Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Building Permits

If you are building, adding onto, or making major changes to a home or accessory building, you will likely need a building permit.

A permit ensures:

• Your project meets zoning by-laws
• Construction meets safety standards
• Your investment is protected

Contact us early in your planning process to confirm requirements.

Do I Need a Permit?

A permit is required for:

• New homes
• Additions (garages, rooms, decks, etc.)
• Accessory buildings over 120 ft²
• Structural renovations, or non-structural renovations  or repairs where the value of work is in excess of $5000.00
• Installation, renovation or renewal of any mechanical system
• Excavation of land if the purpose of excavation is the construction of a building requiring a permit
• Connection to municipal utilities
• Installation of an access to a municipal road
• Finishing a basement
• Moving buildings

If you are unsure, contact the Municipality before starting work.

What You Need to Apply

Required for Most Applications

• Completed Building Permit Application Form
• Site plan showing:
• Property lines
• Existing buildings
• Proposed building location
• Distances (setbacks) to property lines

Additional Requirements (Depending on Your Project)

Survey Requirements

You may need:

• Surveyor’s Construction Layout (for buildings with permanent foundations in urban areas)
• Surveyor’s Staking Certificate (typically for properties 2 acres or less)

These ensure buildings are placed correctly on the property.

Building Plans

You must submit drawings that show:

• Building dimensions and layout
• Foundation and structure

Drawings must include the property address or legal description.

Soil / Foundation Reports

A geotechnical engineer’s report may be required if:

• Your basement is deeper than 4 feet
• Your property is in certain urban or rural residential areas

This ensures safe foundation design.

Other Possible Documents

Depending on your project, you may also need:

• Building Location Certificate (BLC)
• Letter of Authorization or proof of ownership

Additional Permits

Access (Driveway) Permit

You may need an access permit if:

• Your property does not yet have a driveway
• You are connecting to a municipal road

This determines culvert size and access location.

Utility Permits

In urban areas:

• Utility connection permits will be issued as part of your building permit

No separate application is required

How the Process Works

Step 1: Prepare Your Application

Gather required documents (see above).

Step 2: Submit Your Application

Submit to the Municipality for review.

Step 3: Application Review

Staff review for:

• Zoning compliance
• Building code requirements

You may be contacted for more information.

Step 4: Permit Issuance

Once approved:

• You receive your permit
• Construction can begin

Step 5: Inspections

Inspections are required during construction.

Contact the Municipality to schedule inspections at key stages.

Timelines

Processing times vary depending on:

• Project complexity
• Completeness of your application

Submitting complete information helps avoid delays.

Fees

Permit fees are typically based on:

• Building size (square footage)

See the Fees By-law (Schedule C) for full details.

Contact Us

Permit Administrator

• Phone: 204-346-7125
• Email: permits@hanovermb.ca

We are happy to help you understand requirements before you apply.