• Temporary tents require a building a permit when their foot print is 60 square meters or larger. This applies to both a single tent of that size or the sum of multiple tents. 
• An inspection of the tent must be done prior to its use, please ensure to book the inspection well in advance of your event (there are no inspections Friday to Sunday).
• All tents must be 3 metres or more away from structures.
• Tents must be in compliance with the Ontario Fire Code, visit the Fire and Emergency Services webpage for more information. 

Along with the building permit application, you must submit a Site Plan that includes:

• All existing buildings and dimensions
• All four setbacks to proposed and existing buildings and structures
• All setbacks to proposed or existing decks
• Sewage system location (proposed or existing)
• Well location (proposed or existing)
• Surface water drainage by arrows
• Proposed ground elevation of four corners of building plus relationship to adjacent property
• North arrow
• Street name
• Proposed or existing swales and ditches
• Foundation or sump drainage location
• Services – hydro – existing and proposed

Fees vary depending on the type and scope of the project. If you begin construction, including site preparation or excavation, before we issue a permit, the appropriate fee is doubled.

Except for specialty permits, fees are calculated based on construction value, which is the total cost for a project including materials and labour at fair market value.

For 2024, the following construction project permits cost $14.50 for every $1,000 of construction value:

• Dwelling
• Cottage (island/WAO)
• Commercial
• Industrial
• Institutional
• Boathouse
• Garage
• Shed
• Deck (open or enclosed)
• Residential addition or renovation
• ICI addition or renovation

Agricultural building permits, for bona fide farm uses, cost 25% of the regular permit cost, so $3.63 for every $1,000 of construction value.

Specialty permits and additional fees:

• Swimming pools costs $225
• Solid fuel burning appliance or chimney costs $225
• Moving or relocating a building costs $225
• Construction trailer (includes less than 4.25 m2 deck) costs $225
• Demolition (one building) costs $225
• Demolition (more than 1 building per building) costs $200 per building
• Change of use (no construction) costs $500
• Transfer permit (ownership change with open permits) costs $225 per permit
• Plumbing Only - residential with less than 10 fixtures costs $225
• Plumbing Only - residential with 10 or more fixtures costs $400
• Plumbing Only - commercial costs $575
• Minimum fee costs $225
• Minimum deck fee costs $120
• Temporary tent permit costs $0

If you're property is located in an area protected by the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority, you'll need to receive approval for certain building projects including:

• Minor filing
• Minor construction – accessory buildings such as boathouses and garages
• Major construction – dwellings, additions
• Basements and crawlspaces

Drinking water source protection - Peterborough Municipal Intake Protection Zone

Drinking water source protection - Norwood Municipal Wellhead Protection Zone

Drinking water source protection - Lakefield Municipal Intake Protection Zone

You're required to get a permit if conducting any projects that connect to the Trent-Severn Waterways. This includes docks, boathouses and retaining walls. A permit is required for new builds or repairs to existing builds.

Visit the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to apply for a permit if you're building:

• A dock over 140 square feet in area
• Any retaining wall construction in a regulated area (generally near water/natural features)

If your construction project includes electrical work, you'll need to get approval from the Electric Safety Authority.

The County of Peterborough Roads department will be required if your entrance is new or being altered and your property is on a County Road.

The Ministry of Transportation via the Highway Corridor Management System, permit is required if you are doing work within the provincial highway corridor, including Highway 28 and the unconstructed Peterborough Bypass (which runs parallel with Douro 9th Line).