Before adding a room to a house, the homeowner is usually required to obtain a:

1. Home
2. Planning, Property & Development

Residential permits

• Additions & attached garages
• Barrier-free ramps
• Basement development
• Decks
• Demolitions
• Detached garages & accessory structures
• Foundation repairs
• Home-based business
• Home renovations
• Outdoor pools & hot tubs/spas
• Secondary suites
• Single family dwelling
• Solar photovoltaic installations
• Temporary structures
• Wood stoves & fireplaces

Trade permits

• Electrical installations
• Plumbing installations

Permits are governed by applicable bylaws, including the Winnipeg zoning bylaws, Winnipeg Building By-law and the Winnipeg Electrical By-law.

Development permits establish land use and confirm structures are located on the property in accordance with the Winnipeg Zoning By-law and other departments’ requirements. Building permits confirm structures meet code requirements. Whether you do the work yourself, or hire a contractor or builder, homeowners are legally responsible for obtaining construction-related permits for projects.

Make a permit part of your plans

Before beginning a home renovation project, it is important to obtain all required permits and approvals, and to submit application(s) well in advance of your project start date. Learn more about permit application processing times.

Completing the permit process can facilitate a smooth future sale of your home. Winnipeg realtors and home buyers often research past work completed on properties, to ensure projects were built with proper permits.

Related links

• Residential permit resources
• Development permits
• Projects that typically do not require a permit

Questions

Please contact us.

Was this information helpful?

How can we make this web page better?

Information collected will be used to improve our website. Do not use this form to submit a request for service or information because it will not be forwarded to departments for response. To submit a request for service or information, contact 311.

This form is not intended to collect personal information; however, any personal information you choose to include in your comments is collected by the City of Winnipeg under the authority of section 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of improving our website and will not be used or disclosed for any other purposes, except as authorized by law. Contact the Corporate Access and Privacy Officer by mail (City Clerk’s Department, Susan A. Thompson Building, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg MB, R3B 1B9) or by telephone (311) if you have any questions about the collection of this information.

Ces renseignements sont-ils utiles?

Comment pourrait-on améliorer cette page Web?

Les renseignements recueillis serviront à l’amélioration de notre site Web. Prière de ne pas se servir de ce formulaire pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, car la demande ne sera pas transmise au service en question. Pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec le 311.

Le présent formulaire ne vise pas à recueillir des renseignements personnels. Cependant, les renseignements personnels que vous choisissez d’inclure dans vos commentaires sont recueillis par la Ville de Winnipeg en conformité avec l’alinéa 36(1)b) de la Loi sur l’accès à l’information et la protection de la vie privée dans le but d’améliorer son site Web et ne seront ni utilisés ni divulgués pour d’autres raisons, sauf dans les cas où cela est autorisé par la loi. Communiquez avec l’agent de l’accès à l’information et de la protection de la vie privée de la Ville par courrier au Bureau du greffier, immeuble Susan-A.-Thompson, 510, rue Main, Winnipeg (Manitoba) R3B 1B9, ou par téléphone au 311 si vous avez des questions sur la collecte de ces renseignements.

If you plan to operate your business out of your house, it's a good idea to know how your local zoning laws apply to you.

When launching a business, most entrepreneurs focus on startup costs, taxes, marketing, and location. Few probably add zoning laws to their research efforts. However, overlooking this step could result in breaking the law.

Zoning should be a significant consideration, especially for home-based businesses. In specific neighborhoods, it's illegal to operate from a residence. Before you print your business cards and set up shop, it's essential to know your location's zoning regulations.

Zoning Laws and How They Work

Zoning laws, or ordinances, provide rules about using a piece of land or property, as well as the maximum size or occupancy allowed. These are the main types of zoning laws:

• Residential: Covers homes, and while you can run a business out of your home, specific locations have restrictions.
• Commercial: For business operations, and can include subsets, such as retail or office.
• Industrial: For a business that performs certain types of operations, such as manufacturing.
• Agricultural: For farming.

Some properties can have more than one zone, such as commercial/residential, which means the owner or renter has two options for its use.

Restrictions You Need to Know

Zoning laws include usage and issues like noise, parking, waste management, the appearance of a building, and building features, such as the number of doors or bathrooms. For example, in a commercial zone, an establishment may be restricted to a certain number of parking spaces.

A home-based business may require a license issued by your city or county. You may also need to follow certain guidelines, such as hours of operation. And if your property has a homeowners association, you may have restrictive covenants that provide additional regulations. These laws protect the rights and property value of your neighborhood.

“Zoning laws involve granular details," says Jim Pendergast, senior vice president of altLINE, the commercial lending division of The Southern Bank Company. “You'll need to account for onsite as well as any off-street parking, your waste and recycling plans, entryway staircase conditions, and even [Americans with Disabilities Act]-compliant private and public signage stationed on your business' impending property. All this takes time and lots of formal documentation, as well as fees to inspect and submit each review."

How to Check Your Local Zoning

Ordinances are usually controlled by your city, town, or county. Check with your local planning or recorder's office to understand the zoning laws for the property you're planning on using. You may find the information you need on their website.

Pendergast recommends first researching neighborhood and city-specific ordinances. Then look at regulations at the county and state level. “It can all start to feel a bit like a Russian nesting doll of regulations," he says.

Even if you're renting a property used previously as a business, you need to make sure the current zoning laws match your use. In some cases, a company may have a variance, which allows the occupant to use the property in a way in which it isn't zoned. The variance won't automatically transfer to a new renter, so it's vital that you know the regulations before you sign a lease.

You have two options if your small business' space isn't up to current code and zoning regulations, Pendergast says.

“First, you can apply for a contingent lease, which sets a deadline for the property's rezoning process," he says. “Second, you can apply for what's called a conditional use permit from your city council or governmental planning and zoning department. Understand that a conditional-use permit comes with strict parameters that may not suite your business' vision in the long term."

The time you spend researching zoning laws will be a good investment. You don't want to start a business only to have it shut down by your city because you've violated zoning ordinances. If you're not sure, contact a local attorney who has zoning expertise and can help you make good decisions right from the start.