Building Services Update
August 2023
We’re Hiring Inspectors!

Are you, or someone you know, interested in a rewarding career as a Building Official?

Building Inspectors review and inspect the structural, architectural and life safety components of buildings to ensure conformance with the Ontario Building Code and related standards including local by-laws.

Typical Educational Backgrounds:
  • Architectural Technology
  • Construction Engineering Technology
  • Or related fields

Relevant Work Experiences:
  • Experience in an engineer or architect’s office
  • Construction site supervisor
  • Or similar experiences

We offer a great team-based work environment, a culture of learning and development, competitive compensation, defined benefits pension plan, paid vacation and more.

Reach out to our Chief Building Official, Ralph Kaminski to learn more about career opportunities as a Building Official.
South Oakville Zoning Regulations
We are reviewing and updating low-density residential zones under the South Oakville Zoning By-law 2014-014 to improve zoning regulations. This review aims to assess, improve, and provide more clarity around regulations for new builds, home upgrades and renovations.

The review applies to properties zoned RL1 to RL11 including (“-0”) zones south of Dundas Street which mainly have detached and semi-detached houses.

Survey closes August 14, 2023.

Provide feedback on the following topics:
  • Setbacks
  • Height
  • Residential floor area
  • Dwelling depth
  • Lot coverage
  • Other aspects that are important to consider during renovations or rebuilds

This survey is the first step with more engagement opportunities for residents and businesses planned in the coming months. Zoning by-law amendments presentation to Council is anticipated in 2024 for approval.

Learn more at Oakville.ca. Questions? Contact the project lead, Catherine Buckerfield.
Looking For Ways to Beat the Heat?

Canadians are experiencing extreme temperatures and heat waves with predictions for more extreme conditions in the future.

These easy-to-follow heat protection guidelines, published by the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo, highlight what we can do to stay safe with no cost, low-cost and more complex upgrade solutions.

For example:

  • Work with nature to cool your home, use trees for shade and maximize vegetation cover in gardens and on balconies

  • Reduce heat entering the home by installing blinds, heat-resistant curtains or window films

  • Improve insulation and airtightness to cut heating and cooling costs
Tips to Cost-Effective Home Heat Protection
Continuous Improvement Updates
The Building Services team is hard at work refining and improving the services we deliver. Our current efforts focus on technology projects to improve online services to make it easier to apply for building permits with added functionality.

Coming soon are solutions to make batch permit applications possible, revisions to permits easier and improved permit status information to name a few. You may be familiar with ePlan software for plans review. The town is working on transitioning to this type of solution next year.

Also in the works are improvements to the inspections booking experience and communication of results with your inspector. If you have ideas of how we can improve this experience, please reach out to Suzanne Holder.

Thank you for your patience as we work through legislated changes, including refining the grading plan review. Stay tuned for more updates in our fall newsletter.
Build Smart. Build Safe. Build with a Permit.