When is a building permit required?

Examples of projects that require a building permit:

• Erection, installation, extension, material alteration, or repair to any building greater than 10m² (108 ft²) in size (the area of the building's footprint)
• Erection, installation, extension, material alteration, or repair to any building that contains plumbing, irrespective of size
• Any addition to an existing building, irrespective of size
• Adding, removing or altering a structural load-bearing wall or column
• Adding, removing or altering a non-loadbearing partition
• Finishing a basement
• Installing a basement entrance
• Relocating a Building
• Roughing in a bathroom or washroom
• Installing a wood burning fireplace or wood stove
• Renovating a dwelling to provide a full basement
• Dampproofing or waterproofing a foundation
• Installing an additional dwelling unit
• Installing any new plumbing
• Connecting to municipal sanitary and storm sewers
• An underground sprinkler system connected to building plumbing
• Replacing exterior wall cladding with a different material or system
• Porches and decks raised above the ground at any point
• Detached or attached garages and carports
• Tents or groups of tents greater than 60 m² (645 ft²) in size (the area of the building's footprint)
• Installation, extension or repair to plumbing that is not located within a structure
• Installation, extension or repair to a sewage system (septic system)
• Retaining walls exceeding one (1) meter in exposed height above ground and adjacent to public property, access to a building, or private property to which the public is admitted
• Signs other than: traffic signs, signs in display windows, small incidental or directional signs,  and signs painted directly onto a building
• Solar collectors 5 square meters or larger in area and mounted on a building
• Pedestrians bridges serving a building
• Crane runways
• Exterior storage tanks that are not regulated by the Technical Standards and Safety Act
• Structures that support a wind turbine with an output of more than 3 kW
• Dish antennas mounted on a building with a face area of 5 square meters or larger
• Outdoor public swimming pools
• Outdoor public spas
• Permanent solid nutrient storage facilities with supporting walls exceeding 1.0 meter in exposed height above ground
• Demountable stages
• Demountable support structures

Examples of projects that do not require a building permit:

• Constructing detached accessory buildings less than 10m2 (108 sq. ft.) in area
• Replacing plumbing fixtures or water heaters in the same location
• Replacing a furnace or adding air conditioning units or a heat pump
• Electrical projects (contact the Electrical Safety Authority)
• Kitchen or bathroom cupboards
• Painting and decorating
• Replacing windows or doors with the same size and in the same location
• Replacing roofing or shingles
• Retaining walls less than 1 metre in height
• Sidewalks, planters and landscaping
• Solar collectors mounted on a building, with a surface area less than 5 m²

Although a building permit may not be required, compliance with the Township Zoning By-law is still required where applicable.