Building Fee and By-law Study

Notice of Public Meeting

 for Proposed Building Permit Fee Study 

Date: Wednesday June 17, 2026 at 5:30 PM

Place: This hearing will be a hybrid (virtual/in-person) meeting.

Virtual Participation:  Zoom Webinar / YouTube Livestream 

In-person Participation:  Town Hall, Council Chambers, 20 Pelham Town Square, Fonthill 

Town Council approved hybrid meetings via By-law No. 4507 (2022).  The Town of Pelham live webcast of the Public Meeting will be streaming at:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TownOfPelham/live

The Town of Pelham retained Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. to undertake a review of its Building Permit Fees. The public meeting will include a presentation by Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., on the report findings related to the building permit fee amendments. Upon conclusion of the presentation, any person in attendance will have an opportunity to make representations with respect to the matter.

The Building Code Act, provides the authority for a municipality to pass a bylaw prescribing fees for various classes of building permits and states that the total amount of fees must not exceed the anticipated reasonable costs of a municipality to administer and enforce the Building Code Act.

A copy of the Consultant’s report regarding the Building Permit Review is available on the Town website by clicking here under the heading of Building Permit Submission - 2026 Building Fees and By-law Study at the Community Planning and Development Department. Copies will be made available at no cost at Town Hall.

Public Meeting for Proposed Building Permit Fees Increase under Section 7(6) of the Building Code Act, S.O. 1992, as amended.

Your Input is Encouraged:                                                          

The Town of Pelham would appreciate receiving your written and/or verbal comments regarding this application. Unless indicated otherwise, personal information and all comments will become part of the public record and may be publicly released. To provide input in writing, or to request personal notice if the proposed Fee By-law is adopted, please send all correspondence by noon on Monday, June 8 to The Town Clerk, Holly Willford, PO Box 400, 20 Pelham Town Square, Fonthill, Ontario, L0S 1E0, or by email at hwillford@pelham.ca.  

Comments and requests received after this date will still be received by Council; however, they may not be published as part of the public meeting agenda. Verbal comments will be received by the Town at the public hearing via virtual or in-person participation. To provide verbal comments virtually, please pre-register with the Town Clerk by sending an email to hwillford@pelham.ca before 12:00 p.m. on Friday June 12, 2026.  Zoom webinar registration information and procedure will be provided.  To provide verbal comments in-person at the Public Meeting, pre-registration is encouraged but not required.  Registrants will be notified of Council’s Decision. 

Need More Information: For more information, please contact Andrew McMurtrie, Chief Building Official, by email at amcmurtrie@pelham.ca or at 905-980-6665.  

Dated at the Town of Pelham, this 26th day of May, 2026.                                                                              

_________________________

Holly Willford

 Town Clerk

Date of Publication: May 26, 2026              

View this release as a PDF

PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE
Building Permit Fee & Building By-law Review

The Town of Pelham is initiating a review of its building permit fees and Building By-law to ensure compliance with the Ontario Building Code and to maintain full cost recovery for building services. Interested members of the public are invited to attend a Public Open House concerning an update of the Building Permit Fee & Building By-law Review

Date: June 10, 2026

Location: Station 2 Fire Hall, 766 Welland Road, Fenwick, ON L0S 1C0

Time: 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

What to expect at the Open House:

The June 10, 2026, Building Permit Fee Study Open House will include a short presentation at 5:30 pm from Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., followed by a Questions & Answers/ Comments period.

Information on this process, including timelines and next steps, can be found on the Town’s Webpage at www.pelham.ca/buildingfeeandbylawstudy

BACKGROUND
Under the Ontario Building Code Act, municipalities are required to fund building department operations through building permit fees rather than municipal taxation. Any surplus revenue must be placed into a dedicated reserve fund to support future building services and related capital needs.

WHY A REVIEW IS BEING CONSIDERED
Pelham’s building permit fees have not undergone a comprehensive review since 2016. While annual increases of 1–3% have been applied in recent years, construction costs, staffing requirements, technology use, and Ontario Building Code requirements have increased significantly over the same period.

Data from the Building Construction Price Index (BCPI) indicates that construction costs have risen substantially faster than permit fee increases, resulting in ongoing operational shortfalls.

The review may also identify additional permit classes or fee categories that are not currently included in the Town’s existing Building By-law.

PROPOSED NEXT STEPS
Following the open house, the Town will consider the feedback provided and will assist in developing the draft report for Council’s approval.

Once the draft report has been heard before Council, the Town will produce a final report based on the direction provided by the draft report. The final report will indicate the required fees for various building permit classes.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS
As required under the Ontario Building Code, the Town will:
• Hold at least one public meeting
• Provide a minimum of 21 days’ public notice
• Share information regarding anticipated costs, proposed fees, and the rationale for any changes

Residents, builders, and stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide feedback as part of the review process.

Following direction from Council, Town staff issued an RFP to retain a qualified consultant to complete a Building Permit Fees & By-law review. The RFP closed on April 14, 2026. Following the evaluation, the Town awarded the contract to Watson & Associates Economist Ltd. Staff are currently engaging with the consultant for the data collection and reporting stage.

In addition, public engagement sessions will take place at the Meridian Community Centre in early June. A statutory Public Meeting will also take place on June 17, 2026, in council chambers and a final report will be brought to Council on July 8, 2026.

Read the full information report here

On November 5, 2025 council received report 2025-0240 “Building Permit Fee & By-law Study,” for information and recommend that staff initiate a review of the Town’s Building Permit Fees & By-law.  Council recommend that staff retain a qualified consultant to review and prepare a justification report of the Town’s Building Permit Fees & By-law and directed staff to review the Town of Pelham Building Permit Fees & By-law on a regular 5-year basis.

Read the full information report here