Provincial Legislation (the Construction Codes Act) requires municipalities to regulate building construction. Whenever you are planning to construct, place, alter, repair, renovate, demolish, remove, add or change any building or residence within the Village of Torquay, you may require a Building Permit. 

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Building Codes & Bylaw​

Federal Government

The federal government sets the base for all building standards through National Building Code.

Provincial Government

The provincial government sets province-wide standards through The Construction Codes Act and Building Code Regulations.

Municipal Authority

The Village of Torquay administers and enforces standards and regulations, including National Building Code, The Construction Codes Regulations, Building Bylaw and Zoning Bylaw. 

Property Owner

The property owner is responsible for ensuring their building complies with all building and accessibility standards.

Each municipality is responsible for the enforcement of these codes, acts, and regulations in the area in which it has jurisdiction. As part of its building permit process the Village of Torquay reviews and approves plans for construction that meet building codes and bylaws. The Village of Torquay will enforce inspections during construction to verify that building code regulations have been followed.

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Building Permit vs Development Permit​

A building permit is required for construction projects to ensure compliance with building codes, while a development permit is required to ensure compliance with Torquay zoning and land use bylaws: 

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Building permit

• Ensures construction projects comply with building codes, such as the National Building Code of Canada. Building permits are required for structural changes to a building, and may include inspections during construction.

Development permit

• Ensures plans and projects comply with zoning and land use bylaws, such as the Official Community Plan.

• Development permits are issued by the municipality and are mainly for planning purposes and are required if you are changing the use of the property or the foot print of buildings on your property

 

In general, a development permit is required before a building permit can be obtained. 

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When do you not need a building permit

 Permits are NOT typically required for: ​

• Replacement of materials like shingles or siding, or cosmetic upgrades not affecting structural members or safety features

• Accessory buildings less than 100 sq ft..

 

 The Village of Torquay requires application for Fence Permit 

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Process for issuing Permits

Development Permits

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Proposed development is reviewed by municipal officials per the municipal zoning bylaws.

All plans and documents must be sent to the Village of Torquay office for their records and approval.

Development approval DOES NOT mean building permit approval. 

If the proposed project is approved by the municipality, then you can proceed with the building permit process.  Note that all construction projects require development approval but not all projects require a building permit. 

All Building Permit applications will then be sent to PBI Inspections Inc. PBI does not get involved until after development is approved by the Village of Torquay.

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​Building Permits

 

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If a building permit is required for your project then you must provide all required information for a plan review, as per our Residential or Commercial - Permit Information Form.

PBI cannot assist with design work (applicants must contact their contractor, architect, or engineer with questions) but they can provide National Building Code (NBC) interpretation regarding specific items or answer questions on how to complete their forms.

All required plans and documents for the project, including PBI's Residential or Commercial Permit Information Form and E-Mail Consent Form , must be sent to the municipal office for their records.  The municipal office will complete the top portion of the Residential or Commercial - Permit Information Form, assign a PBI permit number, and forward everything to PBI for review.   

Plan reviews cannot be completed unless all required information requested by PBI is submitted for review.  Failure to do so will cause delays in building permit issuance.

Building permits are only approved after a plan review has been completed by a Licensed Building Official to ensure that designs meet provincial building standard requirements. Provincial standards include: The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act (UBAS Act), Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Regulations, currently adopted editions of the National Building Code of Canada (NBC), National Fire Code of Canada (NFC) and National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB), as well as municipal building bylaws.

After the plan review report is completed, PBI will send it to the municipal office. They will determine if they will issue a building permit based on the conditions noted in the report.

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Applicants MUST NOT commence construction until a valid building permit is issued by the municipal office.

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