Ontario Building Permit Process

Many clients have asked how to go about getting a permit once their house plans are completed.

It’s a good idea to talk to your local building departments before you hire Rijus Home Design or any house designer.  They will inform you of zoning, approvals & permits that may be singular to your building lot that should be dealt with and clarified before time & money is spent on engaging a house designer.

(I.e. Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Health, Grand River Conservation Authority, Niagara Escarpment Committee, Ministry of Natural Resources, Long Point Conservation Authority etc.)

Here is a step by step break down of the permit process:
(applies to all Ontario Residents and is based on the Ontario Building Code)

Take (2) complete sets of scaled house plans, signed with a BCIN by a licensed designer, and submit them with a fully completed Building application form.

House Drawings are to include a noted & fully dimensioned:

• Foundation Plan (i.e. footings, foundation walls, structure)
• Floor Plan (s) (i.e. wall thickness, roof construction , openings)
• Elevations (i.e. grade heights, exterior finishes, pitches
• Cross Section & Detail (s) (i.e. all floor, roof, and wall assemblies, structural components)

To read more on our ontario licensed plans and to see an example of a set of plans - click here.
 

• If pre-engineered truss system, floor system, and beams are being specified,  you will need to submit shop drawings supplied from the manufacturer
• If a cistern is being constructed in the foundation of a garage, you will need to submit a set of plans completed and signed by a structural engineer.
• HVAC Design & Calculation – for all new construction & occasionally additions, you will be required to submit Heating, Ventilation & Air conditioning, Heat Loss & Gain calculations completed by a licensed mechanical designer, signed with their respective BCIN.
• (2) Copies of a Site Plan & Lot Grading Plan may also be required, depending on your specific lot and local building authority (i.e. lot size, location of proposed building, site services, setbacks, road entrance etc.)
• Septic Tank & Tile Bed Design.  For new home construction in the country you will need to submit a tank size and tile bed size by a qualified designer to meet the requirement of the size of your new home.
• For additions/renovation in the country, you will need to verify that the existing septic tank/tile bed will be able to handle the increase due to the addition.  If not sufficient – it will need to be extended or replaced.

So with all the approvals and proper documents for the items listed above, and cheque to pay for your fees, you can now apply for your permit.

(Building permit fees vary between regions, counties & cities – but is based on the construction value of the building)
Other fees that may be required depending on location and are typically correlated to the Additional information/plans listed above are:

• Septic Permit Fee (amount is based on new construction or repair/alteration for increased size)
• Demolition fee (if you are tearing down portion or an entire existing home to build on top)
• Plumbing Permit Fee (based off fixtures)
• Development Charges
• On-Site Temporary Living Accommodation (when living on property in a trailer while new home is being constructed)
• Water & Sewer Connection Fee
• Road Damage Deposit.
• Development Fees for newly zoned lots

Local Authorities will check all house plans, permits, application for compliance with all codes, bylaws, and regulations. If everything is good, your building permit will be issued.

At key stages during construction work on the building must be inspected to ensure that all construction is being done properly.
To be granted permission from the building department to move on with the next phase of construction – everything must comply with the Ontario Building Code (i.e. foundation, framing, plumbing, HVAC, insulation etc.)

All permits and home plans must be ready for presentation on-site for during inspection.

These inspections must be arranged by the owner – the building department will not contact you.  As a rule you must notify the local building inspectors for an inspection times 24-48 hours in advance.

If you have any questions of concerns about this process, or wondering how to go about obtaining certain approvals, plans etc, feel free to contact us at (905)701-1110.

We have lot of experience and are more than willing to give you some tips.