An RTM home in Saskatchewan needs three kinds of approval: a building permit from the municipality or rural municipality where it will sit, a permit for any private septic system from a public health inspector, and a permit to move the house on the road. The first two are yours to arrange, with your designer and contractors. The third belongs to the delivery, which is Herauf's part of the job.
The homes, plans and quote form for the province are on RTM homes in Saskatchewan, and if you are still deciding between a one-piece house and one built in sections, modular vs RTM covers that. This article is the paperwork: who issues what, in which order, and how long to allow.
What does the municipality need?
A building permit, and usually a development permit first. Under The Construction Codes Act, every local authority in Saskatchewan must have a bylaw that stops anyone from placing, relocating or building a building without a permit, and a licensed building official handles it. Setting a finished house on a new foundation is exactly that kind of placement.
The two permits answer different questions. A development permit governs where the house sits: setbacks from property lines, roads and water. A building permit governs how it is built. Most municipalities want the development permit first, so applying in the wrong order costs weeks. Each rural municipality sets its own requirements, so expect to provide a site plan showing placement and the manufacturer's inspection reports.
Every Herauf home meets or exceeds CSA A277 and the National Building Code for climate zones 6 to 8, and is inspected in the plant before its walls are closed. Ask your building official which factory inspection records it accepts in place of opening walls on site, and keep those records; your lender will want them too.
Who approves a septic system?
If the lot has no municipal sewer, a public health inspector. In Saskatchewan, permits for private sewage works are administered by the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and by the cities of Regina and Lloydminster inside those cities. Inspectors issue the permit and inspect the new system. The application names the certified designer and includes a site evaluation report and construction drawings, so the design has to be done before you apply. Ask your RM at the same time what it needs for a private well.
Who gets the permit to move the house?
Moving a building on a provincial highway needs a permit administered by SGI. The rules are written for house-sized loads: no moves between sunset and sunrise, advance notice for any building wider than 24 feet, and a SaskPower approval number for a load over 5.18 metres high. Herauf's one-piece plans are 14, 16 or 18 feet wide, which is why they travel whole; anything wider is built as modular sections.
You do not drive the house, so you do not apply for this one. The move is part of delivery, which is Herauf's line in your budget. When you compare quotes, ask what the move from the plant to your address costs, including permits and escorts. The budget planner lists that question alongside every cost that is yours.
In what order should you apply?
- Before you buy land: confirm the zoning allows the dwelling, and read the Certificate of Title for covenants and easements.
- First: the development permit, then the building permit.
- In parallel: the septic design and permit, and the call to your utility about a power line extension.
- Last: the foundation, finished before your delivery week.
Budget four to ten weeks for approvals, longer if the use is discretionary or a dwelling is being relocated. If the foundation runs late anyway, a finished home can wait at the 4.5-acre staging yard at Zehner rather than on your road allowance. The full list is on the site readiness checklist.
How long does the whole project take?
About 16 weeks from order to move-in for most projects, because the approvals and site work run while the house is on the production line. That only holds if the permits start first. For a quote built around your lot, use the Saskatchewan RTM page or call 1.639.382.4106; a free written quote usually comes back within one business day.
Sources
- Government of Saskatchewan, Building bylaws
- Government of Saskatchewan, Private sewage works
- Government of Saskatchewan, Apply to move a building
Common questions
Do I need a building permit for an RTM home in Saskatchewan?
Yes. Under The Construction Codes Act every local authority must require a permit before a building is placed or relocated, so the municipality or rural municipality where the house will sit issues a building permit, often after a development permit that approves where it goes.
Who issues a septic permit in Saskatchewan?
A public health inspector. Private sewage works are administered by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (and the cities of Regina and Lloydminster), and the application includes the certified designer's name, a site evaluation report and construction drawings.
Do you need a permit to move a house on a Saskatchewan highway?
Yes. Building moves on provincial highways need a permit administered by SGI, buildings are not moved between sunset and sunrise, and a building wider than 24 feet needs advance notice. With a Herauf RTM the move is part of delivery, so ask for the delivery price to include permits and escorts.
How long do RTM approvals take in Saskatchewan?
Budget four to ten weeks, longer if the use is discretionary or a dwelling is being relocated. Start the approvals first, because they are the step most likely to move a delivery date.
A finished home travelling the highway to its site