Rates and Fees

The Niagara Region and the Town of Grimsby require developers to contribute to the capital costs of municipal services (such as roads, water, and sewers) needed to support new developments, based on the idea that "growth should finance growth."

Niagara Region Finance -  905-980-6000 ext. 3528

Town of Grimsby Finance - 905-945-9634 ext. 2169

Town of Grimsby Planning -  905-945-9634 ext. 2128

Community Benefits Charges (CBCs) are a recent financial mechanism introduced under the Ontario Planning Act, enabling municipalities to impose fees on high-density residential developments (5+ storeys, 10+ units) to cover growth-related capital expenses, provided these costs are not already addressed by development charges or parkland requirements.

Town of Grimsby Planning -  905-945-9634 ext. 2128

Development Engineering is a branch within the Planning Division, tasked with conducting detailed technical engineering reviews of development projects. From start to finish, the Development Engineering Team collaborates with the Planning Services team and Public Works team to ensure that developments align with plans, policies, standards, and regulations.

Development Engineering Purview:

• Grading securities
• Public Works inspections
• Curb cuts
• Water on-off service
• Site alteration 
• Tree hoarding 
• Road occupancy permit
• Damage deposits
• Pool bond release inspection 
• Road cuts
• Servicing connection 
• Culvert permit 
• Silt fencing
• Outdoor patio permit
• Lot grading reviews
• Water meter cost and process
• Water service pipe installs
• Construction water usage 
• Road entrance permit 
• Temporary construction entrance
• Storm Water Management

Town of Grimsby Public Works  905-945-9634 ext. 2014

• The minimum fee for a permit shall be $232.00, unless otherwise stated in this Bylaw.
• Fees for a required permit are set out in this Schedule and are due and payable upon 
  submission of an application for a permit. Fees may be payable at permit issuance at the 
  discretion of the Chief Building Official.
• For new buildings, additions and alterations, the fees for occupancy, plumbing,  below 
  grade piping, sprinkler and fire alarm systems, finished basement areas in a house and any 
  balconies, decks, patio and porch structures are in addition to the applicable Service Index permit 
  fee.
• For the purpose of this Schedule the occupancy classification and floor area shall be determined on the following basis:

• • The occupancy classification shall be established in accordance with the occupancy 
    definitions of the Ontario Building Code. For multiple occupancy floor areas, the permit fees for 
    each of the applicable occupancy categories may be used, except where an occupancy category 
    is less than 10% of the floor area.
  • The floor area calculation is the sum of the areas of all floors including finished basement 
    areas, balconies, lofts, mezzanines, habitable attic spaces, mechanical penthouses and shall be 
    measured to the outer face of the exterior walls and to the centre line of party walls, firewalls or 
    demising walls.
  • For interior finishes, alterations or renovations, the area of proposed work is the actual space 
    receiving the work, e.g. tenant suite and measurements are taken to the inner face of walls.
  • Except for interconnected floor spaces, no deductions shall be made for openings within the 
    floor area, i.e. stairs, elevators, ducts.
  • Unfinished basements for a house are not included in calculating the floor area. A future 
    basement finish is subject to a building permit and fees in accordance with this Schedule.
  • A garage serving a house to which it is attached or built-in shall not be included in the floor 
    area calculations.
  • Decks and wood burning fireplaces shall be charged the permit fee in accordance with this 
    Schedule in addition to the applicable floor area calculations.
  • Horizontal projection of sloping and stepped floors shall be used in lieu of actual surface area.
  • Where interior alterations and renovations require relocation of not more than 9 sprinkler 
    heads, standpipe components or fire alarm components, no additional charge is applicable.
  • Where demolition of partitions or alterations to existing ceilings are part of an alteration or 
    renovation permit, no additional charge is applicable.

• A temporary building is considered to be a building that will be erected for not more than 
  three years.
• Permit fees for temporary tents and stages shall be charged for each property and for 
  each event on a single property.
• Permit fees for multiple decks, tents or stages constructed simultaneously on a single 
  property shall be 50% of the applicable permit fee listed in this Schedule.
• For classes of permits not described in this Schedule, a reasonable permit fee shall be 
  determined by the Chief Building Official.

Permit fees shall be calculated using the following formula unless otherwise specified in 
this Schedule:
Permit Fee = SI x A
Where: Sl = the fee multiplier based on the service index for the type/classification of the work 
proposed; and =  total floor area of the work involved

•  Fees that may be refunded shall be a percentage of the permit fees payable under this 
  By-law, calculated as follows:
  • 75 percent if administrative functions only have been performed.
  • 70 percent if administrative and zoning functions only have been performed.
  • 50 percent if administrative, zoning and plans examination functions have been performed.
  • 45 percent if the permit has been issued and no field inspections have been performed 
    subsequent to permit issuance.
  • 5 percent shall additionally be deducted for each field inspection that has been performed 
    after the permit has been issued.
• Where the Chief Building Official deems it appropriate, a refund of other than specified in 
  section 3.1. may be granted.
• No refunds shall be payable where the calculated refund is less than the minimum fee.
• The following fees shall not be refundable:
  • application for transfer of application or permit,
  • request for conditional permit,
  • revision to permit,
  • authorization of alternative solution,
  • request for deferral.
• The refund shall be returned to the person named on the fee receipt, unless such person 
  advises the Chief Building Official, in writing and prior to the release of the refund, of a change in 
  name, in which case the refund shall be returned to the person then authorized to receive it.
• Refund provisions are not applicable where the permit has been signed off and the 
  occupancy inspection completed.
• No refund of building permit fees on any application or permit after 2 years from the date 
  the application was submitted, deemed to be abandoned, refused to be issued or request to be 
  withdrawn

• Change of Ownership and Transfer of Permit
  To transfer a permit from a permit holder to another, a minimum fee of $94.00 shall be payable in 
  addition to other applicable fees.
• Change of Use (No Construction)
  For the change of use of a major occupancy where no construction is proposed or required, a 
  minimum fee of $232.00 shall be payable.
• Compliance and Agency Letters
  
  • For written requests on information for status of active building permits and Building Code 
    Act orders, the fee as set out in this Schedule shall be paid.
  • For written requests in support of provincial license applications such as an AGCO liquor 
    licence, the fee as set out in this Schedule shall be paid.
•  Conditional Building Permits
  • For conditional building permits, the fee shall be the normal building permit fee for the 
    proposed construction plus the fee as set out in this Schedule.
  • The minimum fee for a conditional permit application shall be $232.00.
  • The maximum fee for each permit application shall be $15,000.00. (The proponent is 
    responsible for the registration of the conditional permit agreement on title to the lands.)
• Constructing without a Permit
  Where work or construction has commenced prior to the issuance of a building permit, an 
  administrative surcharge for the unlawful work of 100% of the required permit fee shall be paid. 
  The minimum surcharge fee shall be $195.00. The maximum surcharge fee shall be $5,000.00.
• Dormant Permit Files and Deferred Inspections
  Where a permit has been dormant for a period of more than 12 months, the fee as set out in this 
  Schedule shall be payable in addition to other applicable fees.
• Re-Inspection Fees
  Where an Inspector determines that work for the stage of construction that has been requested to 
  be inspected is not substantially complete, is not ready for an inspection or where previous 
  infractions have not been corrected, the fee as set out in this Schedule shall be payable prior to 
  subsequent inspections related to that stage of construction being scheduled.
• Revision to a Permit  -- Reviewed Drawings
  
  • Where a supplementary submission or a revised submission related to a building permit 
    application is required or unauthorized modifications from the reviewed permit drawings occur on 
    site, the fee as set out in this Schedule  shall be payable.
  • Where an increase in floor area has been constructed, additional building permit fees at the 
    applicable service index and administrative fees noted above may be payable.
• Photocopies
  Copies of drawings, surveys, etc. only following a Routine Disclosure approval. $10.00 per page 
  up to 11"x17" (min $30.00), $30.00 per page over 11"x17"