The Township of Lake of Bays is reinforcing the importance of building and planning permits after issuing fines against a homeowner and a contractor.
According to officials, the homeowner was fined $10,000 after pleading guilty to violating both the Ontario Building Code Act and the Planning Act for starting construction without permits, while the contractor was fined $4,000 after pleading guilty to one Planning Act offence.
“There is no ‘build now, ask for forgiveness later’. Compliance with the Building Code is not optional, and there is zero tolerance for illegal construction,” said Taeke Peereboom, Chief Building Official for the Township of Lake of Bays. “Failure to follow the law will result in serious consequences, including large fines, stop-work orders, and costly requirements to undo any unpermitted construction that blatantly disregards the law.”
As a result, Township is reminding residents that permits are a legal requirement for many common residential projects.
These include, but are not limited to, constructing or expanding docks, building decks, erecting large tents for events, landscaping within the shoreline yard, demolishing buildings, working on septic systems, and installing backyard sheds or bunkies beyond a specified size.
For more information about permit requirements and the application process, click here.
