Changes to
The structure and content of the proposed Building Bylaw follows that of our current by-law with changes required by Bill 124 or to improve its operational effectiveness. The following outline summarizes and briefly explains the changes to the Building Bylaw. Changes to fee multipliers were applied before making the adjustment to reflect program costs.
1.
Administrative
Changes to the Building By-law
a. New permit application and other forms. The Town is required to accept a common application form designed by the Province. The by-law has been amended to reflect this change.
b. Electronic application submission is provided for in the by-law.
c. Provision to cancel abandoned permit applications after six months of inactivity.
d. Required Inspection notices have been changed to align with new mandatory inspection notices and to recommend the following additional notices:
i.
commencement
of construction of the building
ii.
commencement
of construction of:
1. masonry fireplaces and masonry chimneys,
2. factory-built fireplaces and allied
chimneys,
3. stoves, ranges, space heaters and
add-on furnaces using solid fuels and allied chimneys
iii.
substantial
completion of interior finishes
e.
Provision
is made enabling the chief building official to engage registered code agents
as required.
f.
Transition
provision allows for the application of the current by-law to applications
filed prior to
2.
Fees for
classes of construction
a. New fee for public outdoor pools that reflects the quantity of work involved in these complex facilities when not enclosed in an assembly building.
b. A distinction between multiple dwellings such as townhomes and single detached dwellings that reflects the additional complexity of such construction.
c. A distinction between repeat production housing and unique housing to reflect the streamlined approval process associated with repeat housing.
d. New fee for coach house garages to reflect their relative complexity.
e. New fee for repair garages to reflect their complexity relative to other industrial occupancies.
f. New fee for rack storage systems equivalent to other industrial floor space.
g. New fee for the following structures:
i. Shoring and underpinning.
ii. Crane runways
iii. Exterior storage tanks,
iv. Pedestrian bridges
v. Satellite dish
vi. Solar collector
vii. Large signs
viii. Doors leading to basement from exterior
ix. Below grade stair
h. New fees for the following mechanical systems
i. Standpipe systems
ii. Emergency power
iii. Emergency lighting
iv. Special ventilation systems
v. Septic system replacement
vi. Septic system evaluation
3.
Administrative
Fees
a. Certified Models will attract a new fee equivalent to the single detached dwelling fee. This is a new fee and will offset the relative discount associated with repeat dwelling permits.
b. Supplementary submissions and revised submissions will attract a fee of $75/hour of review time. This is intended to offset the additional costs associated with multiple reviews of low quality submissions.
c. Incomplete work for which an inspection has been arranged will attract a fee of $75 to offset the cost of the inspector’s additional visit.
4.
Refunds
a. Refined the approach to the rate at which we earn the permit fee and the refunds available should projects be abandoned.
b. Reduced the earned proportion of a fee for an issued permit to more fairly represent the value of the work completed at various stages.