The Mid-West Planning District (MWPD) is responsible to ensure that buildings that have human occupancy have the appropriate Occupancy Permit in place before allowing people to use the building. The Manitoba Building Code and Fire Codes also have requirements for Occupancy Load Certificate(s), which dictates how many people are allowed in a building at the same time.
Occupancy Permits = permission to start using the building for its intended use.
Occupancy Load Certificate = the maximum number of people allowed in the building and may also designate the maximum number of people allowed in different rooms throughout the building.
Mid-West Planning District has move to include an Occupancy Permit as part of your Building Permit fees, when it is required.
For Residential Dwellings do not get an actual permit or paper to post. Occupancy is granted after the final inspection has been approved and the permit closed.
New Non-Residential Buildings an Occupancy Permit is required to be posted at the main entrance of the building will be issued once the Building Permit is closed.
Existing Non-Residential Buildings that undergo renovations, additions, or alterations MAY require a new Occupancy Permit. You will be notified upon issuance of your Building Permit if an Occupancy Permit will need needed.
Temporary and Interim occupancies are available for both Residential and Non-Residential buildings.
Temporary occupancy is for a maximum 6-month period. Usually for temporary location of a use. (e.g. pop-up shops, beer gardens) All safety requirements must be in place.
Interim occupancy can be granted if all safety requirements have been completed, but not all final occupancy items have been completed allowing people to occupy the building until the outstanding items have been completed.
Either a final Building Inspection or Pre-Occupancy Inspection is required to be conducted and all deficiencies resolved before we can issue an Occupancy Permit and any Occupancy Load Certificate(s), which are required to be posted in the building.
For existing buildings that have never had an Occupancy Load Certificate issued, contact our Fire Inspectors to engage them to do the measurements and calculations to issue Occupancy Load Certificate(s) for your building.
Administrative changes to an existing Occupancy Permit or Occupancy Load Certificate such as ownership changes, are done by our office.
Change of Occupancy is utilized when you change how the building or space is used. It is not for changes in ownership or a slight change in use that is still in the same Occupancy category. A change of occupancy MAY require upgrades or changes to meet Building, Fire, Plumbing, and Energy Codes. Please contact us for a Pre-Planning Consultation to see what your project may require.
For any Temporary, Interim, Occupant Loads, Change of Use, or Administrative Changes, you will need to submit an application that includes:
- Completed Occupancy Permit Application.
- Letter of Authorization is required if you are applying on behalf of the landowner.
- Fees in accordance with the MWPD’s Fee Structure By-Law.
Please note that incomplete applications will not be accepted.
NOTE: We cannot issue a retroactive Occupancy Permit for an existing building that did not receive one at the time of construction.
INSPECTIONS & PENALTIES
Inspections
The Mid-West Planning District (MWPD) is to be notified at each of the following stages of construction, as applicable:
- Rough-Ins for Plumbing, Ventilation
- Under Basement Floor Plumbing Rough-In, Tile Leaders & Sump Pit;
- Soil Gas Barrier & Interior Drainage Stone;
- Pre-Final, Interior Operations, Finishes & Life Safety (Incl. Fire Stopping) Prior to Occupancy or Public Showing;
PLEASE NOTE: A minimum of 24 Hours Notice is required when booking inspections (weekend not included);
- If the work is not ready for inspection or you need to cancel, please contact the MWPD office as soon as possible;
- It is the responsibility of the APPLICANT to arrange for all inspections.
- The MWPD assumes no responsibility for inspections that were not scheduled.
- Inspections may be performed at random as determined by the Building Inspector.
- This list is not all-inclusive. There may be additional inspections required at the discretion of the Building Inspector.
Penalties
The following are subject to Penalty Fees in accordance with the MWPD’s Fee Structure By-Law:
- Any plumbing that is commenced prior to the appropriate permits being obtained.
- Where the work is not ready for the time of the scheduled inspection.
- Where project deficiencies result in repeated inspections by the inspector.
- Where the work has been covered and the inspector is unable to perform the required inspection. (this may also require invasive structural inspection at the applicant/contractor’s expense)