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unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
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## Building Permits
Building Permits are required to construct a new building or structure, or to demolish or relocate, repair, alter, or make additions to an existing building.
## Application Information
Refer to the application checklists below to help you prepare for your application.
#### Residential Improvements
Uncovered Deck
Accessory Buildings (Garage, Shed, Carport)
Residential Addition (Covered Deck, Sunroom, Second Story, Adding Floor Area)
Interior Alterations and Basement Development
Accessory Dwelling Units, Attached (Secondary Suite)
Accessory Dwelling Units, Detached (Garden Suite)
Solar Panels
Wood Burning Fireplace
Hot Tub and Pools
#### Residential Buildings
New Detached or Duplex Dwelling
New Multi-Unit Residential
New Manufactured Dwelling
#### Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Buildings
New Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Buildings
Tenant Improvements to Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Buildings
Tent and Events
Bed and Breakfasts
#### Partial Foundation
Partial Foundation
#### Demolition
Demolition Permit
Demolition - Mobile Home or House Move
#### Fences
No permits are required for fences, but they must meet certain height regulations. In both residential and commercial districts, the maximum height of a fence is 1.2m (4') in the front yard, 1.8m (6') in the side and rear yards, and 2.5m (8'2") at the highest point of a gateway. On corner lots, where the height of a fence may affect visibility, the maximum height allowed is 1m (40") within the corner visibility triangle.
Read more about the requirements for specific types of projects:
Fences
Decks
Solar Panels
Signage
Accessory Buildings
Accessory Dwelling Units
Green Buildings - Residential
Green Buildings - Large Residential and Commercial
The Building Envelope Model
**From the time staff begin reviewing your permit to the time your permit is issued can take up to six weeks. Payment of the fee does not constitute start time.**
To ensure efficient review times, we will not accept Building Permit applications for projects which have not obtained any necessary Development Permit approvals prior to applying.
**Step One**: Submit a Building Permit application online. Projects with a development permit approval in place will only be reviewed against building code-related matters through the building permit process.
**Step Two**: We review the application for completeness. Depending on the application type, our planning and engineering teams will review the application.
**Step Three**: The Safety Codes Officer reviews the application.
**Step Four**: We issue the Building Permit.
**Step Five**: The applicant arranges for inspections.
**Step Six**: A permit Services Report is issued to the Building Permit holder.
**Step Seven:** The Applicant can apply for an Occupancy Certificate. Once the occupancy Certificate is issued, the file will be closed.
We will not accept applications that:
* are incomplete (i.e. do not include all of the required documents identified in the applicable requirements list;
* include documents that are unclear or illegible;
* are not prepared to professional drafting standards; or
* stamped with phrases suggesting inappropriate use, such as "not for construction" or "preliminary."
Do not include personal information on plans.
Upon review of your application, we may request additional information.
All building permits must now be submitted online; we are no longer accepting PDF applications by email. The online portal allows you to:
* Submit permits online and check the status of your applications.
* Manage multiple applications with access to important documents issued from the Town of Canmore - all in one place.
* Ensure that you submit complete applications using the step-by-step process.
* Pay for services online.
#### Prepare before you apply
* Review the relevant checklist(s) in the **Building Permit Application Requirements** dropdown above that outlines all the requirements for your application.
* Make sure you have all your documents ready by reviewing the relevant checklist(s).
* Prepare the following details, as applicable:
* Property details including municipal address & legal description
* Development information for proposed projects including description of work, cost of work, existing and proposed land use, property size, etc.
* Applicant, owner & contractor names and contact information
* You will also need to create an account prior to applying. This will allow you to track the status of your application(s).
Apply Now
## Fee Schedule
Access fee schedule
## Online Permit Portal Tips
* Before you can submit an application online, you must create an online portal account.
* Prepare your required documents separated in individual files, as you will be required to upload them individually.
* You have 20 mins of inactivity for each section of the online application before it times out.
* Save your progress often, as we do not have the ability to retrieve any information that may have been entered prior to timing out. To view saved applications that have not been submitted, change drop down option from "show active" to "show all".
* Check your spam/junk mail for emails from (**donotreply** - it will include your name, permit number, and further instructions)
* Check your portal account for regular updates.
* All issued documents will be available through the online portal via the "Documents & Images" section of your account. We will not email them to you seperately.
* We will not retain any payment related information you use to pay your application fees. It will need to be re-entered for each new application.
* Payment will be required before your application is submitted for review.
* We can only accept payments of up to $150,000. Payments that exceed that amount will require a cheque.
* If we don't receive your payment within **seven business days,** your application will be cancelled.
If you encounter issues with the online portal, submit an online inquiry. Please select *CityView Portal Help* from the top of the list.
## Additional Information for Permit Holders
Browse the following sections for additional information for permit holders.
#### **Before you start construction**
* Ensure you are familiar with the Building Permit Bylaw to ensure you are compliant.
* Post the building permit card conspicuously on the site.
* The signed and stamped drawings that were returned to you with the building permit card are the drawings that should be used for construction.
* Only the work identified on those drawings is covered under the building permit.
* Keep track of the inspections required as part of your building permit and to abide by the conditions of your permit.
* Please ensure that you and your contractors maintain a safe and tidy construction site.
#### **Moving forward**
* If you do require access to a portion of the road right of way you must first obtain a road right of way usage permit from the Town of Canmore.
* If you require access over a park or municipal reserve parcel as part of construction you must first obtain permission to cross a public reserve.
* If you need to work on a Sunday or a statutory holiday, you must first obtain permission to work from the Town of Canmore.
* If you wish to make an amendment to your building permit, please submit the proposed revisions and supporting information online. Please note that additional fees are due if the amendment is submitted after the building permit has been granted. Until such time as the amendment is approved, no work other than that detailed in your existing permit and drawings are permitted.
You can request an inspection by completing the online Planning and Development inquiry form **or** by calling 403.678.1543 and selecting option 2. If you choose to call, please leave a voicemail that includes your contact information, permit number, and the type of inspection you are requesting.
You can book inspections for Tuesdays and Thursdays, based on availability and with at least two business days' notice.
Development with a Total Construction Value (TCV) of less than $50,000 will have up to one year to complete construction. Development with a TCV of $50,000 or greater will have up to two years to complete construction.
The Safety Codes Officer may set an expiry date longer than two years to complete a development, if in their opinion the development requires a longer construction period due to the projects size, complexity, or falls tragedy to fire or natural disaster.
Should you not be able to complete your project by the original expiry date issued with your Building Permit, a one-time 12-month extension can be requested (subject to applicable fees) prior to the permit expiring. Should the development not be completed within the 12-month extension period, the applicant will have to re-apply for a new Building Permit and pay the applicable permit fees.
The building permit MUST be posted on site until all work is complete.
You will need an Occupancy Certificate to occupy a building once it is finished. This document is required for a building after construction, relocation, partial demolition or after a change of the existing occupancy classification.
#### The process
**Step 1: initial actions**
After your building permit is approved, your first step is to request water meters. Allow for four months lead time for large meters and five days for small meters.
**Step 2: preparing for the final building inspection**
B*efore* scheduling your final inspection, prepare all additional documentation (e.g., C-Schedules, verification reports). Contact your planning file manager to understand municipal occupancy requirements for your project (i.e. addressing, etc.).
**Step 3: schedule your final building inspection**
Request a final building safety inspection. The safety codes officer must deem the project "ready to occupy" as part of this successful inspection.
You can request a building inspection by filling out the online Planning and Development inquiry form **OR** by calling 403.678.1543 and selecting Option 2. Inspection appointments are available Tuesdays and Thursdays, based on availability, with two business days' notice.
**Step 4: formal certificate request**
Once the inspection is passed, you can formally request an Occupancy Certificate from your file manager. Note that the inspection report alone is not a legal permit to occupy.
**Step 5: administrative review**
Allow five business days for our staff to review your request for completeness and compliance. Missing documents will increase this processing time.
**Step 6: legal occupancy**
We issue your Occupancy Certificate. The building may only be legally occupied once this document has been signed by your file manager.
It is important to read and understand your Occupancy Certificate and ensure that any conditions that are listed on it are met by the prescribed date (where applicable). Should the conditions of occupancy not be met by the outlined dates, the occupancy for the building may be revoked and the water turned off. A building permit is still open until all conditions of occupancy are completed.
Once the final inspection has been passed and unconditional occupancy granted, the building permit file will be closed by the Town. As part of closing the file, a Permit Services Report (PSR) will be issued to the building permit holder.
PSRs are issued for all files that are closed. Please note that in some cases a PSR will be issued where conditions of a building permit are not complete or the work does not comply. This is done when a building permit expires and there has been no renewal applied for by the applicant.
## Additional Details about Permits or Other Requests
Browse the following sections for additional information about permits or other requests that may be relevant to you.
Permits are available through municipalities that are accredited to administer the Safety Codes Act, and through agencies who provide inspection services on behalf of the Alberta Safety Codes Authority (ASCA) in unaccredited municipalities. Learn more about where to get a permit at Safety Codes Council.
The Alberta Building Code requires some homes to use different construction materials and designs to improve fire resistance.
Water meter installation requests are managed by the Town of Canmore. If you need to have a water meter installed or removed, please complete the following online Water Meter Installation or Removal Request Form.
***NOTE:** For smaller developments requiring a meter(s) ranging in size from 15-20 mm, requests must be received a minimum of 5 business days in advance. For Larger size water meters, requests must be made up to 4 months in advance. For further information please contact water@canmore.ca .*
The Town of Canmore doesn't issue HVAC or mechanical permits, but any Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning work will require the appropriate permits where that work is covered by the Alberta Building Code, Canadian Electrical Code, Alberta Gas Code, or Alberta Plumbing Code. Furnace and heating appliance installations require gas permits, and all wood-burning fireplaces and stoves require a building permit.
An accessory building can be built in any yard except the front yard of a residential property and must maintain the required setbacks. If an accessory building is attached to the house it is subject to the same setback regulations as the principal building.
Dust from demolition activities must be controlled. Dust shall not negatively impact neighboring properties. If there are concerns about dust migrating off site, an appropriate dust suppression system will be required.
Please contact Alberta Health Services Calgary main line at 1.855.943.2288 or contact Environmental Public Health · Alberta Health Services.
Contact
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Have questions or need more information?
Contact the Planning and Development Department
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