Building a cabin in Ontario?

[Navigator]

Okay a little help here guys. My dad owns land on the Ontario side of Rainy lake and would like to build a cabin on it. This is new ground for me so here are my questions:

1. Do I need a building permit?

2. Is it less costly to bring in materials and pay duty or purchase them in Fort Francis?

Thanks for any help,

Nav

[Stratosman]

I have never done it before but here's what I think: I am certian you will need a bulding permit, Canada has tighter regualtions than the US in many areas, and I doubt that this wouldn't be one of them, there will be building codes that you must adhere to and will be inspected I would imagine. As far as materials are concerned the best way to be sure is to send a copy of your plans to a lumeryard/building supplier in Canada as well as one or two on the US side of the border and have them do a material take-off/estimate and compare apples to apples. Be sure to also check the regulations on importing building supplies. That way you will have an accurate cost comparison between the two.

[Animal]

A few years ago a friend of mine built a cabin on Sawbill Lake off of Hwy 502. He said that you will need to check with the local governmental jurisdiction to see what they require as far as a building permit. You may also have some very strict set-back and water and waste system requirements. Canadian building materials were competitively priced given the exchange and import duty costs.

[Hemlock]

Animal is saying very close to what I was going to say. Uncle of mine just built on an island on ON side of LOW(logistically much different scenario, I know) and he purchased/contracted it out to the locals. Permits etc are definately part of the process. Again, each jurisdiction will be different, but they are constantly tightening up the rules and regs of building and septic systems. I know he applied for his permit "X" months before building as to "get in" just before things got more difficult and the laws changed. Probably sounds worse then it was, but just giving some insight. Sounds like a nice peice of property/investment!

[Animal]

Hemlock

I'm getting off topic, but I'm headed for Whitefish Bay on LOW out of Souix Narrows. Got any tips or locations for trout?

[Hemlock]

Animal, talking fishing on FM is not off topic

I have a few spots I can offer to you. Shoot me an email and I'll give you specifics. When are you going?

[Hemlock]

Sorry,

[email protected]

I thought it (email addy) showed up on my profile, but I was wrong.

[Navigator]

Thanks for help guys.

[rainybass]

Hi

I built a cabin on Swell bay (Rainy Lake Canadian side) in 1999. I didn't need a building permit. There are restrictions on cribs for docks. Power is expensive to put in through Ontario Hydro if available. Other than that it was pretty much painless. I love our cabin. Good luck.

Scott

[Animal]

Hemlock,

Thanks for the offer, but we decided to pull the plug for this weekend because of the double digit sub-zero temp forcast. We are going to head up in a couple of weeks. I've got you email address in my contact file.

Thanks again.

Animal

[Animal]

Rainy Bass

What part of Swell are you on? Over the years I've caught hundreds of big June smallies on Swell. We fish mainly in the Bearpass area.