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1
BYLAW 6110
DATE OF CONSOLIDATION: December 27, 2024
Amendment History:
BYLAW 6218
S.16(1) is repealed and replaced with "16(1) A permit
shall expire for the reasons set out in the Permit
Regulation"
Repeals Appendix "A"
BYLAW 6262
Delete subsection 2(d); delete all instances to Bylaw
5197 and replace with new Schedule A; add text to s.
18; delete and replace text in s. 21; the schedule
attached to this Bylaw as "Schedule A" is attached to
Bylaw 6110 as "Schedule "A" Building Inspections
Fees"
Bylaw 6377
Delete and Replace S.8, edits to s. 9, 17, 19(10 and 25.
Amendments to Schedule A
BYLAW 6468
Amendments to Schedule A (Part D) S. 3 (a-b)
DISCLAIMER:
The following consolidation is an electronic
reproduction made available for information
and ease of access only. It is not an official
version of the Bylaw. Copies of official
versions and amendments can be requested
from the City Clerk's Office by calling 403-
320-4741 or emailing
cityclerk@lethbridge.ca.
BYLAW 6110
2
Bylaw Last Revised: December 27, 2024
Effective Date: January 1, 2025
Amending Bylaw: Bylaw 6468
CONSOLIDATION OF A BYLAW OF THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE PASSED PURSUANT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF THE SAFETY CODES ACT OF ALBERTA
WHEREAS the Legislature of the Province of Alberta has passed the Safety Codes Act, R.S.A. 2000,
Chapter S-1, as amended;
AND WHEREAS the City of Lethbridge is an accredited municipality by the Minister of Municipal
Affairs;
AND WHEREAS pursuant to Section 66 of the Safety Codes Act an accredited municipality may
make bylaws respecting
(a)
fees for anything issued or any material or service provided pursuant to the Safety
Codes Act, and
(b)
the carrying out of its powers and duties as an accredited municipality.
AND WHEREAS the purpose of this Bylaw is to stipulate the conditions and requirements for
application and issuance of permits in the following disciplines:
-
Building
-
Electrical
-
Plumbing
-
Gas
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
PART 1
TITLE
1.
This Bylaw may be cited as "The City of Lethbridge Safety Codes Permit Bylaw".
DEFINITIONS
2.
In this Bylaw:
(a)
"Act" means the Safety Codes Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. S-1, as amended or replaced from
time to time and regulations made pursuant to the Act.
(b)
"Accredited Municipality" means an accredited municipality pursuant to the Act.
BYLAW 6110
3
(c)
"City" means the City of Lethbridge.
(d)
Deleted
Bylaw 6262 - June 1, 2021
(e)
"Permit Issuer" means a permit issued pursuant to the Permit Regulation.
(f)
"Permit Regulation" means the Permit Regulation, 204/2007, as amended or replaced
from time to time.
(g)
"Province" means the Province of Alberta.
(h)
"Safety Codes Officer" means a safety codes officer pursuant to the Act.
3.
Any term used in this Bylaw which is defined in the Act or the Permit Regulation has the
meaning in the Act or the Permit Regulation.
SCOPE
4.
This Bylaw applies to the administration and enforcement of the Act and the Permit
Regulation within the City for the disciplines of Building, Electrical, Gas and Plumbing.
POWERS AND DUTIES
5.
(1)
A Safety Codes Officer is authorized to enforce all provisions of this Bylaw, the Act
and the Permit Regulation in accordance with a Safety Codes Officer's specific
designation of powers.
(2)
The Manager of Building Inspection Services shall keep an accurate account of all
permits issued and all fees collected and received under this Bylaw.
PERMIT REQUIRED
6.
(1)
Subject to article 6(2), a person shall not commence any undertaking for which a
permit is required under the Permit Regulation, the Act or this Bylaw unless a
permit has been issued by a Permit Issuer.
(2)
If a Permit Issuer is not readily available and there is imminent serious danger to
persons or property because of any thing, process or activity to which the Act applies
or because of a fire hazard or risk of an explosion, a person may, without a permit,
start an undertaking for which a permit may be required under this Bylaw but that
person must apply for a permit as soon as a Permit Issuer is available.
7.
A permit is not required for the disciplines of Building, Electrical, Gas and Plumbing, as set
out in the Permit Regulation.
APPLICATION FOR PERMIT
BYLAW 6110
4
8.
To obtain a permit, an applicant shall complete and file an application using the City's
prescribed processes.
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
9.
In addition to any other requirements set out in the Act, the Permit Regulation and this Bylaw,
when applying for a permit, an applicant shall provide to the City
(a)
a legal description of where the undertaking will take place,
(b)
a street address, when available, identifying the proposed location of the undertaking,
(c)
the name, mailing address and telephone number of the applicant's agent, if the
applicant is represented by an agent,
(d)
the estimated prevailing market value of the undertaking and complete
documentation, satisfactory to a Safety Codes Officer, to accurately establish the
value of the undertaking,
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(e)
copies, as requested by a Safety Codes Officer, of the plans, specifications and scale
drawings showing the undertaking,
(f)
if applicable, a site plan showing the actual dimensions of the parcel of land and the
location of the proposed undertaking in relation to the boundaries of the parcel of land
and other buildings on the same parcel of land and dimensioned setbacks from all
streets,
(g)
such additional information as may be required by a Safety Codes Officer.
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS
10.
In addition to any other requirements set out in the Act and the Permit Regulation, an
applicant shall, when requested by a Permit Issuer
(a)
provide plans and specifications drawn to scale in an acceptable digital format to a
Safety Codes Officer. The plans and specifications shall be of sufficient clarity to
indicate the nature and extent of the undertaking and show that the undertaking
conforms to the Act and Permit Regulations,
(b)
provide plans that state the name, mailing address and telephone number of the
person who prepared the plans, and
(c)
submit test results as directed by a Safety Codes Officer, including site conditions or
product testing.
BYLAW 6110
5
11.
No person shall without prior written consent of a Safety Codes Officer alter, erase or modify
any plans or specifications provided with an application for a permit.
12.
A Safety Codes Officer may circulate an applicant's plans and specifications to other
departments of the City and the Province to be examined for compliance.
13.
A Safety Codes Officer may destroy plans which have been submitted by the applicant where
no permit has been issued and where no action has been taken by the applicant for 90 days
from the date the application is received by the City, and the City shall not refund any fees
paid by an applicant.
PERMIT ISSUANCE
14.
A Permit Issuer shall issue a permit pursuant to the Act, the Permit Regulation and this Bylaw
only when:
(a)
the undertaking described in the application for permit meets the requirements of the
Act, the Permit Regulation and this Bylaw,
(b)
the plans and specifications provided by the applicant meet the requirements of the
Act, the Permit Regulation and this Bylaw, and
(c)
the fees pursuant to the Act and Schedule A have been paid in full.
Bylaw 6262 - June 1, 2021
15.
(1)
After a permit is issued, a Safety Codes Officer may require that any errors in plans
and specifications provided by the applicant be corrected within a timeframe
determined by the Safety Codes Officer.
(2)
In the event the error or errors set out in article 15(1) are not corrected by the applicant
within the timeframe determined, a Safety Codes Officer may suspend the permit.
(3)
If a permit is suspended by a Safety Codes Officer under article 15(2) and the
applicant has not commenced the undertaking for which the permit is issued, the
applicant cannot commence the undertaking.
(4)
If a permit is suspended by a Safety Codes Officer under article 15(2) and the
applicant has commenced the undertaking for which the permit is issued, the
applicant must stop any further work on the undertaking.
16.
(1)
A permit shall expire for the reasons set out in the Permit Regulation.
Bylaw 6218 - March 9, 2020
(2)
If a permit expires under the Permit Regulation or this Bylaw, the City shall not refund
any fees paid by the applicant.
BYLAW 6110
6
FEES
17.
The fee for a permit and any levies charged pursuant to the Act shall be submitted by the
applicant at the time the application is filed with the City.
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
18.
The fees to be charged by the City under this Bylaw shall be as set out in the Schedule A,
attached to and forming part of this bylaw.
Bylaw 6262 - June 1, 2021
19.
(1)
A Safety Codes Officer may place a value on the cost of the undertaking for the
purpose of determining the permit fee through the use of current construction
methods or techniques, including resources for estimating prevailing market values.
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(2)
In determining the fee set out in article 19(1), a Safety Codes Officer may require an
applicant to submit an executed contract or bona fide estimate of the cost of the
undertaking when submitting the application. The value must include all labour and
materials and all lighting, heating, ventilation, water supply, plumbing, electrical, fire
sprinklers, and elevator equipment.
20.
If, in the opinion of a Safety Codes Officer, an application or the documents provided with the
application for a permit contain substantial errors or omissions and a Safety Codes Officer
requests that the applicant provide revised documents for re-examination, a fee shall be
charged as set out in Schedule A.
Bylaw 6262 - June 1, 2021
21.
If any undertaking has been commenced by an applicant, owner or agent before a permit has
been issued by a Safety Codes Officer, the applicant may be required by a Safety Codes
Officer to pay a penalty equivalent to the amount of the applicable permit fee set out in
Schedule A.
Bylaw 6262 - June 1, 2021
22.
(1)
Despite article 16(2), any person who pays a permit fee under this Bylaw and is
subsequently unable to do the undertaking authorized by the permit and who has
not started the undertaking may, for a period of 90 days from the date the permit is
issued, request in writing, that the permit be cancelled.
(2)
If the application is cancelled prior to review commencing, the City shall retain a
portion of the fees as set out in Schedule A.
Bylaw 6262 - June 1, 2021
BYLAW 6110
7
(3)
If the application is cancelled after a review has commenced or completed, the City
shall retain a portion of the fees as set out in Schedule A.
Bylaw 6262 - June 1, 2021
(4)
A person shall not be entitled to a refund of any safety codes levies paid.
PART 2
In addition to Part 1, the following applies to the specific disciplines.
ELECTRICAL DISCIPLINE
23.
Before issuing a permit in the electrical discipline, the Permit Issuer may require an owner
who resides or intends to reside in a single family residential dwelling where the electrical
system serves that dwelling or an owner of a farm building served by a single phase electrical
system to demonstrate that the owner has the skills or competence or both to complete the
undertaking for which the permit will be issued.
24.
If, in the opinion of a Safety Codes Officer, the work of installing, repairing or altering any
electrical machine, apparatus, equipment or appliance, requires the services of a specially
qualified workman supplied by a manufacturer, dealer or distributor, of a machine,
apparatus, equipment or appliance, then and, in such case, a Permit Issuer may issue a
permit for such undertaking to be done by, or under, the supervision, direction and control
of a specially qualified workman.
25.
Only a licenced electrical contractor shall install solar photovoltaic systems or perform work
on an electrical service. In order for a homeowner to perform this work within a dwelling in
which they reside, they must be certified as either a Master Electrician or a Journeyman
electrician.
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
26.
At the discretion of a Safety Codes Officer, a separate permit may be required for each
class of undertaking and installations supplied by different service wires or different main
entrance switches.
27.
The Electrical Safety Codes Officer reserves the right to request disconnection of the supply
of electrical energy for non-compliance with any of the provisions of this Bylaw, in particular
improper or defective wiring conditions.
GAS DISCIPLINE
28.
Before issuing a permit in the gas discipline, the Permit Issuer may require an owner who
resides or intends to reside in a single family residential dwelling if the gas system serves the
dwelling or an owner of a farm building if the gas system serves the farm building to
demonstrate that the owner has the skills or competence or both to complete the undertaking
for which the permit will be issued.
BYLAW 6110
8
29.
When replacing an existing heating appliance (furnace), a licenced gasfitter shall be granted
permission to replace only the heating unit and plenum adaptor and gas connection.
30.
A licensed gasfitter shall not be permitted to replace a supply or return ductwork.
PLUMBING DISCIPLINE
31.
Before issuing a permit in the plumbing discipline, the Permit Issuer may require an owner
who resides or intends to reside in a single family residential dwelling if the plumbing system
serves the dwelling or an owner of a farm building if the plumbing system serves the farm
building to demonstrate that the owner has the skills or competence or both to complete the
undertaking for which the permit will be issued.
32.
A licenced plumbing contractor may apply for a permit to install solar heating that includes
plumbing components.
OFFENCE
33.
A person who contravenes this Bylaw, the Permit Regulation or the Act is guilty of an offence
under the Act and subject to the penalties set out in the Act.
34.
Any person who contravenes this Bylaw may be issued an Order by a designated officer to
remedy the contravention in any manner deemed necessary in the circumstances under
section 545 of the Municipal Government Act, RSA 2000, c. M-26, or section 546 of the
Municipal Government Act, in the case of a danger to public safety or unsightly condition.
SEVERABILITY
35.
If any portion of this Bylaw is declared invalid, then the invalid portion shall be severed and
the remainder of the Bylaw deemed valid and enforceable.
REPEAL
36.
Bylaw Numbers 5624, 5675, 5725 and 5777 are hereby repealed.
EFFECTIVE DATE
37.
This Bylaw shall come into force and effect on the final date of passing.
SIGNED A FIRST TIME THIS 19TH DAY OF MARCH, 2018.
SIGNED A SECOND TIME THIS 3RD DAY OF APRIL, 2018.
SIGNED A THIRD TIME THIS 3RD DAY OF APRIL, 2018.
C.A. SPEARMAN
MAYOR
D. SARSFIELD
A/CITY CLERK
BYLAW 6110
9
Effective: January 1, 2023
Bylaw 6377
SCHEDULE "A"
BUILDING INSPECTIONS FEES
A
Residential Permit Fees
(1)
For the purpose of this Bylaw, "residential permits" includes any permit for work
performed on a single detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling, duplex dwelling,
triplex dwelling, fourplex dwelling, or work whose scope is limited to an individual unit
within a multi-family residence.
(2)
Fees for any residential permit - excluding the Lot Grading Permit, Footing &
Foundation Permit, and Demolition Permit, shall be based on the previaling market
value and calculated as: ........................ $3.25 per $1000 market value or part thereof
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
Minimum Building* or Sub-Trade** Permit Fees .............................................. $110.00
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(3)
Lot Grading Permit .................................................................................................. $125.00
(4)
Footing & Foundation Permit .................................................................................. $250.00
(5)
Demolition Permit ............................................................................................$110.00
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(6)
Fees Retained - As set out in Section 22 of this bylaw, the City may retain permit fees
as follows:
(a) Prior to Review Commencing ........................................................................ $110.00
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(b) Review Commenced or completed ............. the greater of ½ Permit Fees or $110.00,
............................................................... at the discretion of the Safety Codes Officer
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
B
Commercial Permit Fees
(1)
For the purpose of this Bylaw, "commercial permit" includes any permit for work
performed on a multi-family structure of five (5) or more units, commercial structures,
industrial structures, and institutional structures.
(2)
Fees for any commercial permit - excluding the Change of Use Permit, Change in
Building Occupancy Classification Permit, Electrical Annual Maintenance Permit, or
Demolition Permit, shall be based on prevailing market value and calculated as: .......
............................................................. $8.00 per $1000 market value or part thereof,
.................................................................................... less any Application Fees paid
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
BYLAW 6110
10
(a) Application Fee (Non Refundable) ................................................................. $250.00
(b) Minimum Building Permit Fee ......................................................................... $250.00
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(c) Minimum Sub-Trade Permit** Fee .....................................................$110.00
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(3)
DELETED
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(3)
Electrical Annual Maintenance Permit .............................................................. $300.00
(4)
Demolition Permit ................................................................................................... $250.00
(5)
Fees Retained: as set out in Section 22 of this bylaw, the City may retain permit fees
as follows:
(a) Prior to Review Commencing ....................................................................... $110.00
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(b) Review Commenced or completed ............. the greater of ½ Permit Fees or $110.00,
.............................................................. at the discretion of the Safety Codes Officer
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
0
C
Other Fees and Charges
(1)
Additional Inspections, or re-inspections due to failed or incomplete work (All
Disciplines)
(a) 1st Inspection ........................................................................................................ $200.00
(b) 2nd inspection .......................................................................................................... $400.00
(c) 3rd Inspection ................................................................................................. $600.00
(d) Subsequent inspections .............................................................................. $1000.00
(e) DELETED
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(1.1)
Occupancy of a building prior to approval
by a Building Safety Codes Officer ................................................ $500.00
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(2)
Electrical Inspection Amusement ride / concession .................................. $150.00/hour
(3)
Electrical Sign Permit (connection only) ........................................................... $110.00
(4)
Permit Transfer Fee ........................................................................................ $250.00
(5) Revised drawings / Re-stamp Fee .................... Minimum$75.00 up to ½ Permit Fees,
................................................................. at the discretion of the Safety Codes Officer
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(6)
Permit Extension Fee .... Minimum $75.00 up to ½ Permit Fees at the discretion of the
Safety Codes Officer
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(7) Reactivate closed/expired permits or applications: ........................Minimum
$75.00 up to ½ Permit Fees
at the discretion of the Safety
Codes Officer
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
D
Permit Information Requests
(1)
Building Permit Status Report ......$75.00 for the first hour, plus $50.00 per additional
hour or part thereof
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
(2)
Custom data queries, reports, analytics... ............ $125 for the first hour, plus $75 per
additional hour or part thereof
Bylaw 6377 - January 1, 2023
BYLAW 6110
1
(3)
Digital copies of drawings or archived records
(a)
Preparation of existing digital records ................................. $50.00
(b)
Records obtained from archives, scanned, prepared ...........$75
for the first hour, plus $50 per additional hour or part thereof
Bylaw 6468 - January 1, 2025
*Building Permits - may be issued for a variety or applications, including but not limited
to: construction/alteration/addition/renovation/repair, Change of Building Use,
Change of Building Occupancy Classification, Fire Alarm.
**Sub-Trade Permits - may be issued for any discipline, including but not
limited to: Plumbing, Gas, Electrical, Furnace Replacement, HVAC, Hydronic
Heating, Fire Suppression, Geothermal, Private Sewage/