Building and Renovating

• New buildings such as homes, detached garages, sheds and workshops 
• Additions to an existing house such as a room, garage or carport, porch, add a second floor level, finish a basement or an attic 
• Decks greater than 2 feet above grade, decks with a roof
• Renovations that involve structural alterations, new bathrooms, bedrooms or removal of interior walls
• Replacement of windows/doors if opening made larger
• Installation of a wood burning stove or fireplace
• Pre-fabricated structures and buildings 
• New Plumbing systems including alteration and relocation of existing plumbing systems, septic systems, water, sanitary and storm sewers
• Demolition of a residence or accessory structure as prescribed in the Ontario Building Code
• Temporary Tents
• Structural Alterations:
  • Removing load bearing walls, beams or columns
  • Repair or reconstructing basement walls, foundations floors, roof structures, etc.
• Mobile Homes, Modular Homes, Park Model Trailers and Travel Trailers, as well as any add-a-rooms, sunrooms, porches and decks constructed in combination with such mobile home, module home or trailer
• Swimming Pool and Enclosure
• Relocation of a building

Please note: the above list should not be considered all inclusive. There may be other situations which require a permit. If your project is not mentioned or you are not certain whether a permit is required, please contact the Building Department. All buildings are required to meet certain provisions, these provision apply whether a Building Permit is required or not.

Building Projects Not Requiring a Building Permit

• Driveways and sidewalks
• Decks less than 2 feet above finished grade with no roof
• Replace roof shingles, siding, soffit and fascia, and eave troughs
• Replace existing windows/doors without increasing the opening size
• Installation of new kitchen cupboards
• Replacing plumbing fixtures
• Construct buildings smaller than 160 square feet/15 square metres

Inspections do not happen automatically. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to notify the Building Department two business days in advance, of inspections required by the Ontario Building Code. The Chief Building Official may specify that not all of the mentioned plans, specifications and documents are required to accompany an application for a permit, and not all inspections will be required depending on the type of construction. A list of required inspections will be listed on the Building Permit once issued. Failure to have inspections performed may result in having to uncover and expose work for inspection.

For plumbing and septic related inspections, please contact Building Inspector, Jennette Zimmer:
Email: bldinspector@centralhuron.com 
Phone: 519-482-3997 ext. 1251

For all other building inspections, please contact Chief Building Official, Lesley Adams:
Email: cbo@centralhuron.com
Phone: 519-482-3997 ext. 1238

Other Permits and Approvals that may be required

Applicants are responsible for obtaining all necessary permits, inspections and approvals.

Building a Deck

A building permit is not necessary if it is not attached to the main structure and is less than 10 sq. m. in area (zone provisions must still be complied with). Any deck that is larger than 10 sq. m., and all decks regardless of size, that are attached to a building, and/or more than 20' above grade require a building permit. 

Building a Fence

A building permit is not required to build a fence, however it is always safest to call the Municipal office if you have any questions 519- 482-3997.

Where can I locate my fence?

All of the fence should be within the lot lines of your property. This includes the support posts, as well as all pickets, boards, cross members, etc. Fences are and have been shared with a neighbour and placed on the common or dividing lot line. While this may work out fine as long as the properties remain in the same ownership, you are taking the risk that new neighbours may not be as easy to get along with, and disputes can arise.

In urban areas, on an interior lot, a fence over one metre in height cannot be established closer than 5 metres to the front lot line.

For a corner lot the same applies to the front yard lot line and also the exterior side yard lot line. In addition, the site triangle formed by the intersecting street lines and a line drawn between them must be free of fencing to avoid any vision obstruction to drivers of motor vehicles. From the intersection of the two streets, measure 7.5 metres along the front lot line to a point and 7.5 metres along the exterior side lot line to a point, join the two points to form a triangle (see illustration). This forms the site triangle.

What style of fence can I build?

In residential areas picket, board, cedar rail and chain link are all acceptable styles. If in doubt, call the Municipal office 519-482-3997. Always consider the reason or why you are installing the fence. Is it for privacy, security reasons, to keep pets and children safe, or purely to add charm and character to your property? This will determine the style of fence you need. If you have a swimming pool, specific fencing requirements and styles are required. Please attend at the Municipal office for a copy of Swimming Pool/Fencing By-Law 25-2008, or access the same from the Central Huron website.

Things to Remember

• Locate and construct your fence with future maintenance in mind.
• Call all applicable utilities for locates before digging such as Cable TV, Bell Telephone, Union Gas, Clinton Power Corporation, etc.