Building and Renovating

Basement

You will need a permit for most basement development such as adding rooms, finishing washrooms, etc. For more information, see our basement development and secondary suite brochure.

For basement suites (most developments with a kitchen or designed for renters/separate access), please see secondary suites below.

Permit requirements

The permit requirements for a basement development are:

• Map/drawing of proposed and existing rooms
• Room uses and dimensions
• Structural changes details, if any
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors locations
• Door locations and swings
• Window locations and sizes

Deck

A deck is an open structure projecting from a building with a height of at least 0.6 m. All decks will require permits. For more information, see our deck brochure. Your porch or covered deck and all other buildings must be less than the maximum site coverage of your lot, which is 40% in most cases.

If you have a deck that is under 0.6 m in height, please see the patio section below.

Permit requirements

Permit requirements for decks are:

• Site plan with location of deck and distances to property lines
• Cross-section information (a template can be found in the deck construction package

Open decks

Open decks generally can be located at least:

• 0.6 m from any side yard line
• 4.0 m from any rear property line
• 4.5 m from a front property line

Porches or covered decks

Porches or covered decks generally can be located at least:

• 1.2 m from any side yard line
• 5.5 m from any rear property line
• 4.5 m from a front property line

Driveway and parking

Extending a driveway in a residential area does not normally require a permit as long as the driveway is:

• Less than two-thirds of the width of your lot
• Less than 6.8 m in width
• Hard surfaced with concrete, asphalt, paving stone, or other similar materials
• Accessible to municipal water

A permit is required when:

• You are building a new driveway
• Your driveway will be wider than 6.8 m to a maximum of 11.0 m

Sand, gravel, loose rock, cloth, or other similar materials are not acceptable for a driveway surface.

Fences and hedges

Building a fence or hedge in Morinville does not normally require a permit as long as the fence or hedge is:

• On your own property
• Less than 1.0 m in height in the front yard
• Less than 1.9 m in height in the side and rear yards
• Made of typical, permanent, sturdy material such as wood planking, wrought iron or chain link
• Freestanding and properly anchored

If your fence is outside of these regulations, you will need to apply for a permit.

Fence brochure and corner lots

Please refer to the fence brochure for more information especially if your lot is a corner lot or your fence may affect a sightline.

Ask your neighbours

We encourage you to consult your neighbours and plan your fences cooperatively to keep good relations.

Home business

If you are an occupant of a dwelling and you conduct business activities in any form, it is a home business.

There are three types of home businesses:

1. Home office which involves an office by a resident that does not require any signage, storage of goods, client or vender visitations including deliveries or employees.
2. Home occupation minor has no signage, outdoor storage or activity, utility trailer, non-resident employees, but may include up to five client visits per week.
3. Home occupation major has no outdoor storage or activity but may include signage, utility trailer, one non-resident employee, and up to six clients or venders onsite at any one time.

Apply for a licence

All businesses must have a business licence. Learn how to apply and the steps that you will need to take.

Please note:

• Home offices do not require a permit within a dwelling
• Home occupations will require a permit

Permit requirements

Permit requirements for home occupations are:

• Map/drawing of site/dwelling where business activity may occur, including parking
• Any details of structural changes
• Home business questionnaire (part of online permit application, if applying online)

For more information, see our home occupation brochure.

Landscaping and retaining wall

Landscaping typically does not require a permit as long as:

• It will not affect grading or drainage
• Hard landscaping will not exceed 25% of landscaped area

Landscaping will require a permit if:

• It will affect grading or drainage
• It is part of a larger development that would require a permit
• It includes a retaining wall above 1 m in height
• It replaces natural grass in a boulevard (the area between property line and sidewalk or road) with anything else or it affects an existing tree in the boulevard

Lot grading

Lot grading is the process to ensure parcels with new construction have proper surface drainage.

Lot grading is most often done by a developer or builder but occasionally must be done by a homeowner.

For more information see our lot grading brochure, and for a detailed description see our Municipal Engineering Standards.

Patios

Patios are developed surfaces that are less than 0.6 m in height. You do not need to apply for a permit as long as your patio is within the minimum yard setbacks of your lot (normally 6.0 m front, 1.2 m side, 7.6 m rear).

Yard setback

Patios within a yard setback or that are on a non-residential lot will require a permit.

Renovations

Structural renovations, from finishing/adding rooms, external paint/siding, electrical, plumbing and gas work, and moving walls will require a permit. Please contact us if you are unsure if your project will require one.

Surface renovations

Surface renovations that do not affect structure or potential health and safety do not require a permit. For example:

• Interior painting
• Surface renovations under $5,000 and if replacing with a similar type;
  • Roofing
  • Siding
  • Electrical equipment
  • Dryer
  • Range
  • Water heater
  • Space heater
  • Fixture
  • Faucet
  • Trap or valve

Secondary suite, garden suite, “in-law suite”

Secondary suites are a self-contained dwelling within a principal dwelling or accessory building. This includes basement suites, in-law suites, or most developments with a kitchen and separate lockable access.

All secondary suites require a permit. For more information, see our basement development and secondary suite brochure.

Permit requirements

Permit requirements for a secondary suite are:

• Plan/drawing of proposed and existing rooms
• Use and dimensions of all rooms
• Any details of structural changes
• Location of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Location and swings of all doors
• Window locations and sizes

Sheds, garages and other accessory buildings

Accessory buildings including sheds and garages or any other structure do not require a permit if it meets all of the following:

• The building is less than 10.0 m2 and less than 3.0 m in height
• The side and rear yard setbacks for your parcel or it is on a non-permanent foundation and can be easily moved or relocated
• It is in the side or rear yard and not in a front or flanking side yard
• It is not on an easement or right-of-way
• It complements the design and colour of the principal building
• Is built and finished with permanent materials (such as proper siding)
• All accessory buildings on-site combined are less than 12% of site coverage, and all buildings including the principle building are less than 40% of site coverage
• It meets all aspects of the building code (such as separation distances between buildings)

Any other accessory buildings, garages or sheds will require a permit. For more information, see our accessory building brochure.

Permit requirements

Permit requirements for accessory buildings are:

• Site plan with location of building and distances to property lines
• Elevation plan with type of siding, colour and height
• Cross-section information a template can be found in the accessory building construction package

Swimming pool and hot tub

Swimming pools and hot tubs require a permit. For more information, see our accessory building brochure.

Permit requirements

Permit requirements for swimming pools and hot tubs are:

• Site plan with location of structure and distances to property lines
• Site plan must include types and height of fencing and gate mechanism
• Information regarding electrical and building code requirements
• Hot tub cover certification and specification sheet