As the building owner, you are ultimately responsible for complying with all building requirements. Failure to obtain building permits can result in costly construction delays, legal action, and/or the removal of work already completed.
The following is a list of common projects that require a building permit. The list is not exhaustive. If you have any questions, please contact your city department for mroe information.
- Construct a new building
- Construct an addition to an existing building, such as:
- Second or third story additions
- Attached garages, carports
- Sunrooms
- Solariums, porches, decks
- 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
- Construct a shed with an area of 15 square meters (161 square feet) or more.
Note: Sheds under 15 square metres in area do not need a building permit. See “When is a Building Permit not required?” for exceptions.
- Construct an accessory structure larger than 10 square meters (107 square feet), such as:
- Detached garage
- Workshop
- Carport
- Pool house or cabana
Note: If the accessory structure is attached to an existing building and/or has plumbing, a building permit is required regardless of size.
- Finishing a basement, if the work 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
- Energy and environmental building improvements, such as:
- Rooftop storm water retention systems
- Green roofs
- Structures used to support a wind turbine generator with rated output >3kW
- Solar projects, including solar collector systems and solar hot water systems
- Construct a deck more than 60 centimetres (24 inches) above ground
- Construct a retaining wall more than one metre (3 feet 3 inches) in height, provided the wall is on or adjacent to public property (including streets), building entrances, or private property accessible to the public
- Demolish or remove all, or a portion of a building
- Install or reconstruct a chimney or fireplace
- Install a wood-burning stove or fireplace
- Install or modify heating and/or plumbing systems
- Install a backwater valve
- Install a backflow prevention device
- Change a building’s use (e.g., from residential to office, or single dwelling to multi-dwelling). Even if no construction is proposed, a permit is required.
