Do I need a permit?

A building permit is required when...

You construct an accessory structure larger than 10 square meters (107 square feet) in area, such as

• • Detached Garage
  • Workshop
  • Carport
  • Pool house or cabana
    • *Note: If you are constructing an accessory structure and it is attached to an existing building and/or has plumbing, regardless of its size, a building permit is required.

A building permit is not required when...

• Installing Plastic Sheet Covered Accessory Structures (i.e. snow canopies, driveway tents, automotive canopy) if installed on or after October 15th and are removed on or before April 15th. Compliance with the Zoning Bylaw is required

• You construct a shed with an area less than 15 square meters (161 square feet) or more provided that it,

  • is not more than one storey in building height,
  • is not attached to a building or any other structure,
  • is used only for storage purposes ancillary to a principal building on the lot, and
  • does not have plumbing.

A Building permit is required when...

You construct an addition to an existing building, such as

• • second or third story additions
  • attached garages, carports
  • sunrooms
  • solariums, porches, decks

A building permit is required when...

You make structural or material alterations, such as

• • adding or removing walls (i.e., changing room sizes and/or uses)
  • new windows or doors where there were none before
  • enlarging or relocating existing windows or doors
  • enclosing an existing deck, porch or patio of any size

A building permit is not required when...

• replacing existing roofing material provided no structural work is required
• re-cladding of a house or small building (3 storeys or less) with non-combustible material other than brick or stone veneer

A building permit is required when...

You install and backwater valve or a backflow prevention device.

A building permit is not required when...

• Installing cabinetry and/or millwork

 A building permit is required when...

• you construct a deck more than 60 centimetres (24 inches) above ground

A building permit is not required when...

• the finished deck level is not more than 60 cm (24 inches) above the adjacent finished grade; and/or
• it does not form part of an exit required under the building code; and
• complies with the Zoning Bylaw.

A building permit is required when...

You demolish or remove all, or a portion of a building

A building permit is required when...

Making energy and environmental building improvements, such as

• • roof top storm water retention systems
  • green roofs
  • structures used in the support of a wind turbine generator with a rated output of more than 3kW
  • solar projects such as installation of solar collector systems and solar hot water systems

A building permit is required when...

Finishing a basement, if the work proposed includes any of the following,

• structural or material alterations
• installing or modifying heating and or plumbing systems
• excavating and/or constructing foundations
• basement underpinning
• constructing a basement entrance
• adding a second suite
• adding a bedroom

A building permit is required when...

• installing heating and or plumbing systems 
• modifying heating or plumbing system where structural modifications are required
• installing or reconstruct a chimney, fireplace or a wood burning stove

A building permit is not required when...

• replacing a furnace or boiler in a house
• installing additional cooling systems, gas fireplaces, air cleaners, in-line humidifiers, or hot water tanks in a house
• repairing and replacing plumbing fixtures

A building permit is not required when...

Adding or replacing insulation

A Building Permit is required when...

A structure is greater than 10m² or requires plumbing

A building permit is required when...

You construct a retaining wall more than one metre (3 feet 3 inches) in height provided the retaining wall is on or adjacent to public property (including streets), building entrances, and on private property accessible to the public.

A building permit is not required when...

You construct a retaining wall that is on private property, not accessible to the public and/or where the height is less than 1 metre in height at any location.

A building permit is required when...

• Installing a new system
• Replacing an existing system while leaching bed remains
• Replacing or reconstructing the leaching bed
• Renovating or changing the use of a building with an septic system
• Making eligible repairs such as making changes that could affect the system's capacity or performance
• Installing or replacing a holding tank

A building permit is not required when...

• Routine maintenance, such as pumping the septic tank.
• Minor repairs that do not affect the design or operation of the system.
• Replacing internal components
• Performing general servicing that does not involve alterations to the septic system.

A building permit is not required when...

Installing a tent or group of tents under section 8 of the Act and is exempt from compliance with the Code provided that the tent or group of tents are,

• not more than 60m2 in aggregate ground area,
• not attached to a building, and
• constructed more than 3 m from other structure

Tent definition: A temporary shelter which is used at an open air event... normally constructed of a fabric held up by poles and attached to the ground by ties. - OBC A-3.14.

A building permit is required when...

Replacing windows or doors in buildings other than a detached house, semi-detached house, or row house containing a single dwelling unit

A building permit is not required when...

Replacing a window or door in an existing opening in a detached house, semi-detached house, or row house containing a single dwelling unit, or in an accessory building serving that house, provided that:

• there is no change to the location or size of the window or door opening;
• the structural support for the opening is not altered or affected; and
• no new exit is created.
• Installing a skylight in an existing building provided:
  • the building is a house or small building (3 storeys or less) and
  • the installation does not require the removal of more than one rafter, joist or other similar structural member(with the exemption of a truss)