Home owners, small businesses and do-it-yourselfers in Thunder Bay now have a comprehensive guide to help turn a dream project into a reality.

The City’s Building Services and Planning Services has released Before You Build: A Guide to Planning and Permitting for Home and Small Business Projects. The guide, which is fully interactive when viewed online, brings readers through a step-by-step process on how to ensure their project conforms to legislation and regulations.

“This guide makes it really easy to see what steps you need to take before you build, relocate or renovate your dream project,” said Joel DePeuter, Director – Development Services.

“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for anyone to determine what information they need to have on hand before they start their project, so they can comply with the rules for building in Thunder Bay.”

The guide includes information on the following common development projects:

  • Building a Deck
  • Building a Garage or a Shed (Accessory Building)
  • Relocating a Business
  • Creating a New Lot
  • Adding a Second Unit/Rental Property

The guide is complemented by a number of videos that also explain the steps required to plan and build a particular project.

The guide was created with contributions from the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, and was supported by the province’s Streamlined Development Approvals Fund.

The Planning and Permitting process will also become easier this spring with a new portal that will allow online submission for some processes with the addition of others over time.

To view a copy of the Before You Build guide, along with the videos, start here: www.thunderbay.ca/beforeyoubuild

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Media Contact: Jeff Walters, Communications Officer – Development and Emergency Services, 625-2239, jeff.walters@thunderbay.ca