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Small Cabin Forum / Properties / Ontario building permits
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Jimmy2shoes
Member
# Posted: 6 Jul 2020 18:58 - Edited by: Jimmy2shoes
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Hey everyone,

My wife and I recently purchased some waterfront property in an organized township in Northen Ontario. I've been researching and reading through the forum for many hours now and have gained a lot of knowledge and some great ideas for what we want to do with our property.

A few things I'm curious about, that I couldn't find an answer to.

We do have a 30x30 block foundation in place from the previous owner. It does look like it is well built, but unfortunately it doesnt have a building permit at all, and therefore no stamped plans from an engineer or anything like that. Would it make sense to have the building inspector come out to inspect it before we continue with any other planning? Or would we need to get an engineer out and draw up a plan for it?

Another thing we are finding confusing is a septic system. The property is zoned recreational waterfront right now, but it seems as tho we still need to have a septic permit in order to get a building permit. But the property is too small to have a traditional septic system. Ideally we would just have a composting toilet because we dont want to have to worry about water supply right yet, but I cant find a definitive answer if there are any available that meet the building code requirements.

Any tips or advice is much appreciated, and we look forward to getting our project underway
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ICC
Member
# Posted: 6 Jul 2020 21:14
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The best answers are going to come from the township you are located in. A lot of other replies are going to include guesswork, maybe some hoping for the best, etc. which won't really help.

Jimmy2shoes
Member
# Posted: 6 Jul 2020 21:22
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Thanks ICC, I'll try contacting the building inspector again tomorrow.

Bruces
Member
# Posted: 6 Jul 2020 21:25
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I live in Northern Ontario and build and renovate homes for a living ,and I think your answers would be possibly .I say that because most of the inspectors I deal with daily won’t tell you anything other than that doesn’t pass ,it is because if they tell you this will be fine ,and you go ahead and get it drawn up,properly ,the planning department might not allow it ,basically they don’t want to tell you something that in the end doesn’t work so they rather not give any helpful info .Now ,I build lots of cabins and buildings in less large areas ,and the building inspectors there are more helpful as they don’t often have a planning dept that likes to contradict them .So ,your only answer is possibly .
On Manitoulin Island ,the inspector was also a builder and he wanted to build my camps (I built 10 that summer ),wanted to haul in the gravel ,everything really ,it was a really dirty deal but I got through it ,but it can go either way with these inspectors .

Jimmy2shoes
Member
# Posted: 7 Jul 2020 09:32
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Thanks for the info Bruces. I have tried to contact him a couple times unsuccessfully. I did find out that it's the health department that issues septic and waste permits. So hopefully that's a help and doesnt give us issues with getting building permits.

How far are you from Huron Shores? We were going to get a couple contractors in to give a quote on building the shell of the building and us doing the finishing work inside. If you're interested feel free to send me a PM.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 7 Jul 2020 09:56
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There will probably be several departments involved. Zoning will have a say in how close to the property lines you can build. There will be rules on how close to the waterfrontage you can build. Septic is almost always handled by the health department. If the health department will okay a composting toilet there will be grey water rules. After all that there will be the building permit for the structure along with separate electrical and plumbing permits.

Bruces
Member
# Posted: 7 Jul 2020 13:29
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I am in Sudbury so a few hours away .I have 7 housebuilds this summer but with covid , everything is getting bogged down massively .You might get lucky in that area ,it’s not big enough to have a real building department ,probably a one or two man operation which is generally reasonable .Good luck to you .

Bruces
Member
# Posted: 7 Jul 2020 13:31
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I should let you know I have had good dealings with the Home Hardware in Blind River for lumber if that isn’t too far for you .

Princelake
Member
# Posted: 7 Jul 2020 20:19
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Bright lake?

Jimmy2shoes
Member
# Posted: 7 Jul 2020 22:17
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Great Bruces, I'll keep that in mind when it comes to getting the building supplies.

Yes Princelake, it's on Bright Lake

Princelake
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2020 06:51 - Edited by: Princelake
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I would definitely get the bylaw book to see what is allowed. You can probably download it from the townships website. They want you to get a septic permit which can also be grey water (sinks,showers,etc.) They don't want that going into the lake. I have algomas guided lines to approved grey water systems and guide lines for an outhouse.
For that foundation its already there so I'd talk to the building department like your adding an addition on to a house. You can build an addition on to a 100 year home that does not meet today's building codes so why not the same for what you have.
I would call an engineer to look at it and make you plans. He may require you to make a few changes to what you have existing to support what your going to build on top of it and then pull the permit with your proper drawn plans.

Jimmy2shoes
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2020 11:03
Reply 


That's great info, thank you very much for that.

I never considered that the grey water would be considered an acceptable septic system when used with a composting toilet. I do have the bylaws and the zoning downloaded and have been studying them.

I'll probably call the township again, and see if they can offer any additional advice as to what we can do, and if they'll let us build on the existing foundation. The architect I spoke with said he would want to verify the foundation is stable and sound, so I'm thinking I'll probably have to dig down and see if the proper footing etc.. are there.

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