Frequently Asked Questions

You fill in one short form: where the property is, what you want to build or renovate, and your rough timeframe. Build in the County is a referral service: we pass your request to a single independent local builder who works your part of The County — not five of them — and your details go to that one builder only. The builder contacts you directly to talk through the project and arrange a no-obligation quote, and does the work if you hire them. The referral costs you nothing; we may receive a fee from the builder for the introduction.

Honestly: it varies too much for a website number to be useful, and any site that quotes you a price before seeing your property is guessing. A bathroom refresh and a full custom home differ by orders of magnitude, and even two kitchens of the same size can price very differently depending on structure, access, finishes and what is found behind the walls. What we can promise is a real quote from a builder who has seen your property — that is the only number worth planning around.

For most structural work in Ontario — additions, new buildings, decks above a certain size, major renovations that change structure or systems — yes, you'll need a permit from the municipality of Prince Edward County. Shoreline properties can also involve conservation-authority approvals, and designated heritage buildings may need additional sign-off. Rules and thresholds change, so treat this as general guidance only. The good news: an experienced local builder deals with these offices all the time and will walk you through exactly what your project needs.

In honest ranges: a focused renovation such as a bathroom typically takes weeks; a kitchen or a larger renovation, one to several months; a full custom build usually a year or more once design, permits and construction are all counted. Heritage and barn projects add assessment and approval time at the front end. Every project is different — your builder will map out a realistic timeline before you commit to anything.

Sometimes, and it is one of the best projects in The County when the answer is yes. It always starts with an honest structural assessment: sills, posts, foundation, roof and how much of the original frame is still doing its job. Some barns are worth every dollar of conversion; some should be carefully taken down and their timber reused. A builder who has assessed a lot of them will tell you which one you have before you fall in love with the loft.

Yes, at the scale that fits these villages: main-street storefronts, inns and B&Bs, tasting rooms, restaurants and other small commercial renovations and restorations. If you're not sure whether your project qualifies, ask — the worst case is a quick, honest no.

It is routine here. A great many County properties earn their keep hosting visitors, and builders who work in the tourism economy plan around bookings as a matter of course — shoulder-season and winter scheduling, phased work that keeps part of a building in service, and hard end dates agreed up front. Say so in your request and it becomes part of the plan rather than a problem discovered later.

Not at all. Choose "just planning" as your timeframe and say so in the details. Builders would far rather join a project early, when advice is cheap and options are open, than after decisions have been locked in. A project that starts its planning in the fall is well positioned to build through the quiet months. There is no obligation at any stage.

As a condition of joining, contractors confirm they carry commercial general liability insurance of at least $2 million CAD, WSIB coverage where applicable, and the Ontario trade licences their work requires. For brand-new home construction in Ontario, builders must also be licensed with the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) and new homes are covered under the provincial warranty program administered by Tarion — your builder can walk you through what applies to your specific project. We still encourage every homeowner to ask for proof of insurance and references directly; a good contractor is never offended by the question.

All of it. Picton, Wellington, Bloomfield, Hillier, Ameliasburgh, Waupoos, Consecon, Carrying Place, Northport, Demorestville, Cherry Valley, Milford and the rural routes in between. The County is one municipality and our coverage is the whole of it — village lots, farm parcels and shoreline alike.