Alex Grish

Thank you all again for the input. The picture is clearer now, at least I learned much more from you than from browsing the internet. It is very encouraging to hear that the regulators might be not interested if banks are not involved, which is my case.

My original line of thought was to build a small shed, which doesn't require permit (107 sq ft). It is awfully small, but my wife is of tough sort, we think we can manage a few years there. Then we apply for a permit and build a proper house. The reason why I thought it won't work is that Manitoba's recommendations to rural municipalities are as follows:

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Normally, an accessory structure would be constructed at the same time or after the
construction of the principal building or establishment of the principal use. In some
instances, a zoning bylaw might permit an accessory structure to be constructed prior
to the principal use (ex: construction of a garage required for storage of equipment and
materials during construction of a principal building). In such instances, it is advisable to
impose conditions on the use and a time frame on the construction of the principal
building.
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I thought, I won't be allowed to build any accessory structure (be it 107 sq ft without permit or a bigger structure with a permit) if I do not apply at the same time for a permit for the principal structure. May be I was wrong in that? May be I can just build a 107 sq ft shed without asking and nobody will ever ask questions? Or I apply for a permit for a 400 sq ft shed/garage/boat house, and they won't impose time restrictions on how long I can have it without building a proper house on the lot? And also won't tell me I can't live there because it is not intended for living?

Joel, thanks a lot. I know very little on the subject (we are coming from Russia) and every piece of info helps. The lending institutions complication is luckily not in the equation - we will buy land and build the initial structure without mortgage. I'm not sure how populated the area is - my wife and I spent only a few weeks in Manitoba more than a year ago. It seemed to me that the shores of both big lakes within drivable distance from Winnipeg are populated to some extent.

I do not expect difficulties with getting the first building permit for the initial structure. What I am at a complete loss about is what's going to happen when I come back to them 3 years later and say that what so far was the "principal dwelling" is now going to be a large shed for storage, and please, give me a permit for a new principal dwelling. It wouldn't be (hopefully) a problem if I wanted to expand the original structure, but I would prefer to avoid it. The original livable shed will be a very basic timber-frame, while I want the "real principal" house to be a scribe fit log house. They might not match nicely. Ideally I would want to build a shed in one location on the lot, call it a house and use it for a number of years in this capacity, and then build the log house separately in another location on the lot. Will I be able to re-classify my former "principal dwelling" into a shed?? (I assume that this will be the only option, as most likely I won't be allowed two separate living structures on a small 1/3 - 1/2 acre lot). What do you think?

My wife and I will immigrate to Canada in a few months and we would love to buy a lakefront lot in Manitoba (on lake Winnipeg or lake Manitoba) and build a house.

We are newbies and know very little about Canadian building regulations. I spent quite a few hours surfing the Internet, trying to find an answer to what bothers me, but wasn't successful. Please, help me, if you can.

We want to do what I describe below, and I would want to ask your opinions on whether it is 100% legal and whether it will fly with building permit authorities.

We plan to get a building permit for a VERY BASIC 800 sqf house (or whatever the legal minimum in this particular RM), which would be just a little bit more than a shed (thin walls, one shower, one sink, no proper HVAC, etc). We will then build this house very cheaply and will live in this house for a few years. I understand we will need to heat it heavily during winters, but that's ok. In 2-4 years we will save enough money to build a proper house and then we will simultaneously apply for a permit to convert the existing basic house into an auxiliary structure (into a shed which per se it was from the very beginning) and for a permit to build a proper house. Is such an approach going to work? Let's assume that the lot will not be allowed to accomodate two living structures. It is important that I do not want to try to bend any rules and I want to be honest with with the authorities from the beginning. We will go ahead with the plan only if I am convinced that it is 100% clean from the authorities viewpoint.

Thanks a lot in advance!