home icon >> Departments >> Building

Building Department

Overview

The City’s Building Department reviews and issues building, plumbing, demolition, sign and swimming pool permits for all development within Pembroke. The Building Department also oversees the Property Standards By-law and the Sign By-law.  

To submit a comment online, click the grey Feedback button on the left side of this page.

Click here to see the City of Pembroke's Building By-law 2018-01.  

Click here to see the City of Pembroke's Code of Conduct for Building Officials.

About Building Permits

A building permit is your formal permission to begin construction, demolition, addition or renovation work on your property.  Building permits regulate the type of construction allowed in a community and ensure that minimum building standards are met. The permit process protects the owner’s interests, the community, and it helps to ensure that any new construction is appropriate and safe. 

As part of the building permit process, the City of Pembroke staff must review your plans to ensure they comply with the Ontario Building Code, local zoning by-laws, and other Applicable Law.

When Do I Need a Building Permit?

Under the Ontario Building Code Act (OBCA), a building permit is required for the construction and/or demolition of a new building, an addition, or a material alteration of any building or structure.  For more details, click "When Do I Need a Building Permit?"

How Do I Obtain a Building Permit?

The process for obtaining a building permit is generally as follows:

  1. Pick up or print the appropriate permit application package and complete it.  To print a permit application, click on "When Do I Need a Building Permit?" and from there, click on the job that best describes the work you plan to do.  This will bring you to a page that explains the documents and forms needed.  These forms can be printed.
     
  2. Submit your application to the Building Department.
     
  3. You will hear from the Building Department once the Chief Building Official (CBO) has reviewed your submission.  We will call you either to request additional information that we need before we can issue the permit, or to tell you that your permit is ready for pickup and payment.  Payment can be made with cash, cheque, or debit.  The City of Pembroke does not accept credit cards.

Once a permit has been issued, it will remain open indefinitely until the applicant phones and has a final inspection done and passed by the CBO.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Permit?

The amount of time it takes to recieve your permit generally depends on:

  • how complete your application was when you submitted it;
  • how quickly you respond to the CBO's requests for additional information or documents; and
  • the scope of the work as determined by the Ontario Building Code.  Issuing timelines do not begin until the day after an application is complete and the CBO is no longer waiting for any documents.  In addition, timelines do not include days on which the municipal office is closed.

Contact Information

Mark Schultz
Chief Building Official
Phone: 613-735-6821 x1331
Fax: 613-735-3660
Email: [email protected]

When Do I Need a Building Permit?
Notice:  The City of Pembroke now asks that, if possible, building plans be submitted in PDF as well as in hard copy. When Do I Need a Building Permit? Under the Ontario Building Code Act (OBCA), a building permit is required for the...
Building Department Forms
Below are some of the most common forms used in the Building Department.  If you are not sure what forms you need, visit the "When Do I Need a Building Permit?" page, click on the type of construction that applies to your project,...
Building Department Fees
Building Permit Fees For the fee schedule to the City of Pembroke's current Building By-law, click:  Fee Schedule (A) to Building By-law (2018-01) Development Charges If you are building a new structure or an addition, or if...
Temporary Shelters (October 15-May 15)