Town of Eastend Building Permits Important Notice
The law requires municipal governments to enforce the Uniform Building Accessibility Act (UBAS) and National Building Code. In accordance with this requirement the Town of Eastend has a Building Bylaw and contracts with two Building Inspection Services.
- Level I Residential
- Level II & III Commercial
BUILDING PERMITS ARE TO BE OBTAINED PRIOR TO ANY CONSTRUCTION OR ANY REMODELING WORKS BEGINS
Qualifications of Building Inspector:
The Building Inspectors are required to hold a valid license and only perform plan reviews and inspections for the classification which the license is valid.
The Duties of the Inspector(s) is to:
- Ensure the supporting information is complete for the permits
- Provide information and assistance to public, designer, contractors and building owners
- Review and approve building plans for conformance to the UBAS Act, regulations, building code and local bylaws
- Issue permits
- Maintain files and building records
- Issue orders to gain compliance
- Prepare reports on building activities, and
- Respond to correspondence, inquiries and complaints
Fees:
Section 14(10) of the UBAS Act provides municipalities the power to establish permit fees. In establishing permit fees council tries to cover the cost to the municipality.
The costs involved are:
- Administration costs
- Plan review and inspection time
- Vehicle costs and
- Enforcement costs
What is a Building Permit:
A Building Permit is a license which grants legal permission to start construction of a building. Permits allow for the enforcement of codes, standards and bylaws which have been adopted by the local government or provincial governing body. The enforcement of the building code, standards and bylaws is carried our to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. The governing body which enforces the code is acting to assure safe construction.
Why a Building Permit:
A Building permit provides the means for building officials to protect the public by reducing the potential hazards of unsafe construction and is therefore ensuring public health, safety and welfare. A building Permit helps understand what the local or provincial laws are in relation to the construction of a building. Before any construction or any remodeling work begins, applications for a permit should be made. The Building Permit provides the means for the building official to inspect construction, ensure minimum standards are met and appropriate materials are used.
What Projects Require Building Permits:
- New building construction
- Garages and carports
- Decks
- Mobile Homes
- Renovations, alterations and additions to an existing building
- Demolition of an existing building
- Relocation of an existing building
- Basement development in a dwelling
- Fireplaces, wood stoves and heaters
- Retaining walls
- Change of use of a building
- Work to remedy an unsafe condition or fire official's order, and
- Temporary buildings
What Projects Do not Require Building Permits:
- Fences
- Driveways and parking lots
- Sidewalks
- Painting, decorating, laying carpet and general maintenance
- Replacement using the same materials and not affecting the structural, electrical or mechanical system (roofing, siding, windows)
- Accessory building not greater than 10m2, (tool sheds, garden sheds, limit one per property)
Orders:
Sometimes during the inspection process deficiencies are found, however when informal attempts to gain compliance fail, the building official who has been appointed and inspector under the UBAS Act, officially and formally communicates with the owner of the building under construction by using an order, a notice in writing. The order can be used to require that within the time prescribed in the order the owner must:
- Produce documents relating to the work covered by the act or regulation
- Comply with general or specific conditions prescribed in the notice
- Take any measure prescribed in the notice
- Follow the methods prescribed in the notice
- Use of stop using materials, equipment or protection devices or appliances described in the notice
- Stop work, in whole or in part as directed by the notice until any conditions described in the notice are, in the inspector's opinion fulfilled
- Have tests made, furnish a letter written by an architect or engineer certifying the building meets the requirements of the building standards, or furnish other evidence regarding the foundation condition or any materials, equipment devices, construction methods or structural assemblies, at the expense of the owner
- Request plans be submitted prepared by a land surveyor, engineer or architect as is appropriate to the work, regarding the site, the building location and ground levels
- Verify after the completion of construction the requirement of the building standards have been met
- Uncover and replace, at the expense of the owner, any work that has been enclosed contrary to a written order of the inspections; and
- Take any steps prescribed in the notice that the inspector considers necessary to eliminate an unsafe condition due to a building's faulty construction, ruinous or dilapidated state, abandonment, ope or unguarded condition, or any other reason