Building Permits

If you're building, demolishing, or making changes to a building in the City of Cornwall, you will need a building permit. They help to ensure you meet provincial laws, zoning requirements and safety standards. Getting a Building Permit is how you ensure that the construction on your home or building is safe and follows the rules of the Ontario Building Code.

As the property owner, you are responsible for getting the required building permit. While you can ask your contractor to handle your application, you need to make sure you have an approved permit before starting construction.

Apply for a Building Permit

To apply, please email us your completed application or you can drop it off in person to the Building & By-Law Division at the Cornwall Civic Complex on the Second Floor at 100 Water St E. If you have any questions about building permits or which forms apply to your project, please call us at 613-930-2787.

Depending on your project, you may need the following forms:

• Building Permit Application

• Fence & Pool Enclosure Permit Application

• Schedule 1: Designer Information

• Schedule 3: Consent and Acknowledgment (Agent Authorization)

• Energy Efficiency Design Summary: Prescriptive Method

• Energy Efficiency Design Summary: Performance and Other Acceptable Compliance Methods

• Responsibility Review Form for Roof Truss/Engineered Floor System/LVLS

• Commitment to General Review Form

• Applicable Law Checklist

• Deck Form

• Siding Form

• Fence Permit

• Accessory Building Form

• Plumbing Drawing Requirements

Your permit will list the inspections you'll need for your project. Before you start each new part of the job, you or your contractor must contact us to schedule an inspection.

Building Permit Fees

To find out how much your permit will cost, please view the 2025 Fee Schedule. The price is calculated from your building's size and type. The minimum charge is $268. For residential projects, we charge by the square foot. For a business or other non-residential building, we charge based on the total project's estimated value.

Septic System Permits

You need a permit from South Nation Conservation to install or alter a private sewage system like a septic system. This agency manages these permits for land development, new construction and inspections

Zoning Requirements

You cannot get a building permit if your project does not follow the City's zoning standards Zoning. These rules cover what the land can be used for, how far a building must be from property lines, and how much of the lot it can cover.

Does your project need a building permit?

A building permit is required for any construction, demolition or renovation, unless it is listed as an exception. This rule applies to both the interior and exterior of a building. There are no exemptions for work done only on the inside.