When You Need a Building Permit

A building permit is required for an accessory building/structure used only for purposes ancillary to a principal dwelling on the lot. Examples include a shed, gazebo, pergola, cabana, carport, garage, greenhouse, solarium, or other similar-type structures, provided the building/structure:

• is more than 15 square metres in gross area

Please note any building that contains plumbing requires a permit.

Alterations and additions include:

• Any attached structure to an existing building (additional living space, garage, farm expansion)
• Creating new window/door openings or enlarging existing ones, below grade entrances
• Adding a bathroom or plumbing fixtures, modifying existing plumbing, or adding a backwater valve
• Removing or altering load-bearing walls, floors, beams, columns, and lintels
• Altering the existing roof layout
• Adding a bedroom to a basement
• Re-insulating walls, floors, ceiling/attic space
• Adding or altering a fireplace or solid fuel burning appliance
• Sunrooms

A deck/porch structure that features any of the following:

• Any size deck (covered or uncovered), if it is attached to the building
• Detached deck or porch greater than 10 square metres with a covered porch             
• Detached uncovered deck that is higher than 300 millimetres (12 inches) above grade and over 10 square metres
• Detached uncovered deck that is under 10 square metres but over 24 inches above grade. This is because handrails/guards are then required
• Guard/railing replacement or new installation

Be sure to check on height restrictions in the Zoning By-law for your area. Setbacks must comply with Zoning By-law (even if no permit is required).

View sample deck drawings (PDF)

This applies to the demolition of buildings greater than 10 square metres (108 square feet) in building area

A permit is not required for the demolition of a farm building located on a farm. 

Note: 

A Professional Engineer is required to undertake the commitment to  general review of the project during demolition only, where a building is: 

• Exceeding three storeys in height or 600 square metres in building area
• With pre-tensioned and post-tensioned members
• Where the demolition will extend below the level of the footings of any adjacent building and within the angle of repose
• Where explosives/lasers are used during demolition

Applies to foundations being repaired (structural damage, cracking, bowing, changing foundation material), applying drainage and damp proofing/waterproofing, and when lifting an existing building to add a foundation.

• An enclosure permit is required for all pools with a water depth of 18 inches or greater
• This includes all inflatable, above-ground, on-ground, and in-ground pools

Refer to our Swimming Pool Enclosure By-law for more information.

View a sample pool site plan (PDF)

New construction consists of the construction of any:

• Detached single family dwelling
• Semi-Detached dwelling unit
• Townhouse
• Pre-fabricated dwelling

A building permit is required when creating an additional dwelling that is:

• Contained within the principal dwelling or
• As part of a detached accessory structure or
• In a standalone structure on the lot associated with the primary dwelling unit

Please see section 4.55 of our Zoning by-law for the permitted size, parking requirements and zoning provisions applicable to secondary suites.

A septic system permit is required for any new septic system installations, alterations or upgrading of existing systems and repairs.

All signs, other than those exempt under the sign by-law, require a building permit. Please reference our Sign By-law for more information.

A building permit is required for solar panels in accordance with the Ontario Building Code Division A 1.3.1.1.(1)(f) when the panel is mounted on a building and has a face area equal to or greater than 5 square metres. A permit is also required any time the solar panel is connected to a plumbing or mechanical system.

Cargo containers, also known as shipping or sea containers, also require a permit where they exceed 15 square metres (161 square feet).

These types of accessory structures are not permitted in residential zones. Where permitted, cargo containers can only be located in the rear yard and must comply with the rear yard setbacks for accessory buildings.

Cargo containers that are under 15 square metres and do not require a permit must also comply with the zoning provisions. Please confirm with the Building Division if you are permitted to have a storage container on your property. These permits are applied for under Accessory Structures.  

Applies to:

• A single tent or group of tents whose combined area exceeds 60 square metres (646 square feet)
• A tent attached to a building
• A tent 225 square metres or larger must be designed and stamped by a Professional Engineer licensed in Ontario

Learn more about the tent permitting process (PDF)

A demountable stage requires a building permit when:

• The aggregate area of platforms of the stage is greater than 60 square metres
• Where any part of the stage is greater than 3 metres in height from adjacent ground level
• The aggregate area of all platforms of the stage is greater than 225 square metres
• When any parts of the platforms or any roof, wall, or structure attached to or located on any platforms of the stage is 5 metres or greater in height above the adjacent ground level

A demountable structure requires a building permit when:

• It is more than 3 metres in height above adjacent ground level
• It is designed to carry a superimposed specific load greater than 115 kg
• It would create a hazard to the public.

A building permit is required when the addition, repair, or alteration of a water and/or sanitary service is connected to a municipal service from the property line to the building that is being serviced.