For information or questions regarding permits or the application process, please contact c.lemay@chelsea.ca or call 819-827-6214.

To apply for a permit or certificate, or for a follow-up on an application, please contact permis@chelsea.ca.

Applications by telephone will not be accepted.

IMPORTANT - The department is currently receiving a higher than usual volume of permit applications.  For these reasons, response times are 5 to 10 business days. 

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.

A permit is required for any indoor or outdoor pool (permanent or temporary) designed for swimming, bathing and other aquatic entertainment having a depth of at least 60 cm.

Before purchasing your pool, contact the Municipality to validate the constraints applicable to your property.

Use

• Residential

Permit fee

Above-ground or in-ground swimming pool

• $60 (refundable deposit of $500)

Whirlpool (Spa)

• $27

Fence surrounding a pool

Above-ground pool

• If the above-ground pool wall exceeds 1.22 m in height, over a width of 1.22 m, an additional fence is not required (see sketch 1 below).

In-ground swimming pool

• Fence height:
  • Minimum:  1.22 m
  • Maximum:  2 m

The fence surrounding an in-ground pool must be installed 2 m away from the water basin.

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:  Distance 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)

Specific features

• All equipment (motor, filter, etc.) must be located at one metre away from the pool wall.
• All access to an above-ground pool by a ladder must be retractable and locked when not in use.
• Access to the pool can be from a terrace attached to the residence and arranged if the part opening onto the pool is protected by an enclosure (fence) having the above-mentioned characteristics. In addition, the access must be equipped with an automatic closing device, a latch and a lock on the poolside.

Permit application

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

Above Ground Pool Permit

Required documents :

• Completed application form
• Implementation plan to scale

Application Form

Inground Pool Permit

Required documents :

• Completed application form
• Implementation plan to scale
• Plan containing fence location information

Application Form

SKETCH 1 - DISTANCE FOR FENCE AND RAILINGS FOR ABOVE-GROUND POOLS

SKETCH 2 - WROUGHT-IRON FENCE

SKETCH 3 - DISTANCE BETWEEN IN-GROUND POOL AND FENCE

SKETCH 4 - CHAIN LINK FENCE

SKETCH 5 - LOCATION OF INGROUND POOL FENCE

Use

• Residential

Permit fee

•  $260

Surface area

• Maximum floor surface including outside walls:  80 m²

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)

Specific feature

• Cannot be detached from the main building and cannot be built inside a secondary building.

Permit application

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

Application Form

Use

• Residential

Permit fee

• $360 for the first $300,000 of work value + $11 for each additional $10,000 of value for a maximum of $600

Surface area

Maximum floor surface area for properties located outside Centre-village

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

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

Maximum floor surface area for an attached garage

• Land of less than 4,000 m²:  50 m²
• Land of more than 4,000 m²:  n/a

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:  Distance 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

Application Form

The objective of By-law No. 12-RM-01 is to regulate the installation and operation of alarm systems.

A permit is required to install and maintain an alarm system.  The permit is free.

As of January 2013, it is the MRC’s police that is in charge of alarm permits.

For any questions or additional information, contact the Police of the MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais or fill out the form.

To get a burning permit, contact the Fire Department at 819-827-6200 or incendie@chelsea.ca,  Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 

There is no fee for these permits. However, burning regulations are in place.

Safety tips

• Supervise the fire at all times. 
• Maintain a distance of 50 feet (15 m) from all buildings.
• Maintain a distance of 15 feet (4.5 m) from your property line. 
• Inform your neighbours. 
• Make sure the fire doesn't pose a nuisance to your neighbours. In the event of a complaint, the Chelsea Fire Department will request that the fire be extinguished. 
• Do not burn any construction materials, household waste, tires, or chemicals. 
• Do not burn in strong winds. 
• Have a hose ready to use near the fire. 
• Soak the ashes with water after the fire is out. 
• Call 911 in case of loss of control 

Use

• Commercial
• Industrial
• Institutional
• Complimentary to residential use (business, bed & breakfast, additional accommodation, horses and alpacas)

Permit fee

• Initial:  $210
• Annual:  $80 per year
• Modifying a certificate of authorization for building occupation:  $105
• Certificate of authorization for complementary use:  $105

Special feature

• The certificate of use is renewable annually at a fee of $80 (commercial, industrial and institutional only)

Permit application

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

Application Form

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• $310 ($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.

Application Form

For all permit applications for construction, modification, transformation, installation or renovation of a building, structure or property for non-residential use, please contact an Information and Permits Officer to the coordinates indicated at the bottom of this page.

To apply for a demolition permit, please contact an Information and Permits Officer.

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

Complete or partial demolition of a building governed by the regulation governing demolition applications:

• $105 for the application
• $55 for the public notice

Complete or partial demolition of a building not governed by the demolition application by-law:

• $60

Permit application

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

Documents required:

Refer to section 32 of By-law 1160-20. (French only)

Application Form

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• $27

Surface area and distances

• Consult the surface area and distances required for your type of dock

Permit application

You must submit

• A sketch of your dock to scale
• The list of materials
• A copy of your property's site certificate or a plan of your property to scale

Application Form

Chelsea's Municipal Council approved a two-year pilot project in October 2020 to allow the rearing of laying hens in residential areas for non-commercial purposes.

If you are interested in participating, please read the by-law carefully.

• By-law permitting the keeping of laying hens

Permits and Certificates of Authorization

You must first obtain a building permit for the pen and hen house. Once an inspector has come to your home to confirm that your construction plan is compliant, you will be able to apply for a certificate for the keeping of laying hens.

Usage

• Residential

Price  

• Building permit: free for the duration of the pilot project

• Certificate of authorization for the keeping of chickens: $20

Documents required for permit and certificate:

• Completed application form
• Two (2) copies of a proposed implementation plan indicating the following:
  • The location of the hen house, pen, backyard compost bin, and any other proposed structures
  • The location of existing buildings, structures,  wells, and septic systems
  • The location of watercourses, natural high water marks and wetlands, and flood risk areas (if applicable)
  • Driveway and parking area
  • High voltage power transmission line (if applicable)
  • Setbacks
  • The distance between the elements listed above
• Two (2) copies of the construction plans (elevations with dimensions and height, cross-sections, details, and specifications) giving a clear idea of the project and its use. These plans must be drawn to a scale acceptable to the administering authority.
• An estimate of the probable cost of the work.
• For a construction permit in a landslide area as identified by Zoning By-law Number 636-05, an engineer's report containing the information required under section 4.11 of said By-law 636-05 (if applicable).
• The estimated date of the start and end of the work.
• The number of hens that will be kept.
• Any other information or document deemed necessary by the administering authority in order to have a clear idea of the submitted project.

Standards to respect

Are you interested in keeping laying hens? Here are the main points to remember.

• The lots on which hens are allowed are: single-family detached, semi-detached and row houses with a minimum lot size of 700 m².
• A minimum of three and a maximum of five hens are allowed per property.
• The hens must always be kept inside a hen house and a screened outdoor enclosure.
• Only one hen house and one pen are allowed per property.

It is prohibited to:

• Keep one or more chickens inside a dwelling unit
• Keep one or more hens in a cage
• Keep or own a rooster or roosters
• Keep one or more chicks
• Sell eggs, meat, manure or other substances from hens

Application form

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• Residential:  $60
• Commercial:  $105 + $11 per $1,000 of the total construction cost

Surface area

Residential

• Land of less than 4 000 m²:  75 m²
• Land of more than 4 000 m²:  95 m²

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

• Residential:  see Article 4.1.1.3 of the ​​​​​​Zoning By-law Number 636-05
• 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

Application Form

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

• $115 for a new sign
• $105 for a temporary sign
• $60 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

Application Form

Use

• Residential

Permit fee

• $620
• Refundable deposit:  $2,000 for a first unit, $1,000 for any subsequent unit

Measures

Floor surface area for properties outside the Centre-Village:

• Minimum floor surface area:  75 m²
• Maximum floor surface area:

Maximum authorized height:  12 m

Minimum width of the facade:  6.5 m

Maximum area floor surface 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

Application Form

It is permitted to install a temporary winter shelter between the dates of October 15 and April 15 of the following year.

No permit is required; however, it is important to follow the guidelines listed below.

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• 0$
   

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

• $55

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

When it is not raining, manual watering of a vegetable garden, garden, flower box, planter, flowerbed border, tree or shrub is always permitted.

Lawns, hedges, trees, shrubs or other plants may only be watered by a removable sprinkler or porous hose from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on subsequent days when it is not raining:

• Even-numbered days for occupants of a building whose address is an even number;
• Odd-numbered days for the occupants of a building whose address is an odd number.

However, it is possible to use a removable sprinkler, porous hose or automatic watering system for a new lawn, tree or shrub planting or landscaping for a period of 15 days for a maximum of 2 hours per day after seeding, planting or peat installation begins. To do so, you must obtain a permit from the Municipality.

It is prohibited to use watering equipment in such a way that water flows into the street or onto neighbouring properties.

By-law to establish measures to promote the conservation of drinking water (934-05) (French only)

Application Form

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

New well:

• $105

Deepening of a well :

• 105 $

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

Application Form

For all riparian work permit applications, please contact a Information and Permits Officer

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

Use

• All uses

Permit fee

• $210

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