Building and Drainage
The Building and Drainage Department is responsible for the administration and enforcement of various Provincial legislation and policies including the Ontario Building Code Act, Drainage Act and Planning Act as they apply to buildings, structures and their occupancy and drainage issues as well as numerous municipal by-laws such as the Building Control By-law, Zoning By-law, Nutrient Management By-law and fencing by-laws.
The main role of the Building and Drainage Department is to ensure that the building environment in which we live and work is safe and healthy. This is accomplished through the issuance of building and demolition permits, approval of nutrient management plans and by conducting inspections.
For any inquiries or comments about any services provided by the Building & Drainage department, please contact Mike Hughes, Chief Building Official/Drainage Superintendent at 519-485-2490 ext 7224 or contact Mike by email.
Posting your building permit at the construction site |
The Chief Building Official requires the builder to post the Building Permit in a window or other prominent place at the site and to keep a copy of the building plan on site. |
Building inspections |
There are inspections required for a project at each major phase of the construction to be conducted by the Building Inspector. The individual responsible for the project must request each inspection 2 business days in advance to the Building Inspector. The Inspector's duty is to ensure that the project is being carried out according to the Building Code, the Building Permit and the approved building plans. The Inspector's duty is to ensure that the project is being carried out according to the Building Code, the Building Permit and the approved building plans. The individual responsible for the project must request each inspection 2 business days in advance to the Building Inspector. If the Building Official finds, upon inspection, that some work does not conform to the approved plans or code, he will be advised (possibly with written notice) that the situation is to be remedied. If the violation is deemed serious enough, the Building Official may post a stop-work order which may be in effect until the problem is resolved. If work on the project continues without resolution of the problem, legal action may be taken against the builder. To book an inspection for your permitted building project, contact Nicole at 519-485-2490 ext 7231 or by email. |
Building Projects that do not require a Building Permit |
The following home improvement projects do not require a building permit:
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Building Projects that require a Building Permit |
New habitable buildings greater than 10 sq.m. (107 sq.ft.) and all accessory buildings greater than 10 sq. m. including:
Please contact Mike Hughes, Chief Building Official at 519-485-2490 ext 7224 to verify the zoning requirements and to arrange an appointment for the issuance of a building permit. |
Cloudpermit Software
Our office uses Cloudpermit software for the preparation and issuance of all building permits in the municipality. We are pleased to offer this service to residents, builders, and our business community.
This building permit system allows you to apply for and to see the status of your building (and septic system) permit application anywhere, at any time. You can start an application and finish it later, receive email updates on the status of your permit application, and even request an inspection.
Create an account |
To create an account, complete the following steps:
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Start an application |
To start an application, complete the following steps:
Once you have completed the above steps, you will see a Summary. If you need to make changes, click "Back". If the information is correct, click "Create". |
Complete a draft application |
Under "General", you will need to complete the following steps:
Under "Attachments", you may be required to provide attachments like site plans, architectural drawings, etc.:
Repeat the steps above for all of the attachments that are required for your application. If at any time you need to change or update the attachments (before submitting your application), you can delete the file by clicking on the garbage can icon and upload it again. |
Submit application |
Once you have completed the previous steps, you can submit your application by clicking ‘submit application’ After submission, you will receive:
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Pay for your permit |
We offer a variety of payments options, including:
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Book inspections |
Once you have received your permit and the work is underway, you will require our Building Inspector to visit your site and sign-off on your work at various points in the project. To book an inspection, complete the following steps:
If you need to change the date or time, or cancel the request, select "Modify Request". |
Tips:
- At any point during the process, you can return to the "My Dashboard" page to see which applications you have made and if our office needs more information to process your application.
- You can delete your application at any time by using the "Select Action" drop-down menu at the top of the page.
- Use Cloudpermit Support for answers to frequently asked questions.
Ontario Power Authority - Feed-in Tariff Program
The Council of the Township of Zorra passed by-law 67-12 at a Council meeting on September 18, 2012. This by-law established a fee of $300.00 for Ontario Power Authority - Feed-In Tariff Application Council Support Request.