South Frontenac Council made two changes to the zoning bylaw sections 5.10 and 5.11 dealing with development within 30 meters of a water body. the changes are:

1)      The old section 5.10 said that a “building may be repaired, renovated or strengthened to a safe condition…”. It did not permit a building to be taken down and reconstructed.  When a building was said to be rebuilt rather renovated was left to the interpretation of the building inspector and the planner and has, at different times, been interpreted as one or two walls down. Rebuilds had to go through the planning process to obtain a building permit.

Under the amended section buildings may still “be repaired, renovated or strengthened to a safe condition…” with only a building permit.  A clear definition has been added that says a building is taken down if more than 50% of the walls come down.  At that point, as before, a permit to rebuild needs to go through the planning process. The amendment adds clarity for residents wanting to renovate.

2)      Under the old bylaw if a building was ordered demolished for safety reasons, it only required a building permit to be rebuilt.

The amended section 5.11 requires that if a building becomes unsafe through dereliction a permit must be obtained through the planning process to be rebuilt.

Both the old section 5.11 and the amended version require only a building permit for rebuilding after “… partial or complete destruction caused by fire, lightening, tempest, flood or act of God.”