Building Permits

• New residential dwellings
• Attached garage, carport, shed or other roof structure of any size
• Detached garage, shed or accessory structure 108 square feet and greater (measured to the outside face of exterior walls)
• Adding or creating a Bunkie (any size)
• Decks supported above grade (any height)
• Finishing the basement of a house
• Adding a bedroom
• Additions to a building
• Enclosures for swimming pools with a depth of 24 inches or greater (including temporary or inflatable)
• Creating an accessory apartment 
• Plumbing fixtures added or relocated
• Removing a load bearing wall, column, lintel or beam
• Re-insulating walls, ceilings or floors
• Wood stove, wood burning fireplace, or a wood furnace (interior or exterior)
• Installing a new window or door, or when increasing the width of the existing opening
• Retaining wall that is greater than 1.0 metre (3'-3"), pending location
• Solar Panels that are mounted to a building and have a face area of 5 square meters (53.8 square feet) or greater
• Septic system installations and alterations
• Site servicing (water or sewer lines) for all building types
• Demolition of a structure greater than 10 square metres (108 square feet) in building area
• Tent or group of tents that is, more than 60 square metres (646 square feet) in aggregate ground area, attached to a building, or constructed within 3.0 metres (9'-10") of any structure
• Industrial, commercial, institutional and multi-residential construction or alterations or changes of use

• Building permit application - SFD and additions

• Building permit application - Accessory structures

• Building By-law and Fees

• Demolition permit application

• Pool enclosure application

• Septic system permit application

• Submit Electronically (complete permit application and attach supporting documents)

It is very important to first inquire with the Town's Planning Services Branch as to whether or not the construction you are proposing complies with the Town of Bracebridge Comprehensive Zoning By-law. 

If you are contacting the Town's Planning Services Branch, details on the property  including address and/or roll number along with details on your proposed project will be required.  This review can take up to 10 business days.

If your project does not meet the requirements of the Town's Comprehensive Zoning By-law, you must then decide if you wish to proceed by changing the location of your buildings or, to undertake a variance or amendment process.  The estimated time for an application to be processed, including required notice and appeal periods can range between 4 and 6 months.  Details of this process can be obtained from the Planning Services Branch.

In order for your building permit to be processed in a timely manner, it is important to ensure that all requirements of outside agencies have been met BEFORE you submit your application. These requirements could include an approval of the Ministry of Transportation, or the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.  These permits must be obtained and submitted with the building permit application.

A complete building permit application is usually processed within the following number of business days, based on the building classification of the project listed below:

• Single-family dwellings and other small projects – 10 business days
• Small buildings other than houses – 15 business days
• Large buildings – 20 business days
• Complex buildings – 30 business days

Incomplete applications will not be processed or issued until all zoning and planning approvals and relevant information and all other applicable law requirements are completed. These applications are exempt from the timelines listed above.

NOTE:  Since the COVID-19 Emergency was declared in March, 2020, the Town of Bracebridge staff have been working remotely.  Permit applications may not be reviewed as quickly has they had previously.  Applicants are advised that delays in processing applications may occur.

Most types of landscaping, such as hedges and patio stones, do not require permits. Structures greater than 10 square metres require a permit as do some retaining walls  It is recommended that the Town's Comprehensive Zoning By-law be reviewed to determine what is considered landscaping. 

You have six months after the permit is issued to start construction and have an inspection completed on your project or the permit may be revoked as per section 8 of the Building Code Act. Once the first inspection is completed, the permit will not expire, but may be revoked, as per section 8 of the Building Code Act, if construction discontinues for more than one year.

• Inspections for the work will be required and the inspections required will be noted on the permit.
• It is the permit holders responsibility to contact the Town for the required inspections.  This can be done by emailing the Building Services Branch or by phone to 705-645-6319 Ext. 236.
• Please note all Building, Plumbing & Septic Inspections require 48 hours notice.
• Building Permits plaque-cards must be posted onsite in a visible location.
• Plans reviewed, marked and approved by the Building Services Branch must be available onsite as well as Shop Drawings for trusses with Engineers Stamp on site and Shop Drawings for Engineered wood products on site.

During construction, several mandatory inspections are required to ensure that all work is done in compliance with the approved plans and the Ontario Building Code. Inspections do not happen automatically – it is your responsibility to ensure that either you or your contractor contacts the Town of Bracebridge  to arrange for an inspection.

The required inspections are listed on the permit, and include (but are not limited to) footings, foundation pre-backfill, framing, insulation–air and vapour barrier, completion of air barrier system, fire separations, plumbing, HVAC, final interior and exterior. 

Please note, the inspector must be able to see the part of the work to be inspected.

Failure to have inspections performed may result in having to uncover and expose work for inspection.  Inspections must be booked at least 48 hrs in advance.