Video: Biking in Palo Alto: A Safe Routes to School History Lesson
City of Palo Alto: Safe Routes to School
Here are some in-person pictures!
Permits
Roads, Sidewalks and Access Applications
Property Access Permit
You must have a Property Access permit for any new, additional or driveway extension. This permit must also be completed if the property access point requires a curb cut.
Follow these steps to obtain a Property Access Permit:
- Fill our out Property Access Permit Application. Please insure that the property owner is applying for this permit.
- The application fee is as per current Town Fees and Charges By-law.
- Submit your permit to the Joint Operation Centre or email PAP@newtecumseth.ca.
- If property access is approved, a Road Occupancy Permit will then be required for the installation of the access way.
Road Closure Permit
You must have a Road Closure permit for closing Town streets.
The following examples require a permit:
- Parades
- Street Festivals
- Construction work that requires the road to be closed
Please contact Public Works general inquires if you’re not sure id you need a permit.
Follow these steps to obtain a Road Closure Permit:
- Fill out our Road Closure Application, make sure to include the name of the person performing the activity and your schedule.
- Provide a traffic control plan.
- Applications must be submitted a minimum of ten business days in advance.
- Advanced notification signage must be installed a minimum of 7 days in advance of the closure.
- The Town will need to be added to the event holders insurance certificate in the amount of $5,000,000.
- The application fee is as per current Town Fees and Charges Bylaw.
- Submit your permit by email to ROP@newtecumseth.ca
Road Occupancy Permit
You must have a Road Occupancy permit for any activity within the right of way (property limits) in the Town of New Tecumseth.
The following examples require a permit:
• Any work on curbs, sidewalks, roads or boulevards
• Any work on or near a Town tree
• Demolition or construction work
• Special events
• Storage or disposal bins that are blocking the right of way
• Swimming pool installations
• Water and sewer repairs or connections
Please contact Public Works general inquiries if you’re not sure if you need a permit.
Follow these steps to obtain a Road Occupancy Permit:
- Fill out our Road Occupancy Permit application, make sure to include the name of the person performing the activity and your schedule.
- Provide a traffic control plan if your activity affects traffic.
- Applications must be submitted a minimum or ten business days in advance
- The application fee is as per current Town Fees and Charges Bylaw.
- Submit your permit to the Joint Operations Centre or email ROP@newtecumseth.ca.
Excess Load Permit
A permit is required for commercial vehicles to carry a load larger or heavier than the maximum limits established in the Highway Traffic Act.
Streetlights
Streetlights are regularly inspected. Should you find a streetlight out of order, the Public Works Department can create a work order to have the streetlight issue repaired.
Please call in to report the streetlight at 705-435-3900 dial ‘4’ for Public Works.
Water and Sanitary Connection Permit
- Download and fill out a Connection Permit. Please ensure a drawing is included with the application.
- Submit your permit to the Public Works email
- If the water and sanitary connection permit is approved, the Permit must be submitted along with the Building Permit Application.
You must have a connection permit to connect to municipal water and sanitary mains. All piping, exterior and interior, must be inspected by the appropriate department.
Bulletins
Building Department bulletins provide updates and information to help keep our community informed. Bulletins may include changes to the Ontario Building Code, municipal by‑laws, and Building Department policies and procedures, as well as health and safety awareness information and home and property maintenance tips.
Bulletins are archived on this website for two years for public reference.