Kitchens, Baths & Interiors · Markham
Commercial Renovations in Markham
Office, retail, clinic and restaurant renovations and tenant fit-outs, permitted, inspected and scheduled around your business.
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Commercial Renovations in Markham
Commercial renovation in Markham covers everything from a small office refresh to a full tenant fit-out, and the rules differ from residential work. We handle the drawings, permits, trades and schedule so you can focus on the business.
Commercial building permits in Markham are issued by the City of Markham. We confirm what your project needs, including any change of use, coordinate drawings with an architect or engineer where required, and book the inspections through to occupancy.
Call (647) 424-1511 or send the form on this page for a free commercial renovation quote in Markham. Tell us what you want to change, add a few photos of the space, and we will book a visit and send a written quote that lists the scope, the materials, the permits involved and the schedule.
Markham buildings
Commercial renovation in Markham's buildings
Older downtown and main-street buildings in Markham
Markham's older downtown buildings mix shops at street level with offices or apartments above. Renovating them means working with old wiring and plumbing, stairs and entrances that are hard to make barrier-free, and fire separations between the store and the units above. Facade changes in heritage areas may need heritage approval.
1970s to 1990s plazas and offices in Markham
Markham's 1970s to 1990s plazas and low-rise office buildings often have dated layouts, dropped ceilings and washrooms that no longer meet today's barrier-free standards. Renovations here usually reconfigure the space, replace ceilings and lighting, and update washrooms and entrances.
New commercial units and fit-outs in Markham
Newer commercial units in Markham are often delivered as a shell: bare walls, a concrete floor and services stubbed in. A tenant fit-out builds everything else, from partitions and washrooms to lighting, HVAC distribution and finishes, to the landlord's standards.
Rules in Markham
Permits and approvals for commercial renovations in Markham
Building permits and change of use
Commercial building permits in Markham are issued by the City of Markham. Changing walls, exits, plumbing or fire separations generally needs a permit, and so does changing how a space is used, such as retail to restaurant or office to clinic. Larger buildings often need drawings by an architect or engineer.
Electrical and mechanical
Electrical work is done by a licensed electrical contractor under an Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) permit. Plumbing, HVAC and gas work are done by licensed trades and inspected.
Accessibility
Renovating a commercial space can trigger barrier-free requirements under the Ontario Building Code, such as an accessible entrance, washroom and path of travel. We identify what applies to your project before design is finalized.
Designated substances
Before construction in a workplace, Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act requires the owner to identify designated substances such as asbestos and lead. In older Markham buildings we confirm a survey is in place and plan any removal first.
Restaurants and food service
Food premises need a kitchen exhaust hood and fire suppression system where cooking produces grease, a grease interceptor, enough washrooms for the seating, and an inspection by the local public health unit before opening.
Heritage buildings
Markham includes the Unionville and Markham Village heritage conservation districts. Changes to storefronts and facades there, or on a designated building, generally need heritage approval as well as a building permit.
The service
Commercial Renovations Scheduled Around Your Business
Commercial renovations run on different rules from houses. The space has to meet the Building Code for its use, stay accessible, pass fire and life-safety inspections, and often be built while the business, its neighbours or the landlord carry on around it. We plan offices, retail stores, clinics, salons, restaurants and tenant fit-outs with those constraints in mind.
Most commercial projects start with the lease and the landlord's requirements, then the permit. A change in how a space is used, such as retail becoming a restaurant or clinic, generally needs a building permit even if little construction is involved. Larger buildings often need drawings by an architect or engineer. Renovations can also trigger barrier-free upgrades under the Building Code, and restaurants need kitchen exhaust, fire suppression and health unit approval.
More about commercial renovations →The process
How your Markham project comes together
01
Consultation
Tell us what you want to change and send a few photos. We visit, measure and talk through options.
02
Written Quote
A clear scope, materials, permits and schedule, in writing. No vague allowances.
03
Permits & Planning
Drawings, permits and material orders lined up before demolition starts.
04
Build & Walk-Through
Work done in the right order, inspected where required, and walked through with you at the end.
Across Markham
Commercial Renovations throughout Markham
Markham mixes heritage streets in Unionville and Markham Village with large newer homes in Cornell, Berczy Village, Wismer and Cathedraltown, many with finished or unfinished basements.
Questions
Commercial Renovations in Markham: FAQs
How do I get a commercial renovations quote in Markham?+
Call (647) 424-1511, use the form on this page or email info@ontariorenovationcompany.com. Tell us what you want to change and send a few photos, and we will book a visit and send a written quote for your Markham project.
Do you renovate older commercial buildings in Markham?+
Yes. Markham has older downtown and main-street buildings, 1970s to 1990s plazas and offices and new commercial units and fit-outs, and each comes with its own considerations, from old wiring and fire separations above storefronts to landlord standards in new units. We plan the work around the building you are in.
Do I need a permit for a commercial renovation?+
Most commercial renovations need a building permit, especially when walls, plumbing, fire separations or exits change, or when the use of the space changes. Electrical work needs an ESA permit. We confirm the requirements with the municipality before quoting.
Can you work around our business hours?+
Yes. Many commercial projects are phased or done in the evenings and on weekends so the business can keep operating. We agree on the schedule before work starts.
Do you do tenant fit-outs?+
Yes. We build out new and existing commercial units from a bare shell or a previous tenant's layout, working to the landlord's requirements and the lease.
Do you renovate restaurants?+
Yes. Restaurants involve kitchen exhaust hoods and fire suppression, grease interceptors, washroom counts and a public health inspection before opening. We plan those from the start.
Do you offer commercial renovations across Markham?+
Yes. We work throughout Markham, including Unionville, Markham Village, Cornell, Berczy Village, Wismer, Cathedraltown, Milliken and Box Grove, and in nearby Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Vaughan, Stouffville and Aurora.
More renovation services in Markham
Alongside commercial renovations, we also handle drywall and interior finishing, flooring installation and accessible and aging-in-place renovations in Markham, so related work can be planned together.
Other kitchens, baths & interiors services in Markham: kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, accessible & aging-in-place renovations, flooring installation, drywall & interior finishing and whole-home renovations.
Your Markham renovation, done properly.
Tell us what you want to change and send a few photos. We will book a visit and send a clear written quote, with no obligation.