Author: Erica Pederson

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A BUILDING BYLAW?

The purpose of the building bylaw is to provide for the administration and enforcement of The Construction Codes Act, The Building Code Regulations, the National Building Code of Canada for Buildings, ministerial interpretations and Saskatchewan Construction Standards Appeal Board orders and building official orders within the local authority.

WHAT CHANGES OCCURRED JANUARY 1ST, 2022?

The Construction Codes Act (the CCA) came into force on January 1^st, 2022 and repealed and replaced The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act as the legislation which governs construction standards in Saskatchewan. Municipalities have always been responsible for administering and enforcing building and energy codes for buildings in their jurisdiction however, under the old Act farm residences were included in the definition of farm buildings and therefore exempt from these codes. Under the new CCA farm buildings are still exempt but residences are no longer considered a farm building and therefore these standards will apply to all new builds and major structural renovations that occur to any farm residences after January 1^st, 2022. Municipalities were given a certain period of time to adopt their own bylaw, otherwise those that did not have a valid building bylaw by the deadline would be subject to the model building set out in The Building Code Regulations.

WHAT TYPES OF BUILDING PROJECTS REQUIRE A PERMIT?

• Construction of a new house or major renovations/additions to an existing house
• RTMs or other types of houses being moved onto a property
• Any type of Commercial Building

WHAT TYPES OF BUILDINGS ARE EXEMPT FROM REQUIRING A PERMIT?

• Farm buildings used as follows:
  • For the housing of livestock
  • For the production, storage or processing of primary agricultural crops and feeds
  • For the storage and maintenance of equipment or machinery associated with an agricultural operation

Even though there are buildings that are exempt from the building permit, we ask that you still contact the municipal office to check.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A BUILDING PERMIT?

In order to apply for a building permit, you will need to complete a building permit application. Application forms are available from this website (see below) or from the R.M. office. Some of the information required on the application includes:

• Applicant name and address
• What you are applying for as well as a description of the existing use of the land/buildings a description of the proposed development
• Legal Land Description
• Estimated starting and completion dates
• Site & building drawings including dimensions and land features
• Technical reports or studies may be requested depending on the type and location of the proposed development

WHAT DOES IT COST FOR A BUILDING PERMIT?

The building official inspection fees are based on different variables: the Value of Construction (VOC), the square footage of the building, and the intended use of the building (i.e. Commercial or residential). Permit fees for decks and accessory buildings also vary. Contact the office for more information on permit fees.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR MY BUILDING PERMIT TO BE APPROVED?

The length of time it will take for your permit to be reviewed and approved will depend on the complexity of your project. To be safe you should apply for your building permit as soon as you have all of the information required and you know when your project will begin. The building officials recommend submitting your application a minimum of 14 days before construction is schedule to start, however turn around times can be quicker. Ensuring that your application is complete and includes both building and site drawings will help ensure a quicker approval timeframe.

For more information, please contact the R.M. office at 306-456-2676