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Notice of Public Meeting - to consider an Update to Building By-law 2014-26 to amend how building permit fees are calculated

BE ADVISED that the Council of the Corporation of the Township of South Frontenac will hold a public meeting under the provisions of the Building Code Act to consider an update to the Township of South Frontenac Building By-law pursuant to section 7(6) of the Building Code Act, 1992, and Division C, 1.9.1.2.(1) of the Building Code, 2012

DATE OF MEETING:  April 12th, 2022, at 6:00pm

LOCATION: This will be a virtual public meeting. Details about how to view and participate in the meeting will be posted on the Township’s website prior to the meeting.

Purpose and Effect of Changing Calculation Method of Permit Fees

This change recommends an update to the current Building By-law No. 2014-26 to annually adjust building permit fees by using the Total Consumer Price Index deviation to a maximum increase of 4% instead of using the Non-residential Building Construction Cost Index: Ottawa, to avoid a considerable fee increase in 2022.

This change also recommends establishing a limit to the size of the building reserve and that upon reaching the reserve limit, building permit fees will not be increased for the year.

Representation & Appeals

Any person may register and participate in the virtual public meeting and make written and/or verbal representation either in support of or in opposition to the proposed Amendment.

Additional Information

As of Monday, March 7th, 2022, a draft copy of the amended building by-law, and a copy of this notice are available below:

What do these Changes Mean?

Due to the dramatic increase in the cost of construction materials and other inflationary pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 3rd Quarter Non-Residential Building Construction Cost Index: Ottawa is much higher than in the past at 13.6%.

If applied as per the current by-law, this would result in a considerable increase to the Township’s building fees for 2022, which would not align with the cost to deliver these services.

For this reason, staff is recommending replacing the current approach with the October Total CPI (a maximum of 4.0% annually). This approach ensures fees remain more closely tied to service delivery costs and prevents excessive increases related to irregular inflation hikes.

Staff are also recommending that building fees should only be increased when the Building Reserve balance exceeds the equivalent to the annual building services operating costs based on a rolling three (3) year average. 

The effect of this change to the building by-law would result in no increase to building fees in 2022 and would establish a more reasonable way to tie increases in building fees to operating costs in future years.

Dated at the Township of South Frontenac this 10th day of March 2022.

Tom Berriault, CBCO

Chief Building Official
Township of South Frontenac
Box 100, Sydenham, Ontario K0H 2T0
Phone: 613-376-3027 Ext. 2228
tberriault@southfrontenac.net

Please note this notice was also published in the Frontenac News. 

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