New Building and Plumbing Bylaw

March 20, 2025

The City of Fernie is in the process of modernizing its Building Bylaw. The proposed Bylaw clarifies the requirements for building permit applications, enhances efficiency of application submission, and modernizes fees based on a cost recovery framework.

The Bylaw adjusts fees to account for inflation, and establishes a uniform methodology for calculating construction costs, to reduce the financial burden on the taxpayer for private development.

Highlights of the New Building Bylaw

  • Formalizes and clarifies the requirements for building permit applications.
  • Enhances the efficiency of application submissions.
  • Includes a more detailed list of projects that are exempt from Building Permit requirements.
  • Modernizes fees based on a cost recovery framework.
  • Establishes a uniform methodology for calculating construction costs.
  • Establishes clear parameters for final and conditional occupancies.
  • Outlines requirements for recording damage to municipal works in advance of construction.
  • Ensures provincial legislation regarding hazardous materials abatement has been followed prior to inspection.
  • Removes application forms from the bylaw, making way for the upcoming implementation of digital permit tracking software.

Review the proposed Building and Plumbing Bylaw on Let'sTalk.

Council will consider the proposed Building and Plumbing Bylaw on April 8 and 15.