Building and Renovating

When buying a new home, you should confirm with the Municipality that they approved and issued proper permits for all additions and renovations to the building. Contact the Building Department to access this information.

You should also confirm that the Zoning Administrator/CBO recognizes the use on the property as a legal use either permitted by the Zoning By-law or recognized as legal non-conforming.

Zoning By-law Consolidated - updated February 2020

West Perth Zoning Maps

Citizens' Guide 3 - Zoning By-laws by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing provides more information.

Perth County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Mapping

A Building Permit is your formal permission from the Municipality of West Perth to begin construction, renovation, additions, as well as some repairs or plumbing work. You also need to apply for a building permit to demolish existing buildings and for rebuilding demolished structures. 

You need to submit an application for a building permit if you want to:

• Construct a new building or structure;
• Repair, renovate, add to, or demolish an existing building;
• Install a swimming pool;
• Build a deck;
• Erect a sign;
• Alter most buildings and structures on your property;
  • Sheds over 161 sq ft (e.g. 10ft x 16ft)
  • Buildings with plumbing and/or heating
• Driveways;
• Install a new septic system or alter a system.

All applications are reviewed for compliance with the Ontario Building Code and Zoning By-law requirements.

How to Apply for a Building Permit

Apply for your Permit Online!

The Municipality of West Perth's Building Department is pleased to offer residents, builders, and the business community Cloudpermit - an online system to apply for and track your building permits.

Municipality of West Perth Building staff must review your plans to ensure that they comply with the Ontario Building Code and all other applicable law prior to the issuance of a Building Permit.

The Cloudpermit building permit system allows you to apply for and to see the status of your application anywhere, at any time. You can start an application and finish it later, and receive email updates on the status of your permit application. You can even request building inspections online using your smartphone or using any other online access point!

NEED HELP?

• Getting Starting with Cloudpermit: A step-by-step walk through from login to submitting your first application
• Cloudpermit Support

If required, permit applications can also be made by printing and completing all required forms, including site and construction plans, and submitting them to the Municipal Office with your project drawings.

Contact the Building Department with any questions for your upcoming project.

Cloudpermit Instructions and Guidelines for Specific Projects

The Municipality of West Perth Building Official must inspect each major phase of a construction project to ensure the work follows the approved plans. Your Building Permit includes a list of inspections your project requires.

HOW TO ARRANGE AN INSPECTION:

It is your responsibility to ensure that either you or your contractor contacts the Municipality to request an inspection at least 48 hours before work continues, from one inspection stage to the next. To arrange an inspection, contact the Building Inspector listed on your permit card, or contact the Building & Zoning Administrator at ext. 230. You need to provide your Building Permit number and address to book an inspection. If you've applied for your building permit through Cloudpermit, you can also schedule your inspection online. 

Normal inspections include:

• Excavation - prior to placement of concrete
• Services - installation of sanitary, storm and water services
• Septic - after excavation of distribution piping bed and prior to system backfill
• Foundation - prior to backfill
• Underground plumbing - prior to covering
• Framing - prior to insulation
• Air Barrier - prior to starting exterior cladding
• HVAC - rough in
• Plumbing - rough in
• Insulation/Vapour barrier - prior to covering
• Occupancy - this must be obtained prior to occupancy
• Final plumbing inspection
• Final building inspection
• Final septic inspection

Please note the Municipality does not review or inspect electrical work. Contact the Electrical Safety Authority at 1-877-421-2228 for electrical permits.

Before you do any digging on your property you must use the Ontario One Call online locate form to locate underground infrastructure before you dig or call: 1-800-400-2255.

Ontario One Call distributes locate requests to utilities with infrastructure in the area. The Municipality of West Perth will either clear the locate request, meaning that your work will not impact any buried infrastructure, or mark it onsite with paint. When complete, you will receive a locate notice through email or fax with the results.

Please visit Ontario One Call for more information or call 1-800-400-2255.