In-person Building Permit Submissions
A permit is your formal permission to begin construction or demolition. For any new structure, addition, plumbing, demolition or renovation, plans must comply with the Ontario Building Code, municipal zoning by-laws, and other applicable laws and regulations.
Permits regulate the type of construction allowed in the community and help to ensure building standards are met. The permit process protects each builder’s interests, as well as those of the community and helps to ensure that any construction and demolition is safe, legal and sound. More information about different building permit types is listed below.
To apply for a building, demolition or plumbing permit, complete the Application for a Permit to Construct or Demolish and return it:
- In-person to the Building Services Department, 280 Picton Main Street, 2nd floor, Picton ON, K0K 2T0. Open Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.
- By mail to County of Prince Edward Building Department, 332 Picton Main Street, Picton, ON, K0K 2T0
Residential Properties
All new structures, demolitions, additions, and renovations made on a residential property require an Application for a Permit to Construct or Demolish.
To determine whether your project requires a permit, please consult the Residential Permit Application Checklist.
If you are unsure whether your project requires a permit, contact the Building Department at 613.476.2148. extension 2040.
If you are building a new home, in addition to the Application for a Permit to Construct or Demolish the following forms must also be completed and submitted:
In addition to the above forms, you should also consult the Residential Permit Application Checklist for a better idea of the documentation required for your new home build to proceed.
Entrance Permits
Entrance Permits are required for the construction of any new driveways or driveway upgrades. Applications are assessed on site to identify traffic hazards, culvert requirements, etc. New driveways are then inspected to ensure construction meets the requirements identified in the initial assessment. At this time, a civic address (911 address) will be issued.
To apply, please complete our entrance permit application.
To apply for the Farm 911: Emily Project Access Point, please fill out this application.
In addition to entrance permits, the Engineering Department approves the location of any new utilities (e.g. telephone, natural gas, Hydro).
2026-2030 Municipal Election Joint Compliance Audit Committee
Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, candidates, registered third-party advertisers, and contributors are bound by specific election campaign finance rules. Candidates and registered third-party advertisers must file financial statements with the Clerk outlining their campaign finance activities.
Any eligible elector who believes, on reasonable grounds, that a candidate or registered third-party advertiser has broken one of the election finance rules set out in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, may submit an application for a compliance audit.
Please note that compliance audit applications with respect to the 2026 Municipal Election are not being accepted at this time.
Committee mandate
The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 requires that municipalities establish a committee to hear applications for compliance audits of the election campaign finances of candidates and registered third-party advertisers.
The 2026-2030 Municipal Election Joint Compliance Audit Committee will:
- Consider applications for a compliance audit of the campaign finances of a candidate for municipal council or a registered third-party advertiser resulting from the regular municipal election or any by-election held during the term of office for the Council for which the Committee was appointed;
- Appoint an auditor, if the Committee decides to grant a compliance audit;
- Review the auditor’s report and if the report concludes that the candidate or registered third-party advertiser appears to have contravened the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, decide whether legal proceedings should be commenced against the candidate or registered third-party advertiser; and
- Receive and consider report(s) from the Clerk identifying contributors who appear to have contravened any of the contribution limits set out in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, and decide whether to commence a legal proceeding against a contributor for an apparent contravention.
The Committee will serve the following municipalities and boards:
- County of Prince Edward
- City of Quinte West
- City of Belleville
- Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, and
- Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board
2026-2030 Committee Applications
Prince Edward County, the City of Belleville and the City of Quinte West are currently seeking interested applicants for appointment to the 2026 Bay of Quinte Joint Compliance Audit Committee. Please see the application here.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Accounting and audit – accountants or auditors with experience in preparing or auditing the financial statements of municipal election candidates;
- Academic – college or university professors with expertise in political science, public administration, or local government administration;
- Legal; and
- Other individuals with knowledge of the campaign financing rules of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996
Applicants CANNOT be:
- Municipal employees or officers of the municipality
- members of Council or local board;
- A candidate; or
- any persons who are Registered Third Parties in the 2026 municipal election.
Any members appointed must also agree in writing they will not be a candidate or an individual who is a Registered Third Party in the current municipal election or in any by-election during the term of Council for any member municipality or school board. Failure to adhere to this requirement will result in the individual being removed from the Committee.
Duration of term
The term of office for the committee will be from November 15, 2026 to November 14, 2030 to deal with applications from the 2026 election and any by-elections during the 2026-2030 Term of Council.
Application Deadline
Applications will be accepted online and in-person by any of the participating municipalities between Monday, February 23 and Friday, March 6 by 11:59 pm. Following the application period, applicants may be contacted for an interview. We thank all applicants who apply and advise that only those selected will be contacted.
Meetings
The Election Compliance Audit Committee shall meet as needed with meetings to be scheduled by the Clerk, when a compliance audit application is received. The meeting, agenda, and minutes will be available to the public on the municipal website. Members of the public may participate electronically as requested, in accordance with the Procedural By-Law.
If you have any questions about the Election Compliance Audit Committee, contact the Clerk’s Office at clerks@pecounty.on.ca or call 613.476.2148 ext. 1020.
Audit process
An elector who is entitled to vote in an election and believes, on reasonable grounds, that a Candidate and/or Registered Third Party has contravened a provision of the Act relating to election campaign finances is required to complete the application for Election Compliance Audit providing reasons and supporting documentation.
The Application for a compliance audit for a Candidate and/or Registered Third Party and any supporting documentation must be filed with the Clerk.
Within 30 days after receiving the application, the Joint Compliance Audit Committee will consider the application and determine if an audit is required or if the application is rejected.
If the Committee grants the audit, the Committee appoints a licensed auditor to conduct a compliance audit of the candidate’s or registered third party advertiser election campaign finances. The auditor will conduct the audit to determine if the candidate or registered third party advertiser has complied with the requirements of the Municipal Elections Act with regard to election campaign finances.
The auditor will provide a report to the Clerk, the candidate or registered third party advertiser and the applicant.
The committee will consider the report within 30 days of receiving it and determines whether legal proceedings should be commenced against the candidate or registered third party advertiser.
Previous Committee Resources
Commercial Properties
All new structures, demolitions, additions and renovations to commercial properties require an Application for a Permit to Construct or Demolish.
There are a number of additional considerations for commercial properties when planning to build or renovate. For example, if you plan on altering the use of your commercial building, you need to submit an application. To better understand what kind of permits your project might require, please consult the Commercial Building Application Checklist.
Additionally, building or renovating signage may require a building permit. To get a sign permit, you need to submit an Application for a Permit to Construct or Demolish like any other new structure or renovation. Along with the permit application, you will need to submit a diagram of the proposed signage and a site plan indicating where the signage will be placed.
If your property is located on Picton Main Street, you may be subject to rules and regulations contained within the Heritage Conservation District Plan. As a result, you may be required to submit a Heritage Permit alongside your Building Permit. To find out if you are within the Heritage Conservation District and to learn more about its implications, visit our Picton Heritage Conservation District page.
Additions and alterations or change of use of a commercial building may require Site Plan approval prior to approval of a building permit.
If you are unsure whether your project requires a permit, call the Building Department at 613.476.2148 extension 2041 or 613.476.2148 ext. 2042.
Septic Systems
A septic permit is your formal permission to begin construction of a septic system. For any class of septic system, the plans must comply with the Ontario Building Code, municipal zoning by-laws, and other applicable laws and regulations.
To apply for a Septic System Permit, complete the Sewage System Application and the Schedule 2 – Sewage System Installer Form, and return:
- In-person to the Building Services Department, 280 Picton Main Street, 2nd floor, Picton ON, K0K 2T0, open Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.
- By mail to County of Prince Edward Building Department, 332 Picton Main Street, Picton, ON, K0K 2T0
The cost of the permit will vary depending on the scope of the project. For information on costs, see the Fee Schedule.