Renovating in the Town of Essex
The Town of Essex brings together small-town streets in Essex Centre and Harrow, lakeside homes in Colchester, and farm properties across the countryside. Many houses here are older, and many sit on larger lots, which opens the door to projects that are hard to do in the city.
Common projects in Essex
- Farmhouse and older-home renovations: new layouts, insulation, windows, plumbing and wiring updates that make an older house efficient and comfortable.
- Additions and garages on country lots with room to grow.
- Kitchens made for big family meals.
- Bathrooms, including adding a main-floor bathroom or an accessible shower.
- Basements and flooring in newer homes in Essex Centre.
Rural properties: wells and septic
Many homes outside the town centres use a private well and a septic system. Adding bedrooms or bathrooms can change the septic capacity the house needs, and a bigger renovation is a good time to look at the condition of both systems. We include this in our planning so there are no surprises at the permit stage.
Lakeside in Colchester
Homes near Lake Erie in Colchester may need approval from the Essex Region Conservation Authority for additions and foundation work. We check this before design.
Permits in Essex
Building permits are issued by the Town of Essex. We prepare drawings, file the application and meet the inspector on site.