Building Standards Division 

The spring construction season is around the corner and Building Standards wants to reminder customers of 2019 changes to be aware of! All information is available on the Building Standards City of Saskatoon website.

2019 Changes

Energy Compliance

Applications for new buildings and additions have to comply with either the 2017 National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) or 2015 National Building Code (NBC) subsection 9.36. Handouts and forms have been added to the website to guide you through the application process.

•        Key items to note:
  •    Design Professionals are required to be involved in designs using NECB.
  •    Performance modelling using the Energuide Rating System (ERS) has been deemed compliant to 9.36.5 provided the proposed house is designed to be 5% more energy efficient. This is applicable to houses modelled with HOT2000 software.

Site Development Declaration (Commercial Permits)

The Site Development Declaration letter may be submitted as part of a phased or group dwelling site permit application. The letter provides confirmation that site development conforms to the initial phase permit application.  This confirmation will be used to reduce review timelines and permit application fees.

•        Key items to note:

o   Site development cannot change between subsequent permit applications

o   Declaration form has to be submitted with subsequent permit applications

o   Site development is a defined term - see declaration form and handout for site development definition.

Permit Fees

New plan review fees were introduced on January 1, 2019 for building and development permit application that require review by Construction & Design and Saskatoon Water divisions. Changes to the occupancy permit fee, as well as residential permit fees also occurred January 1^st. Please see Building Bylaw No. 9455 for a full list of program and service fees.

Occupancy Permits

Interim Occupancy permits are now mandatory for high risk buildings (buildings with a fire alarm system) that are intended to be occupied during construction.  If interim occupancy has not been approved, building occupancy will not be permitted and any occupancy of the building will be enforced and may result in eviction

•        Key items to note:
  •    Interim occupancy permit approval is required to be obtained prior to building occupancy
  •    interim occupancy permit approval is not required for:
    •   Ground-orientated dwelling units, including Alternative Family Care Homes, with or without a fire alarm system
    •   Buildings not intended to be occupied during construction
    •   Buildings were the building and plumbing permit(s) are closed prior to occupancy.

Updated forms and brochures

•         Application forms and checklists – updated with additional information and new links
•         Building permit fee schedule
•         Commitment Letter for Engineered Life Safety Systems – now includes integrated life safety systems (CAN/ULC-S1001)

Timelines for building and development permit applications

March 7, 2019