Applications for a permit or certificate must be made by email to permis@chelsea.ca.

Applications by telephone will not be accepted.

The list of documents to be attached as well as the forms to be completed are listed in the "List of permits " section at the bottom of this page.

• Depending on the type of permit or certificate you want, you may be required to complete a form. If this is the case, you must include it with your application. 

• If documentation is required, you must send it in PDF format (maximum format 11 x 17 for construction plans).

 
Depending on the nature of the request, additional documents in a different format may be required. If this is the case, we will inform you.

Please note that an incomplete application will automatically be refused.

As soon as your application is received and judged complete, we will send you an invoice. The analysis of your application begins once the fees have been paid.

No permit application will be processed before its payment has been received;

Payment can be made :

• by check
  • by sending it to us by mail
  • by depositing it in the box provided for this purpose to the left of the front door of Town Hall on the main parking lot side.

If you pay by cheque, it must be made payable to the Municipality of Chelsea and must be accompanied by the invoice or application number. Cheques without a reference or from unknown sources will not be processed.

Please note that it is currently not possible to pay online.

When submitting a permit application, please expect six to eight weeks depending on the type of permit and the number of applications.

According to the current by-law, the maximum deadline for issuing any permit is 60 days. Our agents work hard to deliver them on time.

We also encourage you to plan ahead and avoid waiting until the last minute! An incomplete permit application could lead to further delays.

When the permit or certificate is issued, we will email it to you along with the related documentation.

A permit may be renewed if it has not expired at the time of the renewal application. It is valid for half of its original validity period.

Permit fee

• 50% of the initial permit renewal fee

Permit application

• A list of remaining tasks to be completed is required. No changes to the original permit are allowed.

Use

• Non-residential use group

Permit fee

• 300 + $10 per $1,000 of the work value assessment cost

Surface area

Maximum floor area for properties located outside the village centre

Maximum floor area for properties located in the centre-village

• See Article 4.2.1.1.1 of the Zoning By-law Number 636-05

Distances

Setbacks* (from the right-of-way or property line)

• Lot line:  4.5 m (excluding the Centre-Village multi-purpose service area)
• Railway corridor:  20 m
• Route 105:  20 m (excluding the Centre-Village & Farm Point multi-purpose service areas)
• Highway A-5:  4.5 m 

*Important:  Distances may be reduced if your property is located in the Centre-Village.

Septic

• Septic tank:  1.5 m
• Septic bed:  5 m

Well

• 3 m

Watercourse

• 15 m from the high-water mark

Wetland

• 15 m or 30 m (as the case may be)

Permit application

• See Article 4.4.2.1 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

Use

• Commercial
• Industrial
• Institutional

Permit fee

• Initial:  $200
• Annual:  $75 per year
• Modifying a certificate of authorization for building occupation:  $100

Special feature

• The certificate of use is renewable annually at a fee of $75 (commercial, industrial and institutional only)

Permit application

• See Article 4.8 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

Permit fee

• $250

For conditions and other details, please consult our Organize an event page.

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• $300 ($500 refundable deposit)

Permit application

• See Articles 4.4.2.5 and 4.4.2.6 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

Take note that a water meter must be installed at the taxpayer's expense, and it must be obtained at Town Hall. The fee for a meter varies according to the size required.

Use

• Non-residential use group

Permit fee

• $400 + $10 for each $1,000 of the total construction cost.
• Deposit: 0.5% of the estimated construction cost (deposit of a financial guarantee in the form of a bank guarantee letter or certified cheque accepted, or cash)

Surface area

Floor area for properties outside the centre-village:

Maximum floor area for properties located in the centre-village

• See Article 4.1.1.3 of the ​​​​​​Zoning By-law Number 636-05

Maximum authorized height: 12 m

Minimum width of the facade: none

Distances

Setbacks* (from the right-of-way or property line)

• Lot line:  4.5 m (excluding the Centre-Village multi-purpose service area)
• Railroad:  20 m
• Route 105:  20 m (excluding the Centre-Village & Farm Point multi-purpose service areas)
• Highway A-5:  4.5 m 

*Important:  Distances may be reduced if your property is located in the Centre-village.

Septic

• Septic tank:  1.5 m
• Septic bed:  5 m

Well

• 3 m

Watercourse

• 15 m from the high water mark

Wetland

• 15 m or 30 m (as the case may be)

Permit application

• See Article 4.4.2.1 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

Definition

Building detached from a main building located on the same lot.  Use of a secondary building is reserved for the storage of goods that complement the primary use.  In no instance must a secondary building be used for residential purposes; however, it may be used occasionally as a dormitory (without sanitation facilities).  Unless otherwise noted in this by-law, in no instance must said building be equipped with sanitation facilities or running water.

Use

• Commercial

Permit fee

• Commercial:  $200 + $10 for each $1,000 of the total construction cost

Surface area

Other than residential: the maximum floor surface area of all detached secondary buildings

• Land of more than 4,000 m²:  95 m².

Maximum floor surface area for properties located in the Centre-village

• Non-residential: see Article 4.2.1.1.1. of the Zoning By-law Number 636-05

Maximum height

• Maximum height:  6.5 m

Distances

Setbacks* (from the right-of-way or property line)

• Lot line:  4.5 m (excluding the Centre-Village multi-purpose service area)
• Railroad:  20 m
• Route 105:  20 m (excluding the Centre-Village & Farm Point multi-purpose service areas)
• Highway A-5:  4.5 m 

*Important: Distances may be reduced if your property is located in the Centre-village.

Septic

• Septic tank:  1.5 m
• Septic bed:  5 m

Well

• 3 m

Watercourse

• 15 m from the high-water mark

Wetland

• 15 m or 30 m (as the case may be)
   

Permit application

• See Article 4.4.2.2 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

For a demolition request of a building having a value equal to or greater than $50,000, a copy of a civil liability insurance certificate with a minimum value of $1,000,000 issued by a financial institution is required.

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• $50 (refundable deposit of $300) 

Permit application

• See Article 4.9 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates.

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• 200 + $10.00 for each $1,000.00 of the total construction cost

Surface area

• Maximum height: 2 m

Distances

Setbacks* (from the right-of-way or property line)

• Lot line:  Up to line 0

Watercourse

• 5 m from the high water mark

Wetland

• 15 m or 30 m (as the case may be)

Permit application

• See Article 4.4.2.2 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

Use

• All uses
   

Permit fee

• $200 + $10 of total construction cost

Railing height

• If the distance between the patio floor and the finished floor is more than 0.60 m (2 feet), a railing with a minimum height of 0.91 m (36 inches) must be installed.
• If the distance between the patio floor and the finished floor is more than 1.83 m (6 feet), a railing with a minimum height of 1.07 m (42 inches) must be installed.

Distances

Setbacks* (from the right-of-way or property line)

• Lot line:  4.5 m (excluding the Centre-Village multi-purpose service area)
• Railway corridor: 10 m
• Route 105:  10 m (excluding the Centre-Village & Farm Point multi-purpose service areas)
• Highway A-5:  10 m 

*Important:  Distances may be reduced if your property is located in the Centre-Village.

Septic

• Septic tank:  1.5 m
• Septic bed:  5 m

Well

• 3 m

Watercourse

• 15 m from the high-water mark

Wetland

• 15 m or 30 m (as the case may be)

Permit application

• See Article 4.4.2.2 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• Commercial:  $100 + $10 per $1,000 of the total construction cost

Surface area

Other than residential

Maximum floor surface area for all detached secondary buildings:  95 m².

Maximum area floor space for properties located in the Centre-Village

• Non-residential:  see Article 4.2.1.1.1. of the Zoning By-law Number 636-05

Distances

Setbacks* (from the right-of-way or property line)

• Lot line:  4.5 m (excluding the Centre-Village multi-purpose service area)
• Railroad:  20 m
• Route 105:  20 m (excluding the Centre-Village & Farm Point multi-purpose service areas)
• Highway A-5:  45 m 

*Important:  Distances may be reduced if your property is located in the Centre-Village.

Septic

• Septic tank:  1.5 m
• Septic bed:  15 m

Well

• 3 m

Watercourse

• 15 m from the high-water mark

Wetland

• 15 m or 30 m (as the case may be)

Special feature

• The maximum authorized surface area includes the total of all detached secondary buildings on the property

Permit application

• See Article 4.4.2.1 or 4.4.2.2 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

Non-residential use

• $300 + $10 per $1,000 of total construction costs

Special feature

• For non-structural renovation work, a list of tasks to be completed and photos of the original condition are enough for the permit application. For example:  replacement of windows, cladding, etc.

Note

It is, however, unnecessary to obtain a construction permit for painting or for various repairs normally required for building maintenance (eaves, roofs, windows or doors) when said work does not involve modification of the existing structure. Normal maintenance may also be defined as maintenance work costing less than $5,000.

Permit application

• See Article 4.4.2.1 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

You must apply for a permit before starting any septic installation work on the Municipality of Chelsea’s territory.  This obligation applies to the construction of a complete septic system, as well as partial work such as the installation of a holding tank, the replacement of a septic tank or corrections to an existing septic bed.  

Your request must include:

• The complete Permit application for a septic system form
• Two copies of an expert's report (engineer or qualified technologist who is a member of a recognized professional order in Quebec)

If the septic system has a flow rate of 3,240 litres or more per day, a request for s certificate of authorization from the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change is required.

For details on the fees and standards to be respected, we invite you to consult our page on septic systems.

For information on the specified dimensions of signs according to use, please refer to Section 4.10 of the Zoning By-law Number 636-05.

Permit fee

• $100 for a new sign (including a temporary sign)
• $50 for changes to an existing sign

Suface area

• See Section 4.10 of the Zoning By-law Number 636-05

Distances

Setbacks* (from the right-of-way or property line)

• Lot line:  1.5 m (excluding Centre-Village’s multi-purpose service area)
• Railway corridor: 1.5 m
• Route 105:  1.5 m (excluding Centre-Village & Farm Point multi-purpose service areas)
• Highway A-5:  1.5 m 

*Important: Distances may be reduced if your property is located in the Centre-village.

Septic

• Septic tank:  1.5 m
• Septic bed:  5 m

Well

• 3 m

Watercourse

• 15 m from the high water mark

Wetland

• 15 m or 30 m (as the case may be)

Permit application

• See Article 4.6 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

Before proceeding with backfill work, contact the Municipality to validate any constraints applicable to your property.

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• $50
   

Number of driveways

• Land with less than 45 m of frontage:  1 entrance
• Land with more than 45 m of frontage:  2 entrances
• Land bordering two streets:  1 entrance per road is allowed
• Note: For private roads, permission from the road owner may be required for new access to a property.

Distance between each entrance driveways

• 6 m

Maximum width of an entrance driveway

• 9.14 m (30 feet)
• The minimum diameter of the culvert is 4.5 m (18 inches). However, this will be confirmed by the Public Works Department before the permit is issued.

Authorized materials

• Galvanized corrugated sheet metal
• Grooved polyethylene with a smooth inner wall

Distances

Setbacks* (from the right-of-way or property line)

• Lot line:  4.5 m (excluding the Centre-Village multi-purpose service area)
• Railroad:  10 m
• Route 105:  10 m (excluding the Centre-Village & Farm Point multi-purpose service areas)
• Highway A-5:  10 m 

*Important:  Distances may be reduced if your property is located in the Centre-Village.

Septic

• Septic tank:  1.5 m
• Septic bed:  5 m

Well

• 3 m

Watercourse

• 15 m from the high-water mark

Wetland

• 15 m or 30 m (as the case may be)

Permit application

• See Article 4.10 of the By-law Number 639-05 respecting Permits and Certificates

Definition

A building erected or installed for a special purpose and for a limited period of time.

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• $100 + $10 for each $1,000 portion of the total construction cost.

Surface area

Setbacks* (from the right-of-way or property line)

• Lot line:  4.5 m (excluding Centre-Village’s multi-purpose service area)
• Railroad:  4.5 m
• Route 105:  4.5 m (excluding Centre-Village & Farm Point multi-purpose service areas)
• Highway A-5:  4.5 m

*Important:  Distances may be reduced if your property is located in the Centre-village.

Septic

• Septic tank:  1.5 m
• Septic bed:  5 m

Well

• 3 m

Watercourse

• 15 m from the high-water mark

Wetland

• 15 m or 30 m (as the case may be)

In all the territory of the Municipality of Chelsea, it is prohibited to cut trees with a trunk over ten (10) centimetres in diameter measured at thirty (30) centimetres from the ground level.

It is authorized to cut down a tree without a permit in the following circumstances:

• Trees are dead
• Trees are suffering from a disease
• Trees threaten the safety of people
• Trees are detrimental to the growth and well-being of a neighbouring tree
• Trees cause damage to public or private property,
• Trees cause damage to foundations, property, underground pipes or sidewalks or paving by their roots
• Trees’ roots cause damage to foundations or the property, underground pipes or sidewalks or pavements.

We recommend that you take a picture before cutting a tree or check with the Municipality.

It is prohibited to cut down healthy trees without obtaining a certificate of authorization for tree cutting.

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• $50

Tree cutting authorized for a new structure

Following the issuance of a permit for the structure concerned, logging must be confined solely to the area in need of development, including a perimeter of a maximum width of five metres around the proposed structures.  This is always on condition that logging takes place outside the lateral and rear setbacks provided in the specifications grid.  The felling of trees within these setbacks is only authorized for the installation of a septic system, a well and for the structures or constructions listed in Sub-section 4.4.7 of this by-law.

Distances

No tree cutting is authorized in setbacks, including stream and wetland protection strips and landslide areas.

An exception applies to the cases mentioned above or in the case of a septic installation or a catchment work (well).

Permit application

• See Article 4.11 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

Use

• Any non-residential use group

Permit fee

• $300 + $10 for each $1,000 portion of the total construction cost.

Height of the railing or low wall

• If the distance between the patio floor and the finished floor is greater than 0.60 m (2 feet), a railing with a minimum height of 0.91 m (36 inches) must be installed.

• If the distance between the patio floor and the finished floor is greater than 1.83 m (6 feet), a railing with a minimum height of 1.07 m (42 inches) must be installed.

Distances

Setbacks* (from the right-of-way or property line)

• Lot line:  4.5 m (excluding the Centre-Village multi-purpose service area)
• Railroad:  20 m
• Route 105:  20 m (excluding the Centre-Village & Farm Point multi-purpose service areas)
• Highway A-5:  45 m 

*Important:  Distances may be reduced if your property is located in the Centre-Village.

Septic

• Septic tank:  1.5 m
• Septic bed:  5 m

Well

• 3 m

Watercourse

• 15 m from the high-water mark

Wetland

• 15 m or 30 m (as the case may be)

Special feature

Wall opening

• Each wall must have a 60% open surface area.

Permit application

• See Article 4.4.2.2 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

To build a new underground water withdrawal facility, replace or modify an existing structure, it is mandatory to apply for a permit. This obligation applies to new residential construction and to the replacement of any type of catchment (tube or surface well) to serve an existing building. Facilities for geothermal purposes are also subject to a permit application.

Permit application form for an underground water withdrawal facility

Use

• All uses

If the well services more than 20 people or has a flow rate of 75,000 litres or more per day, an application for a certificate of authorization is required from the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight Against Climage Change.

Permit fee

• $100 (refundable deposit of $300)

Distances

Setbacks

An open space of 3 m is required around a well.

• Well type:  unsealed
  • Any construction:  3 m
  • Lot line: 3 m
  • Septic tank : 15 m
  • Septic bed: 30 m
     
• Well type : sealed
  • Any construction : 3 m
  • Lot line: 3 m
  • Septic tank : 15 m
  • Septic bed : 15 m

Permit application

• See Article 4.4.2.4 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates

No work is permitted in the riparian protection zone or in a wetland without prior approval from the Municipality.

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• $200

Distances

Riparian protection strip

• 15 m or less from the high-water mark

Wetland protection strip

• 30 m or less from the high-water mark

Permit fee

• See Article 4.5 of the By-law Number 639-05 Respecting Permits and Certificates