BUILDING PERMITS

Building Permit Experts In Toronto

FA Engineering specializes in building permit services in Toronto. We help our clients obtain Building Permit approvals for small renovations to major development.

When is a Building Permit required?

A building permit is an authorization from the municipal building department to carry out renovation projects of certain types. A building permit is generally required for construction of new homes or additions, demolition, change of use, structural renovations, basement underpinning/lowering, installation of a pool, basement use legalization, building a garage or carport.

When is a Building Permit NOT required?

Building Permits are generally not required when replacing doors, windows, roofing without structural change, floor finishes, kitchens without plumbing modifications, bathrooms without plumbing modifications, waterproofing, non-structural wall removals, re-cladding, adding or replacing insulation, replacing a furnace or water tank, repairing or replacing plumbing fixtures, installation of backwater valve, construction of a shed that falls within the size, height, attachment and use restrictions, requirements of section 8 of the Act and in compliance with the code.

Fee and General Information

Minimum fee for a building permit is $ 198.59 and it is calculated by the Municipality Building Department based on the extent of work.

Building Permits are required by the subject municipalities in order to ensure that construction meets the Ontario Building Code standards, zoning requirements and fire code. Various Municipalities in Ontario have different requirements and rules that can be of nuance if one does not know the Building Code and Local by-laws.

The Building Department will request submission of a site plan, floor plans, elevations, cross sections and engineering plans in order to reviews the construction proposal and issue a building permit.

There are three major review aspects of a building permit in Ontario

• Zoning By-law Conformance
• Ontario Building Code Conformance
• Fire Code Conformance

Zoning Bylaw generally sets out rules in terms of land use, structural height, setbacks from property lines, building size, density, landscaping and parking requirements. The zoning by-law also requires conformance to Applicable Law which include Ontario Heritage Act, Conservation Authority Act, Planning Act and Environmental Protection Act.

The forms that are required to apply for a building permit include but are not limited to:

• Application to Construct or Demolish
• Designer Information Form
• Commitment to General Review
• Tree Declaration Form
• Municipal Road Damage Deposit Form
• Plumbing Data Sheet

A building permit application can either be submitted online or in person at the Building Department customer service counter. Once the building permit application along with other form is emailed, the application agent and/or owner will receive a, automatic confirmation of submission via email shortly after.

The Building Department ensures compliance with the Issued Building Permit and Ontario Building Code by conducting inspections at various applicable stages of construction. These stages include:

• Excavation and Shoring
• Footings and Foundation
• Structural Framing
• Mechanical Rough-ins
• Fire Separations
• Final Interior
• Final Exterior
• Occupancy

At F|A Engineering, we also provide final engineering sign offs also referred as Engineer’s Report/Letter to the building inspector as required. These Engineer’s reports contain the scope of work and the findings from our site review.

The issued building permits are active for one (1) year or as long as the work is on-going. However, you can request the Building Department to extend the duration of a building permit.

The Building Department has authority to stop unsafe work or work being done without a permit. Some of the future unforeseen consequences of working without a permit include legal issues such as selling the subject property or making an insurance claim. The Building Department has the authority to order removal of unauthorized construction. The maximum penalty for working without a permit in City of Toronto is $27,234.64. Please refer to link: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/building-construction/building-inspections/working-without-a-permit/