Building Permits

 Residential - New Home Construction

Building permits are required for all new single family dwellings.

Forms you may need to submit with your application and drawings:

• Applicable Law Checklist
• Schedule 1 (both for the house and duct design)
• Energy Efficiency Design Summary - Prescriptive Energy
• Efficiency Design Summary - Performance
• Alternative Solutions Application
• Letter of Authorization Form
• Permit Extension Application Form

Information you’ll need to provide with these forms:

• Site plan indicating location on the lot of the proposed building, including setbacks to property lines and grading plan approved by the developer’s engineer if within a subdivision or urban area.
• Construction plans including structural and architectural details
• Roof truss drawings, stamped by an engineer and marked reviewed by your designer
• Heat loss and duct design
• Septic system design and permit (if applicable)
• Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area
• An entrance Permit from our Public Works Department, Durham Region, or MTO
• A water and sewer connection permit from Durham Region Public Works (if applicable)
• Well report (if applicable)
• Plumber licence information
• Grading Plans for all new homes in a Residential Zone

Development Charges are applicable for most new home construction.

Residential - Renovations & Additions

Building permits are required for all additions to residential buildings and most renovations. Renovations such as finished basements, installing roof mounted solar panels, installing new plumbing appliances, changing types of heating systems, etc. require building permits.

Forms you may need to submit with your application and drawings:

• Applicable Law Checklist
• Energy Efficiency Design Summary - Prescriptive (if applicable)
• Energy Efficiency Design Summary - Performance (if applicable)
• Schedule 1
• Alternative Solutions Application
• Letter of Authorization Form
• Permit Extension Application Form

Information you’ll need to provide with these forms:

• Site plan indicating location of proposed addition, including setbacks to property lines and septic system (if applicable)
• Construction plans including structural and architectural details
• Evaluation of septic system (if applicable)
• Heat loss calculations and duct design (if applicable)
• Drawings specific to the project
• Roof mounted solar panels will require engineering for the connection system, and an evaluation of the supporting building by a professional engineer
• Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area
• Plumber licence information

Residential - Accessory Structures & Decks

Building permits are required for all accessory buildings such as sheds (greater than 15 square metres), decks, and detached garages.

Building an accessory building like a shed or detached garage? 

Start by reviewing our Accessory Buildings Guide, which outlines the Ontario Building Code and zoning requirements.

Building a deck? 

Start by reviewing our Brock Deck Construction Guide, which outlines the Ontario Building Code and zoning requirements.

Forms you may need to submit with your application and drawings:

• Applicable Law Checklist
• Schedule 1
• Alternative Solutions Application
• Letter of Authorization Form
• Permit Extension Application Form

Information you’ll need to provide with these forms:

• Site plan indicating location of proposed building, including setbacks to property lines and septic system (if applicable)
• Construction plans including details pertaining to footing, framing, posts, beams, rafters, floor joists and guards (for decks) and building height
• Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area

Residential - Swimming Pools

Permits are required for all inground and above-ground swimming pools and hot tubs. 

Forms you may need to submit with your application and drawings:

• Applicable Law Checklist

Information you’ll need to provide with this form:

• Site plan indicating location of proposed pool, including setbacks to property lines, fencing detail and location of pool equipment (which must be a minimum of 4' (1.2m) from the property line)
• Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area
• Clearance from Durham Region Health if septic system is within 16' 6" (5m) of proposed pool

Other Information:

• Pool Fence By-Law

Residential - Fences

Fences in the Township of Brock must:

• be painted or coated with weather-resistant material
• structurally sound, in good repair, and free of hazards
• not have an unsightly appearance

Please see our Fence By-Law for more details about residential, farm, road, commercial, institutional, and industrial fences. The by-law includes special cases that apply to areas of our community as well as fences that divide residential from commercial or agricultural uses.

Residential Height Requirements

For residential properties, no fence should exceed 1220 mm (4 ft) if on:

• front lot lines or front yards
• side lot lines or side yards
• boundary lines of or on vacant lots

Rear lot line and rear yard fences should not surpass 1830 mm (6 ft).

Requests to build a fence outside of the parameters of the fence by-law require a completion of the fence variance application and approval from Council. 

For those looking to install a division fence, please visit our fences page. 

 Planning on demolishing a building or part of a building?

Permits are required for the demolition of part of or entire buildings, including houses, garages, and detached accessory buildings.

Forms you may need to submit with your application:

• Utility Sign Off Form
• Letter of Authorization Form

Information you'll need to provide with these forms:

• Site plan indicating existing building(s) and proposed demolition, including setbacks to property lines and septic system (if applicable)
• Clearance from the Conservation Authority if the building you plan to demolish is in a regulated area

After you have completed your demolition, you may qualify for a rebate on you property taxes under section 357 of the Municipal Act, 2001.  You can apply for a tax adjustment through the Treasury department.

Agricultural Buildings - Livestock and Manure Storage 

New and expanding livestock buildings and manure storages must comply with the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) formula provided by the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

You may contact the local OMAFRA Office, a Nutrient Management consultant or the Building Department to determine what setbacks would apply to your operation.
Prior to issuance of a building permit for a new or expanding operation or manure storage system, a Letter of Approval will be required from OMAFRA. Please contact OMAFRA for further information in this regard.

Forms you may need to submit with your application and drawings:

• Applicable Law Checklist
• Schedule 1
• Letter of Authorization Form
• Permit Extension Application Form

Information you’ll need to provide with these forms:

• Construction drawings (designed by professional engineer for buildings greater than 600 square metres and all manure storages) truss drawings (stamped by a professional engineer).
• Letter of approval from OMAFRA
• Site plan indicating location of proposed building, including setbacks to property lines, wells, septic systems, buildings and natural areas.
• Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area.

Agricultural Buildings - Not Housing Livestock or Containing Manure Storage

Building permits are required for all farm buildings such as grain bins, silos and drive sheds.

Forms you may need to submit with your application and drawings:

• Applicable Law Checklist
• Schedule 1
• Letter of Authorization Form
• Permit Extension Application Form

Information you’ll need to provide with these forms:

• Construction drawings (designed by professional engineer for all grain bins, silos and buildings greater than 600 square metres). Truss drawings (must be stamped by a professional engineer if trusses are used)
• Site plan indicating location of proposed building, including setbacks to property lines, wells, septic systems, buildings and natural areas.
• Clearance from the Conservation Authority if you plan to build in a regulated area.

 Need to book an inspection? 

If you submitted your permit application through the Cloudpermit system: 

• Request an inspection online through the Cloudpermit Portal, as demonstrated in the video tutorial below:

If you have a legacy permit or issues booking your inspection through the Cloudpermit portal:

• Contact the Building Department by email at building@brock.ca or by phone 705-432-2355 X 230

Inspection requests must be made prior to 3:00 p.m. in order to obtain an inspection for the following business day.*

When requesting an inspection with the building services division, please ensure the following information has been provided:

• Permit Number
• Municipal Address
• Inspection Type
• Contact Name
• Contact Telephone Number
• Name of Inspector (if known)

Covering any completed work before an inspection may lead to delays and removal of finishes.

*Inspections will be scheduled as staffing and time restraints permit but will be completed within two (2) business days.

Please see below for a list of required inspections, by permit type.