Building Permits

Much of the County of Brant is regulated through various conservation authorities including the Long Point Region Conservation Authority and the Grand River Conservation Authority. Each of these regulatory agencies have different requirements and it is important to know how they may impact your project as many of them are required to be in place prior to applying. View the webpages below to determine if your property falls within either authority. 

• Visit the Long Point Region Conservation Authority webpage
• Visit the Grand River Conservation Authority webpage

It is essential that all lots in the County of Brant be graded properly to ensure that surface water drainage is directed away from buildings and does not adversely affect the neighbouring properties including County or Provincial roadsides or their lands. It is also important that building elevations be such that there is no risk of hydrostatic pressure acting on any building components. To determine if a grading plan is required for your building application, contact the Grading Department.

Email Grading Department

Zoning By-laws determine the permitted uses of a property including such items as setbacks, lot coverage, previous surfaces and building height. It is important to ensure your proposed project complies with the Zoning By-law requirements before applying for your building permit. To determine the zoning of a specific property, view the County of Brant Zoning webpage and map.

Review the Applicable Laws Checklist to determine if your project is impacted. 

• Applicable Laws Checklist (PDF)

Accessory Buildings 

Accessory buildings may include a detached garage, workshop, shed, pool house or gazebos greater than 10 square metres (108 square feet) or a shed is considered a simple roofed structure, typically made of wood or metal, used for storage purposes ancillary to a principal building on the lot, not more than one storey in building height, not containing plumbing and is greater than 15 square metres (161 square feet) would require a building permit.

Accessory Buildings Permit Package (PDF)

Additions and Renovations

A building permit is required for the construction of an addition, or alteration of a residential building. Additions may include:

• sunrooms
• attached garages
• one or two storey additions
• Interior renovations that require a building permit include:
• finishing an unfinished space in a home such as a basement
• adding or removing walls
• structural changes and addition
• change of plumbing

Additions and Renovations Permit Package (PDF)

Additional Residential Unit (Secondary Unit)

An Additional Residential Unit, sometimes referred to as a secondary unit, is a self-contained unit that is either located within or attached to the primary dwelling unit or located within a detached accessory structure, subject to zoning requirements and restrictions.

Additional Residential Unit Permit Package - Interior/Addition (PDF)

Additional Residential Unit Permit Package - Detached Accessory Structure (PDF)

Decks

A building permit for a deck is required when the deck is over 24 inches (2 feet) above grade at any point or if the deck has a roof.

Deck Permit Package (PDF)

Demolition

A demolition permit is required to demolish, or partially demolish, a structure, greater than 10 square metres (108 square feet), except for farm buildings.

Demolition Permit Package (PDF)

Farm Buildings

A farm building is a term defined in Division A, Part 1 of the Ontario Building Code as all or part of a building that:

• does not contain any area used for residential occupancy that is associated with and located on land devoted to the practice of farming and
• that is used essentially used to house equipment or livestock, or the production, storage, or processing of agricultural and horticultural produce or feeds.

Farm Buildings Permit Package (PDF)

Farm Buildings - Livestock and Manure Storage Permit Package (PDF)

New Residential Buildings

A building permit is required for the construction of a single detached home, semi-detached home, and townhouses.

Residential Buildings Permit Package (PDF)

Non-Residential (Industrial, Commercial, Institutional)

A building permit is required for the construction of a new building, an addition to an existing building, or interior alteration of a non-residential (Industrial Commercial Institutional) building.  

Non-residential (ICI) - New/Addition (PDF)

Non-residential (ICI) - Interior Renovations (PDF)

Septic – New/Replacement/Repairs

Sewage system permits are required to ensure properly functioning sewage systems are installed and meet the minimum requirements of the Ontario Building Code.

New or Replacement Permit Package (PDF)

Repairs/Alterations Permit Package (PDF)

Septic Tank Permit Package (PDF)

Signs

The Ontario Building Code requires that a building permit be issued for signs that are attached to a building or are a designated structure.

Signs Permit Package (PDF)

Shipping Containers

A shipping container means a freight container used for transportation and storage of good, does not have wheels or include a motor vehicle or transport trailer.

When a shipping container is no longer used for its original purpose (example shipping or storage of freight) and is permanently placed on private property for other uses, such as storage, it is then considered to be a building as defined in the Ontario Building Code Act.  When a shipping container becomes a building and it occupies an area greater than 10 square metres, a Building Permit is required.

The County of Brant Zoning By-law regulates the use of buildings on properties within the municipality. A shipping container placed on a property for the purposes of permanent storage is considered an Accessory Building and is subject to the provisions of the Zoning By-law for accessory buildings and uses.  Refer to the Accessory Buildings Permit Package to access a standard permit guide that provides detailed information on the requirements for permit application submission. 

Solar Panels

Building permits are required for any solar panel installations that have an aggregate face area of 5 square metres (54 square feet) or greater that is mounted to a building or structure or designed to provide hot water or designed to provide primary or supplementary heating.

Solar Panel Permit Package (PDF)

Water and Sewer Connections

Water and sanitary sewer connection permits are required when a water or sanitary sewer service is constructed, repaired, or altered on private property.

Water and Sewer Connections Package (PDF)

Wood Burning Appliances

A building permit is required for:

• the installation of a new or used wood stove
• new chimney
• a factory-built fireplace or
• hearth-mounted stove inside or attached to a building

The unit must comply with the Ontario Building Code for clearances from combustible materials.

Wood Burning Appliances Permit Package (PDF)

Tents

A tent permit is required for a tent or group of tents if the area is greater than 60 square metres (646 square feet).

Tent Permit Package (PDF)