The Town of Essex is the latest municipality to offer residents and builders the option of applying for building permits online.
Anyone seeking a residential, commercial, agricultural, or industrial building permit can go to the town's municipal webpage and apply through Cloudpermit.
The town said the advantage is the service is offered around the clock and is accessible from anywhere so long as the applicant has a computer.
Applicants can also track their application's progress and receive an email when its status changes, submit changes, schedule or cancel building inspections, and pay using a credit card.
For those who don't have access to a computer at home, there's a kiosk at the Gesto Municipal Office on County Road 12, and building services staff are available by phone at 519-776-7336 ext. 1400.