The R.M. of Sutton's Building Bylaw (Bylaw No. 3/23) will come into effect on January 1, 2024. See below for the answers to some frequently asked questions.
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 1, 2022?
The Construction Codes Act (the CCA) came into force on January 1, 2022 and repealed and replaced The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act as the legislation which governs construction standards in Saskatchewan.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. 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 farm buildings and therefore these standards will apply to all new builds and major structural renovations that occur to any farm residences after January 1, 2022. Municipalities were given until January 1, 2024 to adopt their own bylaw, or else be subject to the model building bylaw set out in The Building Code Regulations.
WHAT TYPES OF BUILDING PROJECTS REQUIRE A PERMIT?
Projects requiring a permit include but are not limited to:
New building construction (residential or commercial) greater than 10 square meters
Renovating, altering, or adding to an existing building
Demolishing an existing building
RTMs or other types of houses being moved onto or off of a property
Change of use or occupancy of a building
WHAT TYPES OF BUILDINGS ARE EXEMPT FROM REQUIRING A PERMIT?
Accessory buildings not greater than 10 square meters (107.6 square feet)
Farm buildings used for:
the housing of livestock
the production, storage or processing of primary agricultural crops and feeds
the storage and maintenance of equipment or machinery associated with an
Although farm buildings without a residential component are exempt from the Building Bylaw, please contact the R.M. office to confirm that your project meets the criteria for exemption.
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 and pay the required fees. Application forms are available 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 and a description of the proposed development
Legal land description
Estimated start and completion dates
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?
Building permit fees are listed in the Building Bylaw. Feel free to contact the R.M. office for further information.
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 scheduled to start, however turnaround times can be quicker. Ensuring that your application is complete and includes both building and site drawings will help ensure a quicker approval timeframe.
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