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.

Planning and Zoning
Make sure that you have the necessary development and planning approvals before applying for a building permit.
Engineering and Lot Grading
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
 Public Works
Please see the Public Works page for inquiries regarding the following:
 Heritage Designation
Before you make any changes, confirm that your house is not designated as a Heritage property by checking the Register of Designated Properties list.
Conservation Authorities
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.

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. 

When Do You Need a Building Permit
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.
 Building Permit Applications and Requirements

Application Forms

Along with your building plans, we require a complete application form:

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:

Building Plans and Drawings

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:
 Submitting Your Application

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

 Accessory Buildings

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.
Deck Standards 
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. 
Wood Heating 
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.
Climatic Data 
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.
Sample Plans 
 View our sample plans to help you with your next project:

Municipal Pool Permit

 Municipal Permit Applications and Requirements

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.
Submitting Your Application 

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.

Booking an Inspection

The Ontario Building Code requires notice of inspections through various stages of your project's construction as per Division C Part 1 of the Ontario Building Code. It is your responsibility to book inspections (or to ensure that your contractor does so).

 Contact Us to Book an Inspection
Inspections must be booked a minimum of 24 hours in advance before 3PM Monday to Friday excluding holidays.  Inspection requests can be made by emailing our team or by phone 705-415-1909.

When submitting an inspection request please provide:

  • The permit number
  • The owner's name that appears on the permit card
  • Address of the inspection
  • Type of inspection being requested
  • Contact name and telephone number
  • AM or PM request (depending on workload we may or may not be able to accommodate your request)
Please note that an occupancy inspection is not always a final inspection.

Legal Requests (FOI, Routine Disclosure, Compliance Letters)

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request is a way for you to ask the Town of New Tecumseth for records that may be in your property file or are in the custody and control of the Town, such as inspection sheets and permit applications. You will need to complete an FOI request.

For information on how to get building plans, property surveys, or structural/engineering/architectural drawings, please visit the building plans and property surveys page.

Access a complete list of what records may be disclosed, including who can request those records.

To make a request, complete the Routine Disclosure Application Form and send it to the relevant department.

Compliance Letter Request

Building Compliance Letter Request Form