Development & building permits - Frequently asked questions

Due to the Provincially legislated permit processing timelines as well as aligning with common practice in other major Canadian cities we have split our Development and Building permits processing.

Development permits will be processed separately from building permits. Previously, both applications were processed at the same time. The new service model will require applicants to first obtain a development permit (which ensures all zoning and other City departments’ requirements are addressed) before applying for a building permit (which ensures that building code requirements are addressed). Separate permit applications are common practice in other Canadian municipalities.

November 14, 2022

A development permit is the tool the City uses to grant permission for residents and businesses to undertake new development. A development permit governs the “what” of your project. It establishes land use and shows how you plan to use the site, as well as the size and location of any buildings or structures, exterior design elements, etc. Development must comply with the Winnipeg Zoning By-law, applicable guidelines, regulations, and other City department’ requirements. Development permits, when required, must be obtained prior to submitting a building permit application. 

Building permits are regulated by the Winnipeg Building By-law and approve how construction takes place. This may include new construction, additions, or alterations to existing structures, such as but not limited to, non-residential buildings and new homes or accessory structures including garages, pools, and decks. Building permits assist with regulating building code requirements and other applicable codes, standards and bylaws, and must be obtained before beginning construction of a building project.

At present, the following applications are exempt from this change:

• Special events/temporary approvals
• Emergency residential shelters
• Signs
• New single/two family dwellings in new greenfield subdivisions with prior development agreements on title
• New accessory structures in new greenfield subdivisions with prior development agreements on title, if submitted at the same time as the new home application

As per the Winnipeg Zoning By-law: A development application means any application in connection with a development or an approval, permit, order, by-law, or amendment that allows or would allow a development and includes any appeal filed against a Variance Order or Conditional Use Order related to any one or more of them. A development application may be required prior to the application or issuance of a development permit. Development applications may be processed and approved either by the public hearing process or administratively. Once all required development applications are satisfied, and compliance with the zoning bylaw and other City departments’ requirements are demonstrated (e.g. Water and Waste, Public Works, Fire), a development permit can be issued.

The types of projects that require a building permit have not changed. On March 21, 2024, the Zoning bylaw changed so that certain development permits are no longer required.

The City is committed to processing applications within the provincial service standard timeframes, once enacted. To ensure timely processing through the regulatory process, it is strongly recommended that applications comply with all applicable codes, regulations, bylaws, and necessary prior approvals. A complete application will reduce delays. Please consult the Province of Manitoba’s website for more information on service standard timeframes. The City will share more information as it becomes available.

No. The cost of permits has not changed. Instead of paying all fees under one application, you will be invoiced for the applicable fees separately. Refer to the Planning, Development and Building Fees and Charges By-law schedule for more information on fees.

Compliance with the design requirements in the infill guidelines will be assessed at time of development permit application. A supporting plan approval/design review  application may be required.

Every application is unique and varies in complexity. Refer to the application form for detailed documentation requirements.

No.

• The development permit will require approval from zoning, and may require approvals from Urban Planning & Design, Public Works, Water and Waste, and the Fire Paramedic Service Department.
• The building permit will require approval by plan examination and may require heritage approval. Public Works, Water and Waste, and the Fire Paramedic Service Department may audit applications to confirm alignment with prior development permit approvals. It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure building permit applications align with all prior development permit approvals.

No. Applications need to be submitted separately, with prerequisite approvals obtained in advance, where applicable.

Applying for a development permit early allows applicants to confirm land use and the location of any structures while detailing the construction drawings for the building permit application. Development permits expire if work has not commenced within six months from the date of permit issuance, however, extensions may be requested.

Contact Zoning and Permits to speak to a Zoning Development Officer.

Applicants can apply for development permits at winnipeg.ca/permitsonline. Applying through Permits Online allows applicants to track the status of their application from initial submission through the end of the permit process.

Applications can also be dropped off at the Zoning & Permits office (31-30 Fort Street) or emailed to ppd-zoningapplications@winnipeg.ca. Applications can then be tracked through Permits Online once entered into the database.

1. Air space plan (DAASP)
2. Condominium plan of survey (CONDO)
3. Consent application (CA)
4. Plan of survey (DAPS)
5. Plan of subdivision and rezoning (DASZ)
6. Rezoning (DAZ)
7. Secondary plan (SP)/secondary plan amendment (SPA)
8. Short form plan of subdivision (DASSF)
9. Plan of subdivision (DAS)
10. Zoning agreement amendment (ZAA)

1. Variance
1. Variance A (minor) - residential and commercial tolerance
2. Variance B - single or two family dwelling
3. Downtown Variance and Conditional Use B
4. Variance C or D - other residential and commercial uses
2. Conditional Use
1. Conditional Use B - single or two family dwelling
2. Conditional Use B - home-based business (major)
3. Conditional Use B - attached secondary suite
4. Conditional Use C - detached secondary suite or care home
5. Conditional Use C or D - other residential and commercial uses
3. Plan approval/design review
4. Urban (downtown) design review 
5. Parking management plan
6. Alternative equivalent compliance 

Manufacturer specifications are generally not required, except in instances where more detail about the proposed exterior finish is needed as part of the development approval discussion with the City Planner.  In all cases, the type of material must be indicated on the exterior elevations (e.g. hardie board, masonry, acrylic stucco).

No. However, they may be needed if a supporting plan approval/design review application is required. For infill development, colour elevations are not required in most cases, unless there are two houses side by side that are similar in appearance, and the developer is proposing a colour difference as a distinguishing feature to meet the infill guidelines requirement for variation.

No. Simple projects that do not require supporting applications (variance, plan approval, etc.) or input from other divisions or departments to assess your proposal against unique bylaws, regulations or guidelines will only require administrative zoning approval. A decision on your application will be provided following Winnipeg Zoning By-law review. Learn more about whether your project is located in an area with unique development policy considerations.

1. Residential - zoning change of use (e.g. converting single family dwelling to a care home) or adding a secondary suite requires a development permit
2. Commercial - zoning change of use (e.g. converting an office to a restaurant) or changing the occupiable floor area (e.g. adding a mezzanine), which impacts exterior requirements such as parking, requires a development permit 

Building permit plans must match the development permit plans. The location of the structure and window and door sizes cannot change. However, minor changes to window and door locations (e.g. a few inches) may be accommodated in certain situations with confirmation from the City Planner to ensure plans still match applicable policy/guidelines and/or the design intent of previous approvals. If a minor change is approved, it must be obtained in writing and submitted with the building permit application.

Note: For development in Designated Floodway Fringe Areas or locations with flood risk, the window and door locations cannot change.

If the development permit did not require a supporting plan approval/design review or have a substantial conformance clause, the exterior finish material can change between development permit issuance and building permit application. Once the building permit is issued, the materials cannot change without re-approval by the City.

If the development permit required a supporting plan approval/design review or has a substantial conformance condition and the applicant proposed a change to the exterior finish colour after development permit issuance, the City would consider this a minor change. Thus, it would not require a new plan approval/design review, except in the rare instance where the colour was specifically conditioned on the approval. 

It is the property owner's responsibility to align all applications and approvals. If the construction drawing package for building permit application does not align with the zoning by-law or prior development permit and supporting application approvals:

1. the building permit, if issued, will be considered null and void
2. the applicant will be required to seek revised approvals to align all applications

Yes. We did a jurisdictional scan to strategically look at how other municipalities process development and building permit applications. Research indicated that permit processing methods vary across Canada. The majority of cities require an approved development permit before processing a building permit application.