Design Guides and Requirements

Urban requirements

If your property is located within the urban area of the Municipality of Port Hope, you must include the following information with your permit application:

• Site plan - approved by Planning (showing the location of all buildings on the property and the distance from the property line, height of all proposed structures and the percent of the property they will occupy)
• One digital set or two hardcopy sets of construction plans (including specifications for heating and ventilation and engineering)
• Complete the Building Permit and Designer Information Form and Energy Efficiency Design Summary
• A Site Plan Agreement may be required prior to obtaining a building permit. Visit Planning and Development Services to find out more information.

Additional approvals

Depending on the location and nature of your construction project, you may need to get the following approvals before you apply:

• Northumberland County approval for septic systems
• Entrance permit from the Municipality of Port Hope (if the property is on a Municipal roadway)
• Entrance permit and setback permit from Northumberland County or the Province of Ontario (if your property is on a county road or provincial highway)
• Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority approval (if the building is on or near an environmental-constraint area or fill-restricted area)
• Port Hope Area Initiative for inspection of soil. 
• Heritage Approval Application (if located within the Heritage District or are a designated property) 

Rural requirements

If your property is located within the rural area of the Municipality of Port Hope, you must include the following information with your permit application:

• Site plan - approved by Planning (showing the location of all buildings on the property and the distance from the property line, height of all proposed structures and the percent of the property they will occupy)
• One digital set or two hardcopy sets of construction plans (including specifications for heating and ventilation and engineering)
• Complete the Building Permit and Designer Information Form and Energy Efficiency Design Summary
• A Site Plan Agreement may be required prior to obtaining a building permit. Visit Planning and Development Services to find out more information.
• Copy of the deed to the land
• Survey with elevations may be required

Additional approvals

Depending on the location and nature of your construction project, you may need to get the following approvals before you apply:

• Northumberland County approval for septic systems
• Entrance permit from the Municipality of Port Hope (if the property is on a Municipal roadway)
• Entrance permit and setback permit from Northumberland County or the Province of Ontario (if your property is on a county road or provincial highway)
• Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority approval (if the building is on or near an environmental-constraint area or fill-restricted area)
• CSA approval (for manufactured homes)

 House

Thinking of building a single-detached, semi-detached, or townhouse dwelling?

Complete the following application forms:

• Building Permit and Designer Information Form
• Energy Efficiency Design Summary
• Plumbing Permit

Construction Drawings

• Grading and drainage plan prepared by a qualified person
• Floor plan(s)
• Elevation drawing(s)
• Cross section detail(s)

Zoning Requirements

Review the Zoning By-law and speak with Planning before applying to make sure you follow all building guidelines for your property.

 Deck

• Freestanding with an area greater than 10m² in area
• Freestanding with a floor height higher than 0.6m above finished grade at any point
• Is attached to a building or structure

Complete application form

• Building Permit and Designer Information Form

Construction Drawings

Download the deck design guide which includes permit checklist, specification requirements, diagrams, and details

Deck Design Guide

Zoning Requirements

Review the Zoning By-law and speak with Planning before applying to make sure you follow all building guidelines for your property. This includes regulations for the:

• Height of the deck
• Installation of privacy screening
• Location of the deck
• Stairs

 Porch

A building permit is required for all porch construction. 

Complete application form

• Building Permit and Designer Information Form

Construction Drawings

• Site Plan
• Porch Structural/floor layout
• Cross Section and Details

Zoning Requirements

Review the Zoning By-law and speak with Planning before applying to make sure you follow all building guidelines for your property. This includes regulations for the:

• Height of the porch
• Location of the porch
• Stairs

 Garage/accessory building

Buildings over 55m² (592 ft²) in area, larger than one storey and are of masonry construction will require an Engineer’s certification. If you are looking to go with a slab-on-grade (floating slab) design, reference our design guide below.

Complete application forms

• Building Permit and Designer Information Form 
• Plumbing Permit (if required)

Construction Drawings

• Site Plan showing location of proposed garage/building including dimensions and distance from property lines, septic tank/field and other buildings
• Floor plan(s)
• Elevation drawing(s)
• Cross section detail(s)
• Slab-on-Grade design principles and cross section

Zoning Requirements

Review the Zoning By-law and speak with Planning before applying to make sure you follow all building guidelines for your property. This includes regulations for the:

• Height and size of the garage/building
• Location relative to other buildings/structures/property lines

Addition/Renovation

Any work that falls under When do I need a building permit (for example: finishing a basement, adding new exterior openings, additions etc.)

Complete application forms

• Building Permit and Designer Information Form 
• Plumbing Permit (if required)

Construction Drawings

• Site Plan showing location of proposed addition including dimensions and distance from property lines, septic tank/field and other buildings
• Floor plan(s) showing existing walls, windows, plumbing and HVAC as well as the proposed changes showing the extent of the addition/renovation
• Elevation drawing(s)
• Cross section detail(s)
• Adding new Exterior Opening
• Finished Basement (without cooking facilities)

Zoning Requirements

Review the Zoning By-law and speak with Planning before applying to make sure you follow all building guidelines for your property.

You can not include any cooking facilities in a finished basement. If you would like to add a kitchen you will need to review our Accessory Apartment Guidelines.

 Accessory Apartment

Looking to convert part of your home into a rental unit? An Accessory Apartment is a self-contained dwelling unit with a private kitchen, bathroom facilities and sleeping areas.

Complete application forms

• Complete the Building Permit and Designer Information Form 
• Plumbing Permit

Construction Drawings 

• Site Plan showing location of existing dwelling and proposed addition (if applicable) including dimensions and distance from property lines, septic tank/field and other buildings
• Existing Floor plan(s) showing walls, windows, plumbing and HVAC
• Proposed Floor plan(s)
• Elevation drawing(s) showing accessory apartment entrance and egress window(s)
• Egress Window details
• Cross section detail(s) illustrating the wall/ceiling/fire separation and construction details

Accessory Apartment Guide

Zoning regulations

Review the Zoning By-law and speak with Planning to determine if your property is zoned to allow for an Accessory Apartment or Duplex Dwelling.   

Accessory Apartments shall not exceed one-third (1/3) of the total habitable floor space of the primary dwelling.