Council eyeing third party to review building permits and plans

KAWARTHA LAKES-Council is looking at allowing third party agencies to review of some steps in the buidling permit process.

The building department has been understaffed and this could help address that. The city says it is to help clients naviage through the process. “This amendment follows recommendations resulting from the Planning Approvals Task Force looking at providing available avenues which may assist an applicant in streamlining certain types of projects.” said Susanne Murchison, Chief Building Official for the City.

Registered Code Agencies (RCA) are registered with the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs to act for municipalities. When appointed by the municipality it allows the third party company to review building permit drawings and issue Plans Review and Change Certificates. These certificates will be used by the municipality in lieu of providing their own technical review of the drawings. In the City of Kawartha Lakes council is looking at using RCA to aid the builder or developer.

As a result the fee’s for permits would change if council approves the move. “The legislation requires that a reduced fee be payable in respect of the construction of a building for which a Registered Code Agency is appointed.  Both the municipality and the code agency are required to collect building permit fees following a cost recovery model and since both agencies are performing a portion of the complete process, the existing applicable fees must be reduced to reflect only those services being provided.” Murchison said.

The fees would be reduced by the following amounts:

Applicant Appointed RCA Permit for which an RCA is appointed for plans review stage only, 65% of applicable fee from Schedule A Table 2;