Guide to Building Permit

There are many types of building permits. In this section, learn about the different types of applications, and what forms, drawings and documents are required for each. If you are unsure of what building permit type is most appropriate for your project, please contact the Building Depart at 705-337-4262 or building@kapuskasing.ca to confirm before submitting your application.

These requirements apply to all building permit types.

All submitted drawings must be on standardized sized sheets, drawn to scale, fully dimensioned, signed and dated.

Drawings by a designer must include: the designer’s name, designer’s contact information, qualification identification number (if applicable), signature, and stamp / statement that the person has reviewed and taken responsibility for all design activities.

Learn how to apply for a permit, on our Making a Building Permit Application page.

Housing refers to detached houses, semi-detached houses, or townhouses (less than 4 storeys) containing not more than two dwelling units. A housing permit applies to these buildings or accessory structures to these buildings. The work includes new buildings, additions to existing buildings, and interior alterations.

Examples of housing permits include: Custom homes, detached garages, sheds, finished basements, wall removal, unenclosed porches, non-stacked townhouse blocks.

Required Forms

Required Documentation

  • Approval Documents required by Applicable Law
  • Lot Grading Approval (for new homes, additions or accessory buildings. For more information, refer to the Residential Infill Grading and Servicing Application Process through the Town of Kapuskasing)
  • Shop drawings for pre-engineered floor systems
    • Framing Plan
    • Beam calculation sheets sealed by a P.Eng
  • Shop drawings for prefabricated roof trusses
    • Framing plan
    • Truss calculations sheets sealed by a P.Eng
  • Mechanical Ventilation Design Summary
  • Heat loss / heat gain / duct calculations

Required Drawings

  • Site plan
    • Zoning Summary (permitted / proposed)
    • Property lines referenced to a current survey
    • Location of all proposed & existing buildings
    • Overall dimensions of all buildings (width / length)
    • Proposed finished first floor & basement elevations)
  • On-site Sewage System (for properties served by private systems)
    • System drawings & details
    • Statement of Design
  • Architectural Plans
    • Existing floor plans (required for all additions and alterations)
    • Floor plans of every floor level (specify rooms)
    • Building elevations with limiting distance calculations (for new buildings, additions, or when existing exterior walls are altered)
    • Stair, landings, deck, guards and handrail details
    • Details and construction notes / specifications
  • Structural (may be incorporated into Architectural Plans)
    • Footing / Foundation design (sealed by P.Eng)
    • Floor framing plan (including posts, beams, joists, lintels)
    • Roof framing plan (including posts, beams, joists, lintels)
  • Mechanical (HVAC) Plans

An accessory dwelling unit is a self-contained second residential unit constructed within a house. The unit may be in any part of the house, including the basement or above a garage. 

Our Guide to Accessory Dwelling Units explains the process and requirements for obtaining and building permit to construct an accessory dwelling uni.

Required Forms

Required Documentation

  • Approval Documents required by Applicable Law

Required Drawings

  • Site plan
    • Zoning Summary (permitted / proposed)
    • Property lines referenced to a current survey
    • Location of all proposed & existing buildings
    • Overall dimensions of all buildings (width / length)
    • Proposed finished first floor & basement elevations (for new buildings or additions)
  • On-site Sewage System (for properties served by private systems)
    • System drawings & details
    • Statement of Design
  • Architectural Plans
    • Existing floor plans (required for all additions and alterations)
    • Floor plans of every floor level (specify rooms). 
      • Label use of each space, provide dimensions, ceiling height
      • Show window and door location and sizes
      • Indicate location of fire separations
    • Show electrical lighting, control switches and outlets, interconnected smoke alarms, and when required, the location of battery powered emergency lighting units.
    • Building elevations showing Second Unit Entrance and Egress/Exit Windows. Include limiting distance calculations (for new buildings, additions, or when existing exterior walls are altered)
    • Sections and Wall / Celling / Fire Separation Construction Details
    • Construction Details of Egress Windows
    • Details and construction notes / specifications
  • Structural (may be incorporated into Architectural Plans)
    • Footing / Foundation design (sealed by P.Eng)
    • Floor framing plan (including posts, beams, joists, lintels)
    • Roof framing plan (including posts, beams, joists, lintels)
  • Mechanical (HVAC/Plumbing) Plans (may be incorporated into Architectural Plans)
    • location of all heating supply outlets and return air grilles, exhaust air intakes, duct-type smoke detectors
    • Provide exhaust fans over ranges, within bathrooms and all rooms not equipped with a window providing natural ventilation to the outdoors
    • Show location of plumbing fixtures

A non housing permit applies to a new building, addition or exterior alteration for any building except housing. Non housing permits include temporary event structures. A non housing permit also applies to interior alterations where a change of use under Part 10 of the Ontario Building Code is proposed.

Examples of non housing permits include: warehouse additions, parking structures, apartment buildings, temporary tents, commercial shell building, stacked townhouse block, changing an existing retail space to a restaurant (assembly use).

Required Forms

Required Documentation

  • Approval Documents required by Applicable Law

Required Drawings

  • Site plan
    • Zoning Summary (permitted / proposed)
    • Property lines and lot area referenced to a current survey
    • Location of all proposed & existing buildings
    • Overall dimensions of all buildings (width / length)
  • On-site Sewage System (for properties served by private systems)
    • System drawings & details
    • Statement of Design
  • Architectural Plans
    • Ontario Building Code Data Matrix
    • Existing floor / mezzanine plans (required for all additions and alterations / change of use)
    • Proposed floor / mezzanine plans
    • Fire separation locations
    • Building elevations with limiting distance calculations (for new buildings, additions, or when existing exterior walls are altered)
    • Stair and ramp details (including guard and handrail details)
    • Room Finish and Door schedules
    • Sections, details and construction notes / specifications
  • Structural Plans
    • Footing / Foundation plans (including design loads sealed by P.Eng.)
    • Floor framing plans (including design loads)
    • Roof framing plans (including design loads)
    • Column and beam schedules
    • Sections and details
  • Mechanical (HVAC & Plumbing) Plans
    • HVAC drawings
    • Fire protection systems (sprinkler, standpipe)
    • Plumbing drawings (fixtures, water, drains, venting)
    • Plumbing riser diagrams
  • Electrical & Fire Protection plans
    • Electrical supply & distribution plans
    • Fire protection plans
    • Riser diagrams and fire alarm zoning information
  • Site Servicing / Grading
    • Municipally approved site grading plan
    • Municipally approved site servicing plan

An alteration permit is used for an interior alteration on any building except for housing. This includes new partitions, interior demolitions, mechanical work, changes to fire protection systems, new partitions, etc.

Examples of alteration permits include: tenant fit-up, fire alarm upgrades, maglock installations.

Required Forms

  • Building Permit Application Form 
  • Permit Applicant Authorization (required when the Owner is not the permit applicant)
  • Applicable Law Checklist 
  • Building and Land Use Declaration Form 
  • Schedule 1: Designer Information (for BCIN Designers)
  • Schedule 2: Sewage System Installer Information (for projects with private on-site sewage systems)
  • Commitment to General Review 
  • General Review Commitment Authorization  (required when a tenant signs the General Review Commitment form)
  • Energy Efficiency Forms
  • Plumbing Data Form 

Required Documentation

  • Approval Documents required by Applicable Law

Required Drawings

  • Site plan
    • Zoning Summary (permitted / proposed)
    • Property lines and lot area referenced to a current survey
    • Location of all proposed & existing buildings
    • Overall dimensions of all buildings (width / length)
  • On-site Sewage System (for properties served by private systems)
    • System drawings & details
    • Statement of Design
  • Architectural Plans
    • Ontario Building Code Data Matrix
    • Key Plan showing location of unit within building
    • Existing floor / mezzanine plans
    • Proposed floor / mezzanine plans
    • Fire separation locations
    • Stair and ramp details (including guard and handrail details)
    • Room Finish and Door schedules
    • Sections, details and construction notes / specifications
  • Structural Plans (where structural alterations are required)
    • Footing / Foundation plans (including design loads sealed by P.Eng.)
    • Floor framing plans (including design loads)
    • Roof framing plans (including design loads)
    • Column and beam schedules
    • Sections and details
  • Mechanical (HVAC & Plumbing) Plans (where mechanical alterations are required)
    • Equipment & Design specifications
    • Fire protection systems (sprinkler, standpipe)
    • Plumbing drawings (fixtures, water, drains, venting)
    • Plumbing riser diagrams
  • Electrical Plans (where electrical alterations are required)
    • Electrical supply & distribution plans
    • Fire protection plans
    • Riser diagrams and fire alarm zoning information

Demolition permits are required when a building’s footprint will be decreased. This may be the entire building or only a portion of it. Exterior walls must be included in the scope of work. If the demolition is for interior spaces only, then an alteration permit (AL) should be applied for.

Prior to issuance of a demolition permit,  a pre-demolition inspection is conducted. The purpose of this inspection is to confirm that the structure is vacant, the site is fenced in accordance with the Building By-Law and the building subject to the demolition exist. Demolition permits are not issued where there is no building on site or demolition of the building has commenced.

Required Forms

  • Building Permit Application Form 
  • Permit Applicant Authorization (required when the Owner is not the permit applicant)
  • Applicable Law Checklist
  • Commitment to General Review (if required, see below)

Required Documentation

  • Approval Documents required by Applicable Law
  • Environmental Building Audit confirming presence / absence of hazardous materials or designated substances

Required Drawings

  • Site plan
    • Identify building to be demolished and the location of fencing required to protect the site and adjacent properties
    • Identify area of excavation, proposed depth of excavation and the location of foundation walls for the new custom home (for infill projects only)
    • Property lines and lot area referenced to a current survey
  • Temporary shoring plan required for infill housing projects where:
    • New foundation walls will be 1.8 m or less from an adjacent property line, or
    • Excavation will be within 1.2 m of a property line

Additional Requirements

If the building exceeds 3-storeys in building height, exceeds 600 square meters in building area, or includes pre-tensioned or post-tensioned members, or if the demolition will extend below the level of the footings of an immediately adjacent building, or if explosives / lasers are proposed to be used for the demolition, then the following additional items are required to be submitted with the permit application:

  • Description of the structural design characteristics of the building and the method of demolition
  • Commitment to General Review 

A plumbing permit is a required for any plumbing work located within a building or on private property. When the work is part of a larger project, a separate plumbing permit is not required.

Examples of plumbing permits include: site servicing, pre-servicing connection, fixture installation with no other construction, backflow preventer installation.

Required Forms

  • Building Permit Application Form 
  • Permit Applicant Authorization (required when the Owner is not the permit applicant)
  • Applicable Law Checklist 
  • Schedule 1: Designer Information (for BCIN Designers)
  • Schedule 2: Sewage System Installer Information (for projects with private on-site sewage systems)
  • Commitment to General Review 
  • Plumbing Data Form (for small, large and complex buildings)
  • Plumbing Data Housing Form (for housing)
  • Site Servicing Declaration (for privately serviced low-rise residential projects)

Required Documentation

  • Approval Documents required by Applicable Law
  • Cross-connection survey (for backflow preventer installations)

Required Drawings

  • Draft plan of Subdivision (for pre-servicing connections)
  • Floor Plan with fixture locations (for fixture installations in existing single-detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling or non-stacked townhouse units)
  • Plumbing Plans (for fixture installations in multi-residential or non-residential buildings )
    • Plumbing drawings (fixtures, water, drains, venting)
    • Plumbing riser diagrams
  • Site Servicing / Grading (for site servicing applications)
    • Municipally approved site grading plan
    • Municipally approved site servicing plan
    • Architectural site plan including locations of fire hydrants
  • On-site Sewage System (for properties served by private systems)
    • System drawings & details
    • Statement of Design

A building permit is required for a temporary tents or group of tents that meets any of the following conditions:

  • A single tent with an area of 60 m2 or more,
  • A group of tents with an aggregate area of 60 m2 or more,
  • A tent of any size that is attached to a building, or
  • One ore more tents that are less than 3 m from adjacent structures.

A demountable stage consists of one or more platforms together with any wall, roof or other structure attached to or located on any of the platforms. A building permit is required for a temporary stage that meets any of the following conditions:

  • The platform(s) has an aggregate area more than 60 m2 and any part of the platform(s) is more than 3 m in height above adjacent ground level,
  • The platform(s) has an aggregate area more than 225 m2, or
  • Any part of the platform(s) or any roof, wall or structure attached to or located on any platforms is 5 m or more in height above adjacent ground level.

A demountable support structure is a structure that is not attached to or located on a stage and is capable of supporting banners, stage sets, props, sound equipment, lighting equipment or other equipment. A building permit is required for a demountable support structure under the following conditions:

  • The demountable support structure is more than 3 m in height above adjacent ground level, or
  • The demountable support structure is designed to carry a superimposed specified load greater than 115 kg, or
  • The demountable support structure would create a hazard to the public.

Temporary tents, stages and demountable support structures require a non-housing (NH) permit application. Refer to our Quick Guide for Temporary Event Structures for information on submitting the application and the applicable Submission Standards for the drawings and documents.

Note: In order to ensure there is sufficient time to process your application, the Applicant Upload Task must be completed at least 6 weeks before the event.

Required Forms

  • Building Permit Application Form 
  • Applicable Law Checklist 
  • Temporary Event Structure Authorization 
  • Commitment to General Review (required for single tents with an area exceeding 225 m2 and for all stages and demountable support structures)
  • General Review Commitment Authorization (required when a tenant signs the General Review Commitment form)

Required Documentation

  • Approval Documents required by Applicable Law
  • Shop Drawings (dimensioned plans, elevations, sections, construction details/notes)
  • Document confirming the flame spread rating of tent material.

Required Drawings

  • Site plan identifying the location of all temporary and permanent structure(s), dimensions of proposed temporary structures, and clearances to adjacent structures.

This applies to the installation of permanent signs such as: wall signs, ground signs, and projecting signs. It also applies to specific types of temporary signs, including: real estate development signs, subdivision development signs and hoarding signs.

Required Forms

  • Building Permit Application Form 
  • Permit Applicant Authorization (required when the Owner is not the permit applicant)
  • Sign Permit Authorization (signed by the Registered Property Owner)
  • Applicable Law Checklist 
  • Commitment to General Review (for signs regulated by the Building Code)

Required Documentation

  • Approval Documents required by Applicable Law

Required Drawings

  • Site plan identifying location of the sign
  • Building elevation drawings
    • Position of the sign
    • Dimensions of the sign face
    • Length / height of the wall
  • Sign drawings
    • Sign dimensions
    • Wording of the sign face
    • Lighting
    • Structural details (e.g., mounting, weight of fascia signs, foundations)
    • Support structures (for ground signs)

Note: The drawings must be prepared by an Architect or Professional Engineer where the sign is a wall sign weighing more than 115 kg, a roof sign with a face greater than 10 square meters, or a projecting sign on a parapet wall.

This applies to the installation of required fencing around in-ground and above-ground pools installed on residential properties. the permit must be obtained prior to the construction of the pool.

Detailed criteria for the design of the pool enclosure are outlined in Kapuskasing's Swimming Pool By-law.

Required Forms

  • Swimming Pool Enclosure Application Form 
  • Applicable Law Checklist 

Required Documentation

  • Approval Documents required by Applicable Law

Required Drawings

  • Site plan prepared using a current survey
    • Location of property lines, existing buildings and proposed pool
    • Details of the proposed fence (height, type of material, location)
    • Gate location and details (must be self-closing and self-latching)
    • Location of septic system (for properties with a private on-site sewage system)

Contact Us

Town of Kapuskasing
88 Riverside Drive,
Kapuskasing, ON P5N 1B3

Tel: 705-335-2341
general@kapuskasing.ca

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