Building Permits

A building permit is your formal permission from the Township of Springwater to begin the work described in your approved plans. Building Services issues permits for:

New construction, additions or structural renovations (including pools, hot tubs and tents)
Change of use
Demolition
Septic and sewer systems

Building permits keep people safe. By getting a building permit and the required inspections, you can ensure that your project meets health and safety standards, the Ontario Building Code and other applicable law.

See our Building Guides

Additional Residential Units

Additional Residential Units are permitted in the Township of Springwater, as per our Additional Residential Unit By-law Amendment. An Additional Residential Unit is a smaller, separate living space located on the same property as an existing house, such as a basement or a detached structure.

Learn more about Additional Residential Units

Apply for a Building Permit Online

All permit applications can now be submitted via our Web Portal. Before you begin, please ensure that all required documents are complete and signed (as applicable). Scan each document separately and give it a recognizable file name (e.g., Building Application, Pool Enclosure and Hot Tub Application, Septic Application, Drawings, Site Plan, etc.) and save them to your computer. Please note that an application form is required for all projects. Information collected via the portal allows your information to come into our system but does not replace an application form.

Please note that Planning and Zoning reviews cannot take place without an accurate site plan or lot grading plan (as applicable) and drawings showing all dimensions.

Only complete applications can be reviewed and approved for permit issuance. Review our Building Guides to ensure you have all of the required information for your residential building project before selecting “Submit”. If your application is incomplete, select “Save as draft”. This will save your work and allow you to complete your application at a later date through the link provided to you.

Restrictive Covenants

Restrictive covenants may be implemented by a developer of a given subdivision to maintain consistency among various properties in the neighbourhood, and therefore, they typically affect every lot in a subdivision. These form an agreement between the property owner and the developer, not the Township. These restrictions may extend beyond the Ontario Building Code, municipal zoning and building by-laws. For example, they may cover items such as types of cladding, fences, setbacks to property lines, building size or height. If you are uncertain as to whether this may apply to you, please contact your developer or lawyer to determine whether a restrictive covenant is in place prior to building permit submission to ensure compliance with any applicable covenants on your property.

Access the Web Portal

What projects need a building permit?

Typically, you will need a permit for:

New buildings over 10 square meters or 108 square feet (or under if they contain plumbing)
Additions and renovations
Demolition
Pools and hot tubs
Installation of mobile homes or park model trailers
Plumbing or septic systems
Solar collectors attached to a building that are larger than 5 square meters or 54 square feet

What projects do not need a building permit?

Non-structural projects that do not need a building permit include:

Replacing roof shingles, eavestroughs or siding
Installing air conditioning units or heat pumps to existing forced-air systems
Replacing kitchen or bathroom cupboards without plumbing
Replacing the existing furnace
Replacing windows of the same size
Painting and decorating
Landscaping where it does not affect grading

Who can get a building permit?

Property owners are responsible for getting a building permit for their project. Property owners can authorize a contractor or other person to apply on their behalf by providing a written letter of authorization with their permit application.

What if I need to add or make changes to a building permit application that has already been submitted?

If your project changes after you have submitted your application, or you need to submit additional information, please email us with reference to your previous submission. Include the application number and address in the subject line of your email, and send it to building@springwater.ca, unless otherwise notified by Building Staff.

Application Forms

The form you need will depend on your project. Please review our Building Guides or speak to building staff to ensure that you submit what you need for your project. Completed applications, with all required forms, documents and applicable drawings, can be submitted through our Web Portal.

Application Forms

Buildings

Building permit – to construct, alter or demolish a structure
Building code data matrix – to summarize project information for commercial, industrial or institutional-type projects
Commitment to general review – where engineers or architects must also review parts of the construction, in addition to municipal staff
Entrance permit – to install a new or change an existing driveway on a municipal road
Energy efficiency design summary – to show that your home meets energy efficiency standards under the Ontario Building Code
- Option 1: Prescriptive method
- Option 2: Performance and other acceptable compliance methods
Lot grade template – to prepare lot grading plans for review
- You can request a CAD version by contacting Building Services
Request for alternative solution – to request approval for an “alternative” construction, with supporting documents

Septic

Septic permit – to install, change or demolish a septic system (Excel version)

Pools, Hot Tubs and Tents

Pool Policy
Pool enclosure or hot tub
Intent to Use Temporary tent – use with the building permit application when applying to install a tent

Change of Use

Change of building use – to change existing residential use to non-residential use
Change of septic use – when your project affects the performance of your septic system, e.g. adding additional bedrooms or bathrooms (Excel version)

Other

Letter of Authorization – authorize an agent to submit, amend and execute a building permit application on your behalf

Permit Fees

Building fees depend on:

Your project's square footage and construction value
Our Building By-law
Fees and Charges By-law (fees updated annually)
- Schedule A
- Schedule A.2

Additional fees may apply depending on the nature and location of your project, such as entrance permit fees, development charges, water and sewer levies, lot grade deposits, or re-inspection fees. Check with building staff to determine which fees apply to your project.

Technical Bulletins

Technical bulletins are issued by the Building Services Department to clarify and explain the interpretation and application of technical and administrative requirements of the Building Code, related standards, by-laws and processes.

Bulletin No.	Subject	Date Issued
TB.2022.02	Sheds and gazebos, an update and an overview	2022-05-04

Tips and Contacts

Ontario One Call locates any buried infrastructure on the property and will identify it safely for you, call 1-800-400-2255
Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority regulates work in and near river streams, floodplains, wetlands, slopes and shorelines
Electrical Safety Authority handles electrical permits
Technical Standards and Safety Authority permits elevating devices, fuel facilities, boilers and pressure valves
County of Simcoe being the road authority that they have no concerns with proposed building setbacks, obtain road entrance permits and grants.