In Ontario, building permits are issued by your local municipality under the Building Code Act, and the Ontario Building Code sets the standards. Each municipality applies the rules a little differently, so the final word always comes from your local building department. This guide covers the general pattern.
Usually No Building Permit
- Replacing kitchen cabinets and counters in the same layout
- New flooring, paint, trim and interior doors
- Replacing bathroom fixtures in the same locations
- Like-for-like repairs that do not change structure
Usually a Building Permit
- Removing or altering a load-bearing wall, or any structural change
- New plumbing, such as adding a bathroom or moving a drain
- Finishing a basement with new walls, bedrooms or a bathroom (most municipalities)
- Any basement apartment or additional residential unit
- Additions, second storeys, sunrooms and garages
- Decks attached to the house or more than about 600 mm (24 inches) above the ground
- Enlarging window or door openings, and new egress windows
- Underpinning or lowering a basement floor
- Installing a wood stove or fireplace
Electrical Work Is Separate
Electrical work in Ontario is regulated by the Electrical Safety Authority. A licensed electrical contractor takes out an ESA permit and the work is inspected, whether or not a building permit is also needed.
Other Approvals That Come First
Some projects need approval before the building permit can be issued: a minor variance if the design does not meet zoning, a conservation authority permit near water, valleys or floodplains, heritage approval for designated properties, and a sewage system permit when septic changes are involved.
Why It Matters
A permit means the work was reviewed and inspected. Unpermitted work can cause problems with insurance claims, with buyers and their lenders when you sell, and with safety. Legalizing work after the fact usually means opening finished walls for inspection.
The Practical Approach
Ask your contractor to state in the quote which parts of the project need a permit, who applies for it and how inspections will be booked. That one line in the quote tells you a lot about how the job will be run.
