Do I Need a Permit

You must get a building permit before you start work on a new house, an addition, or before making any significant alterations to an existing house. Permits are geared to those projects where health and safety matters are involved, and exist to protect you, other homeowners, building occupants, future owners and the community.

Permits are normally required for:

• Building a detached structure larger than 10 square meters
• Building an addition to your home
• Building a pool enclosure (fence) around a pool
• Raised porches or decks
• Carports or garages
• Structural alterations
• Moving or lifting your house
• Installing a hood stove or fireplace
• Partitioning a basement or adding a basement entrance
• Creating an apartment in your house
• Altering or adding any plumbing
• Demolishing a house
• Erecting a tent that is larger than 60 square metres or closer than 3 metres to a building

Permits are not normally required for:

• Detached structures 10 square metres or less
• Decks that are 60 centimetres or less from grade
• Replacement of windows, doors, roofing or siding
• New interior wall, floor or ceiling finishes
• Repairs to chimneys, porches, decks or roofs
• Waterproofing repairs to a basement
• Replacement of plumbing fixtures
• Replacement of a furnace