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The Lambton County Homeowner's

BUILDING PERMIT INFORMATION GUIDE

BUILDING SERVICES DEPARTMENT 789 Broadway Street, Box 3000 Wyoming, ON N0N 1T0 Telephone: 519 845-0801 Toll-free: 1-866-324-6912 Fax: 519 845-3817 www.lambtononline.ca

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The Lambton County Homeowner's BUILDING PERMIT

INFORMATION GUIDE

Table of Contents What is a Building Permit?................................................................2 Why are Homeowners Required to Obtain Building Permits?.............................................................................................2 What Construction Projects Require a Building Permit?...............................................................................................2 What Projects Do Not Require a Building Permit?.............................3 Permits and Approval You May Require……………………………….3 Designer Information……………………………………………………..4 Drawings Required for Building Permits...........................................4/5/6 Examples of Drawings......................................................................7/8 Submitting your Application................................................................8 How Long will it Take to Obtain a Permit? ……………………............9 Required Inspections..........................................................................10

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What Is A Building Permit?

A Building Permit is a license that grants permission to start construction of a building project.

Why Are Homeowners Required To Obtain Building Permits?

Permits ensure that the construction within our municipality complies with the construction and safety standards of the Ontario Building Code, zoning regulations and other applicable laws and standards.

What Construction Projects Require a Building Permit?

• New buildings such as homes, detached garages, sheds and

workshops; • Additions to an existing house such as a room, garage or carport,

porch, addition of a second floor level, finishing of a basement or an attic;

• Decks greater than 2 feet above finished grade and decks with a roof; • Renovations such as a new bathroom, enclosure of an existing porch,

and removal/alteration of interior walls; • Repairs to foundations, basements and crawlspaces; • Replacement of windows if opening is made larger; • Installation of a wood burning stove or outdoor wood furnace or

fireplace; • Pre-fabricated structures, mobile homes and temporary buildings; • Plumbing systems including water, sanitary and storm sewers • Installation of swimming pools; • Installation of backflow preventers for lawn irrigation systems; • Demolitions • Septic Systems

Note: It is the responsibility of the property owner to obtain a permit.

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What Projects DO NOT Require a Building Permit? • Driveways and sidewalks; • Fences, other than for swimming pools; • Decks less than 2 feet above finished grade with no roof (zoning and building regulations still apply); • Replace roof shingles, siding, soffit and fascia, and eaves troughs; • Replace existing windows without increasing the opening size; • Installation of new kitchen cupboards; • Construct buildings smaller than 108 square feet (zoning and building regulations still apply).

Please note that although a building permit may not be required, you must still comply with zoning by-laws and other applicable laws and regulations as per 1.1.3.3 of the Ontario Building Code.

Permits & Approvals That You May Require Lambton County *Plumbing Building Services *Septic Permits / Assessments 519 845-0809 ext. 349 *Building (Construct or Demolish) *Signs Lambton County *Minor Variance Planning & Development *Re-zoning Services Department *Severance 519 845-0809 ext. 341 *Development Control *Woodlot Lambton County Public *Entrance Permit Works Department 519 845-0809 ext. 345 Electrical Safety Authority *Electrical 1-877-372-7233 St. Clair Conservation Authority *Fill/Flood Line 519 245-3710 Ausable Bayfield Conservation *Fill/Flood Line Authority 519 235-2610

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Designer Information

Schedule 1 - Designer Information must be completed by every person providing design activities and must be qualified and/or registered unless exempt by the Building Code. For further information regarding designer

qualifications and registration please contact the appropriate Building Services Department.

For Lambton Shores Area : 519 786-2335 / 1-866-786-2335 For the City of Sarnia : 519 332-0330

For All Other Municipalities: 519 845-0809 ext 349 Drawings Required For Building Permits: Site Plan (including site services)

• drawn to scale indicating street address, lot number, lot size, property line boundaries, right-of-ways and easements;

• location & dimensions of all existing and proposed buildings; • actual and proposed setback distances from all property lines; • location of existing septic system, water well, etc. (if applicable); • location of hydro lines and underground utilities; • location, height and description of existing or proposed fences (pool

permits); • driveways and entrance location.

Lot Grading Plan (if required):

• a site plan with existing and finished grade elevations, top of foundation elevation, a drainage scheme compatible with existing drainage patterns or an approved subdivision grading plan;

• signed and stamped by an Ontario Land Surveyor or a Professional Engineer.

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Foundation Plan: • drawn to scale showing basement wall type and sizes; • strip footing size; • column and pier footing size and spacing dimensions; • beams and floor joist sizes and spacing; • room dimensions with door and window sizes and location; • location of plumbing fixtures, floor drain, sump, furnace, etc.

Floor Plans:

• drawn to scale showing all floors with room names or uses; • dimensions of rooms, halls, and stairs; • location of plumbing fixtures, ventilation equipment, smoke and carbon

monoxide detectors, handrails and guards; • beam, lintel and joist sizes; • door and window location and sizes.

Cross Section(s):

• drawn to scale showing room height, roof pitch, construction details and materials used for the construction of walls, floors, ceilings, and roof;

• depth of footings, type and thickness of foundation; • finished floor level and finished grade.

Elevations:

• drawn to scale showing front, rear and sides; • details of exterior construction and materials; • include balconies, bay windows, porches and stairs, and any other

exterior encroachment; • finished floor levels and finished grade; • overall height of the building.

Truss and Engineered Floor Drawings:

• The drawings for trusses or I joists when used for roof or floor must be included with the application.

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Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) • Heat Loss Calculations and duct design (if applicable)

Other Engineered Drawings and Information:

• when foundations are underpinned, or special structural design is required, drawings must be stamped by a professional engineer.

• Engineering wood beams Examples of Drawings:

Front Elevation Site Plan

Left Side Elevation Rear Elevation

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Sample Elevation Drawing Basement Floor Plan

Cross Section First Floor Plan

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Submitting your Application: Complete the Building Permit Application Form (available at your local municipal office, the Building Services Department or online at www.lambtononline.ca/building_permits) and submit it to the Building Services Department or the local municipal office with:

• 2 sets of building plans (floor plan, foundation, cross section, elevations, roof trusses, etc., as appropriate).

• 2 copies of the site plan or property survey. • A copy of any required approval such as septic, minor variance, deed,

conservation authority approval, site plan control, Community Health Services and any other approval as required by applicable law.

• A permit fee is required and may be paid by cash or cheque. The fee is determined by the Building Services Department and is based on the fee schedule of the current building by-law and payment is due at the time of permit issuance.

Lambton Shores and City of Sarnia have their own building departments. Please contact :

Sarnia at 519 332-0330 Lambton Shores at 519 786-2335 or 1-866-786-2335

for their requirements. **Please note: Lambton Shores will accept their applications, including septic at any of their offices, Grand Bend, Forest and Northville. **Please note: City of Sarnia applications must be submitted to the City of Sarnia office on Christina Street, however the septic application must be submitted to the County of Lambton.

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How Long will it Take to Obtain a Building Permit?

Row Class of Building Time Period1 (a)Single Family Dwelling

(b) Small Accessory Structures (c) Tents (d) Signs

10 days

2 (a) Small Buildings described in Part 9 of the Ontario Building Code (b) Farm Buildings that do not exceed 600m2 in the building area.

15 days

3 (a) Large Buildings described in part 3 of the Building Code (b) Farm Buildings that exceed 600m2 in building area

20 days

4 (a) Post Disaster Buildings (b) High Buildings and Group B Buildings

30 days

• Permits may be issued sooner depending on the complexity of the project and the completeness of drawings and submitted information;

• There are also exceptions depending on the referral to another

department or agency if required, or if special approval(s) such as minor variance, septic, etc., is also required.

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Required Inspections: Inspections do not happen automatically. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to notify the Building Services Department, at least 48 hours in advance when the following inspections required, as set by the Building Code and noted on the building permit:

• Storm and sanitary sewer connection and waterline, if applicable; • Septic System, readiness to construct bed and prior to backfilling; • Footings, prior to pouring concrete; • Foundation, prior to backfilling; • Underground Plumbing; • Framing; • Rough-In Plumbing; • Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC); • Insulation and Vapour Barrier; • Fire Separations, Access Routes and Protection Systems; • Commencement of Construction of Solid Fuel Fireplaces and

Woodstoves; • Completion of construction to permit occupancy. Requires final

plumbing inspection and septic inspection, if applicable; • Final inspection when project is complete including required grading.

For inspections please call the following numbers: If your building permit is issued in the Municipality of Lambton Shores please call: 519 786-2335 or 1-866-786-2335 If your building permit is issued in the City of Sarnia please call 519 332-0330 All other municipalities and all septic/plumbing inspections can contact the Building Services Department at the County of Lambton at 519 845-0809 ext 349 or 1-866-324-6912.