Building Permit Guides & Resources
Plain-English answers to the questions Ontario homeowners ask most before starting a permitted project.
Do I Need a Building Permit in Ontario?
One of the most common questions homeowners ask before starting a renovation is whether they actually need a building permit. The honest answer is that it depends on your specific project and municipality, but there are some general patterns that hold true across most of Ontario.
Read the guide →How Much Does a Building Permit Cost in Ontario?
Permit costs are one of the first questions homeowners ask, and one of the hardest to answer with a single number. That's because there is no province-wide fee schedule in Ontario — each municipality sets its own permit fees, and the total cost of getting permit-ready also depends on the design and drawing work behind the application.
Read the guide →What Drawings Are Required for a Building Permit?
A building permit application is only as strong as the drawings behind it. While the exact drawing list depends on your project and municipality, most Ontario building departments expect the same core set of documents, scaled up or down based on the scope of the work.
Read the guide →Basement Renovation Permit Requirements in Ontario
Finishing a basement is one of the most popular renovation projects in Ontario, and also one of the most commonly misunderstood when it comes to permits. Here is what generally applies, and where the details tend to change from project to project.
Read the guide →How to Legalize a Basement Apartment in Ontario
Many Ontario homes have a basement apartment that was never formally permitted, or homeowners considering adding one for rental income. This guide walks through the general process of legalizing a basement apartment, step by step, so you know what to expect before you start.
Read the guide →Duplex Conversion & Secondary Suite Requirements in Ontario
Converting a single-family home into a legal duplex is a bigger undertaking than legalizing a basement apartment alone, since it can involve any level of the house and touches zoning, life safety, and servicing all at once. Here is a general overview of what's typically involved.
Read the guide →Do I Need a Permit for a Deck in Ontario?
Deck permit rules trip up a lot of homeowners because they seem simple on the surface but vary quite a bit between municipalities. Here are the general factors that most Ontario building departments consider, along with why local confirmation still matters.
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