Building a House
Building a home in St. John’s? We’re here to help you every step of the way. From choosing the right location on your lot to understanding grading, setbacks, permits, inspections, and landscaping requirements, this guide walks you through how to move from plans on paper to keys in hand.
Location
The house must be situated on the lot so that all setback requirements for the particular zone are met (front, rear and side yards) and easements must be avoided.
If your lot is not approved as a building lot, you must complete a Planning and Development Application.
Fees
A $2,000 deposit is required to be paid when a septic and/or culvert will be installed as part of the construction and is fully refundable when:
- Final approval from Service NL for the septic system is received at City Hall
- Acceptable dry well/rock sump is installed or drainage to roadside ditch to drain foundation tile
- An acceptable driveway culvert is installed with approval from the Roads Division
Grade
The house grade must be established to suit the conditions of the lot and the house design, ensuring that proper elevation above the yard grade is maintained, surface run-off drains away from the house, neighbouring lots are not impacted and water and sewer lines are accessed correctly.
In subdivisions, there will usually be an approved grading plan that will help with setting the house grade, yard grades and slopes to correctly drain surface run-off.
Unserviced Lot
If your lot is not connected to City water and sewer, you must obtain approval from Government Services for a private water supply and septic system before a building permit can be issued. Service NL requires a site plan, floor plan, site evaluation, and system design. A final inspection and Certificate of Approval from Service NL are required before the City can issue an Occupancy Certificate.
The system design and site evaluation must be prepared by an approved designer, such as a professional engineer, certified engineering technician, or certified public health inspector. Only drilled or Artesian wells are permitted within the City of St. John’s; shallow or dug wells are not allowed. Storm drainage or weeping tile may not discharge into a roadside ditch unless the basement floor is above the top of the ditch or road crown, and all basement floors must be installed above the groundwater table.
Apply for a Building Permit
You must have your permit before work begins. Even if a contractor is doing the job, the property owner is responsible for obtaining the permit.
You must include supporting documentation with the application, like building plans, surveys, and other specifications. Required documents vary depending on the scope of work.
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