Building Permit Grant for Farmers
City Council has approved a new grant program that will offset the cost of building permit fees to Ottawa farmers for any building or structure needed to conform to the provincial Nutrient Management Act.
Under this grant program, any Ottawa farmer who applies for a building permit for a structure or building that qualifies under the program will have the cost of the building permit fees offset by a grant funded by the Rural Affairs Office. The grant program also allows farmers to be reimbursed for any building permit fees they have already paid on applications for the construction of any building or structure needed to conform to the provincial Nutrient Management Act received by the City after July 1, 2005.
The Rural Summit in November 2005 highlighted that Ottawa's farmers are facing difficult times managing increasing costs while facing lower revenues from the sale of their produce and farm animals. The Summit's Agriculture Sub-Committee reviewed municipal by-laws, fees and charges to determine which provisions negatively impact farm operations.
The Sub-Committee identified the need for financial assistance for the construction of farm buildings, particularly buildings and structures required as a result of the Nutrient Management Act. As a result, the Rural Task Force submitted and obtained approval of an annual budgetary allocation of $35,000 for the purpose of offsetting building permit fees for such projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do farmers need this grant?
A: Ottawa's farmers are facing difficult times in managing increasing costs while facing lower revenues from the sale of their produce and farm animals. This grant program was established in an effort to assist local farmers with the construction costs incurred in meeting the requirements of the Nutrient Management Act.
Q: How does the grant program work?
A: When a farmer applies for a building permit for a structure or building that qualifies under the program, a grant equivalent to the cost of the building permit fees is provided to offset the fees. This way, there are no costs to the farmer for those building permit fees.
Q: Who qualifies for these grants?
A: Any farmer that has obtained a farm business registration number pursuant to the Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act, and who is applying for a building permit to build, enlarge or convert buildings or structures that are regulated under the Nutrient Management Act qualifies for these grants.
Q: What types of buildings qualify for these grants?
A: The program offsets the building permit fees associated with the costs of construction and/or renovation of farm buildings/structures that are regulated under the Nutrient Management Act and used for the collection, storing and handling of manure containing nutrients.
Q: What kinds of nutrients qualify?
A: According to the Act, "nutrient" means fertilizers, organic materials, biosolids, compost, manure, septage, pulp and paper sludge, and other material applied to land for the purpose of improving the growing of agricultural crops or for the purpose of a prescribed use.
Q: Are there other grants for other types of farm buildings?
A: Not at this time.
Q: Why not just stop charging farmers for building permits?
A: Provincial legislation does not allow municipalities to issue building permits without collecting the appropriate fees for each permit.
Q: When will the grant program start?
A: The Grant Program is effective immediately.
Q: How do I apply for the grant?
A: Your building permit application constitutes your application for grant funding. You will need to submit documentation that shows your farm business registration in addition to the application for the building permit.
Q: How long will I have to wait for my grant monies to come in?
A: Once the construction plans are reviewed to confirm eligibility (meaning that the construction is required according to the Nutrient Management Act) and the farm business registration is confirmed, the City will arrange a transfer of funding from the Rural Affairs Office to cover the fees. The transaction is an internal transaction. Thus, there will be no waiting period.
Q: Will the grant apply to any building permit fees paid in the past?
A: The grant program also allows farmers to be reimbursed for any building permit fees they paid on applications received by the City after July 1, 2005.
Q: Is there a maximum number of grants allowed to any one farm?
A: No.
Q: Is there a maximum number of grants the City can pay for in any one year?
A: The fees confirmed by the City would be offset by the grant program, for which funding in the amount of $35,000 has been allocated in the operating budget of the Rural Affairs Office.
Q: What happens if the $35,000 gets used up and there are still more grants in process?
A: If the total number of grants to farmers in any one year exceeds the $35,000 program fund, then each further applicant must pay the building permit fees. After that, City staff will request that Council allocate the grant amount from other funding sources. Approvals for reimbursement will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Q: What does the Nutrient Management Act require of farmers?
A: The provincial Nutrient Management Act specifies standards for the size, capacity, construction design and location of buildings or structures that are used to store materials containing nutrients or to house farm animals. The Act may also require additional excavations such as the formation of earth barriers.
