Accessory Buildings

Zoning confirmation

You can confirm that your project meets zoning requirements in one of two ways:

1. Simultaneous zoning review
   • You can have your zoning compliance reviewed as part of your building permit application
   • The zoning compliance fee will still apply, but no separate application is needed
2. Zoning Compliance Certificate
   • Apply through your City Dashboard account for a separate Zoning Compliance Certificate before submitting your building permit application
   • This is a separate application with its own fee. Visit our webpage for more details about the Zoning Compliance Certificate process.

Submit your application, drawings, and fees

Application

Apply in your City Dashboard account. Fill in the information, and you will be prompted to upload your completed building permit forms and documents.

Site plan

You must include a site plan to scale, identifying: 

• Your existing house, and the size and location of the proposed accessory building
• Title, scale, north arrow, and property dimensions
• Legal description including lot and plan number, street name and municipal address number
• Setbacks to all property lines for the existing dwelling and the proposed accessory building (including roof/eave overhang)
• Any right-of-ways and/or easements
• Location and size of all accessory buildings, porches, decks, or swimming pools
• Front yard landscaping, such as a driveway or sidewalks (if applicable)
• Location of existing septic system (if applicable)
• The location of all overhead hydro wires on or adjacent to the property on which the tent will be installed. Minimum setbacks from the hydro lines are applicable, and approvals from the utility may be required in advance.
• Plans must be fully dimensioned in either metric or imperial units, but not a combination of both

Detailed construction drawings

Usually in the form of floor plans and elevations, including:

• Dimensions of the proposed accessory building, including the height from grade to roof peak
• Slab, foundation wall, or pier construction details, including size, depth, and compressive strength of concrete
• Width, location, and lintel size of all openings
• Size, spacing, and grade of studs and any structural members
• Roof framing: size, spacing, and grade of rafters, showing support details at all bearing points; or, if using trusses, the manufacturer’s engineered drawings (request these from your truss supplier)

Fees

Pay the required building permit fees when you receive notice that fees are payable via the CityView Portal. Payment can be made in the following ways:

• Cash or debit in person at the Building Department at 4343 Morrison Street (credit cards are not accepted for in-person payments)
• Cheques payable to the “City of Niagara Falls” can be paid in person or by mail. Include the building permit application number and address on the cheque notes.
• Pay online through your City Dashboard account

For the current list of fees, visit the building permit fees section of the Schedule of Fees.