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When do you need a building permit?

December 15, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

If you are planning to build or renovate, you should check if you require a building permit before you start your project, to make sure your project is safe and legal.

You must obtain a building permit if you plan on building a new structure or renovating, repairing, demolishing, or adding to an existing one.

Examples of when a building permit is required include, but are not limited to:

• A new building or structure larger than 10 square metres (108 square feet).
• An addition or sunroom that’s attached to a building or structure.
• Agricultural buildings.
• A pre-fabricated building/structure which is greater than ten square metres.
• Any building or structure that contains plumbing regardless of size.
• Any plumbing or HVAC work.

You will need a building permit if you are excavating a basement, constructing a foundation, or converting an attached garage into a liveable space.

You also need a building permit if you are installing:

• A door between an attached garage and a house or its basement.
• An exterior staircase or basement access.

For load-bearing walls or beams, you will need a building permit anytime you:

• Install, change, remove, or move load-bearing walls and beams.
• Install new openings in load-bearing walls, exterior walls, or if you are changing the size of doors and windows.
• Install a skylight on the roof of a building/structure.

For outdoor decks, you need a permit to build a wood deck greater than 600 mm (23-5/8 inches) in height above ground level. This includes decks around private swimming pools and if you are adding a roof over a wood deck.

Installing or modifying a septic system, water service, sewer line, heating system, air-conditioning system, fireplace, or wood stove requires a building permit, as well as:

• Installing or repairing a chimney.
• Installing, renovating, or modifying plumbing fixtures or plumbing systems.
• Constructing, renovating, or repairing a sewage system, septic tank, or septic field.

If you are contemplating constructing a secondary dwelling unit, you must confirm the property’s zoning with the Planning Department.

If your property is located within a Conservation Authority, further authorization may be required.

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