Frequently Asked Questions About Building Permit Services in Ontario
Get your permits approved fast, easily, and effortlessly.
Some projects, such as adding a deck or installing a fence of a certain height, repair, or installing a fence, may not require a building permit application. If you need help determining what permit or documentation you need, contact your city planning office or Property Pathways. We are always here to help.
Every project is unique. Your building permit process will depend on your project. Generally, your building permit application may have five steps, including determining if your project meets zoning and applicable laws; drafting your drawings and building plans; preparing your building permit application; obtaining the building permit, starting construction, and calling for inspections; and closing your permit by calling for your final inspection.
A permit provides a means of enforcing the minimum OBC requirements to safeguard the public’s safety, health, and welfare through building inspections. For instance, a Mississauga building permit, or any other building permit across Ontario, also helps provide safe access for firefighters and other emergency first responders during emergencies. Typically, during the building permit application, your city’s building department will ensure that the building complies with the Building Code, the local zoning bylaws, and other planning controls on the building, alongside other applicable legislature, such as conservation authority approvals.
A building permit is a document issued by the Building Department to provide legal permission for you to begin your construction project. For example, a building permit application in Toronto is needed for various renovations and addition projects.
Yes. You require a building permit for renovations, repairs, or additions to a building, changing the use of that building, constructing a seasonal building, or undertaking work regarding the installation, alteration, extensions, and repair of systems like an on-site plumbing and sewage system. You also require a building permit for new construction.
Other Frequently Asked Questions About Building Permit Services in Ontario
Under the Ontario Building Code, you need a building permit to construct a structure exceeding ten square meters in an area or place another structure, like a Secondary suite, on your property. So, Ontario building permit applications extend to new construction, additions, alterations, renovations, demolitions, and repairs.
The cost of a permit depends on the permit type and details about your project. It also varies from one municipality to the next. Reach out to us to discover what your project requires. Check out our blog post for insight on this topic.
Once issued, your building permit does not expire, provided work typically commences within six months. So you won’t have to go through the building permit application requirement list again. However, you may require revisions to permit changes to designs.
The Building and Zoning Code Compliance will issue an order to comply. You can remove aspects of the suite that constitute a dwelling or obtain building permits. The cost will be doubled for an After-the-Fact permit.
Additionally, there may be fees for a third-party engineering analysis if some areas of the work are concealed. If someone gets hurt in an unpermitted secondary dwelling unit, steep fines ranging from $50,000 to $1,500,000 may ensue, and even prison time for causing harm.
It is against the law to start construction without a building permit. Suppose your work does not comply with the Ontario Building Code. In that case, you may be facing costly repairs, increased building permit application fees, removal of work, or legal action initiated by the building department. You may also receive a Notice of Violation, which often results in fines and levies. Additionally, there may be fees for a third-party engineering analysis if some areas of the work are concealed. If action is taken to correct working with a permit, steep fines ranging from $50,000 to $1,500,000 may ensue.
Project Questions
We aim for a 5 – 10 business day turnaround for our 1st preliminary design review. Then, we will work with you on any revisions you request during the permitting and design phases. Based on our previous experiences and depending on which city is reviewing, you should expect any of the following timelines:
Small project: 3 to 6 weeks
Secondary suite project: 2 to 4 months
When applying for a building permit, you may be required to provide site plans showing the dimensions of your property, existing and proposed buildings, and driveways. As part of the permitting process, we help create drawings for your permit that contain floor plans, building elevations, building sections, wall sections, detail sections, doors, and window legend.
After we have finalized the building permit drawings and applied on your behalf, the following are typical steps that may happen: zoning review > building permit review > building permit approval.
No, you may only begin after approval.
