Building Permit Guide
TOWN OF GRAND BAY-WESTFIELD

A Guide to homeowners and contractors who wish to:

Construct, Alter or Add

THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU START CONSTRUCTION:

1. Prepare detailed drawings
2. Prepare cost estimate
3. Obtain required approvals and permits

YOU MUST OBTAIN A PERMIT WHEN:

• Constructing a new home or accessory building
• Adding to an existing home: rooms, attached garage, sundeck, fence, pool, carport, railings/guards, etc.
• Demolishing
• Installing retaining walls
• Installing new rooms in the basement or attic
• Altering structural partitions
• A change in Use as dictated by the Zoning By-law
• The work requires to the issuance of an Electrical Permit

A PERMIT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THE FOLLOWING:

• Re-roofing
• Painting
• Plaster repairs
• Drywall patching
• Window replacement of the same size or smaller
• Insulating finished floor replacement, wall papering or replacing existing exterior cladding for residential properties only subject to approval of exterior cladding type as it relates to fire separation requirements

WHERE TO GET PERMITS AND APPLICATIONS:

Town of Grand Bay-Westfield Telephone: (506) 738-6409
609 River Valley Drive Fax: (506) 738-6424
PO Box 3001 E-mail: dtaylor@towngbw.ca
Grand Bay-Westfield, NB Website: www.town.grandbay-westfield.nb.ca
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EXTRA POINTS:

• Building without a permit is illegal!
• Construction must begin within 6 months of permit issuance
• Construction must not be discontinued or suspended in excess of 1 year
• No exterior surface intended to be cladded can be left uncladded in excess of 6 months

DRAWINGS:

All additions, alterations, and new construction require 2 sets of drawings.

All drawings must be clear, detailed and dimensioned

INCLUDE: Site Plan, Materials List, Floor Plan, and Elevations, as illustrated in the following examples:

CHECKLIST:

- Complete application for building permit
- Complete drawings - floor plans, site plans, elevations, materials list
- Cost estimate prepared
- Permit fee

- Building Inspector notified 48 hours prior to starting
- Building Inspector notified 24 hours prior to backfilling at any foundation wall

- Building Inspector notified 24 hours prior to drywall installation

  -Building Inspector notified within 10 days of completion of work described

   in the permit
- A copy of permit, plans and specifications must be kept on site

NOTE: BUILDING PERMITS MUST BE ISSUED PRIOR TO COMMENCING WORK 

OTHER DEPARTMENTS & JURISDICTIONS:
You may need assistance and approval from the following:

ZONING BY-LAW:

The Zoning By-law governs the use and occupancy of all property within the Town. The Development Officer should be contacted if any change in the use of your property is required. For further information please call 738-6409. The following activities provide a sample of activities requiring approval, i.e., business office, auto repair, medical office, day care, etc. 

APPEAL:

The applicant may have the right to appeal to the Planning Advisory Committee and/or to the Provincial Assessment and Planning Appeal Board if the Development Officer does not approve a development. Please contact the Development Officer at 738-6409 for further clarification. 

NEW SANITARY SEWER CONNECTIONS

1. The property owner must obtain a sewer hook-up permit from the Town:

What is required:

• original signature of the current property owner
• plumber’s permit issued by the Department of Public Safety
• deposit of $500.00 (cash, money order, or certified cheque)

2. The Town shall be notified when the service lateral is ready for inspection (between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday to Friday).
3. The service lateral shall not be backfilled until approved by the Town.
4. Once the service lateral passes through the foundation the property it is considered to be connected to the Municipal Sewer System. Billing for sewer will commence the calendar month following the date which the service is connected. Number of sewer units to be billed will be calculated using the Sanitary Wastewater System By-law.

REQUIREMENT FOR A BACKWATER VALVE

All homeowners should be aware of the necessity of a backwater valve. The backwater valve is a check valve and, when working properly, it can help prevent a backup of sewerage water into the basement area of your house, due to a sewer main blockage.

This valve should be installed on the building’s sewer line just inside the foundation wall, inside an access panel in the basement floor. In cases where the building’s sewer line goes through the wall, the valve must also be accessible. Backwater valves need to be cleaned periodically to ensure the valve is working properly.

The Town Sewerage By-law states that all new homes must have a backwater valve installed on the building’s sewer line inside the foundation wall.

If you have any questions regarding Building Permits please contact dtaylor@towngbw.ca, Building Inspector at the Town Office at 738-6409. 

DOWNLOAD A BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION FORM:

A copy of the building permit application form is available for download. If you do not have a copy of Microsoft PowerPoint, you can obtain a  Viewer from Microsoft free of charge. The form may be printed, signed, and completed and submitted to the Municipal Office.