A Building Permit is your formal permission to begin the construction, demolition, addition or renovation on your property. As part of the Building Permit process, Toronto Building staff must review your plans to ensure they comply with the Ontario Building Code, local Zoning By-laws and other Applicable Law.
As the building owner, you are ultimately responsible for complying with all building requirements. Failure to secure the necessary permits can lead to significant construction setbacks, potential legal consequences, and even the possibility of undoing completed work, causing additional expenses.
Before undertaking any construction or demolition work for a new building, making an addition, or significantly altering an existing structure, it is essential to obtain a building permit. To help you determine whether your specific project necessitates a permit, you can access the following link containing a comprehensive list of common projects categorized as either requiring or not requiring a building permit.
Whats next…
Building Permit Application: New Dwellings
For those planning to construct a new dwelling, such as a detached house, semi-detached house, or row house, obtaining a building permit is a crucial step.
Documentation Requirements: Detailed and Comprehensive
To ensure a smooth application process, the following documentation is required:
- Site Plan: A survey or site plan indicating property lines, lot area, right-of-way or easements (referenced to a current survey), the location of existing and proposed buildings with overall dimensions, setback dimensions to property lines, and adjacent buildings. A summary of permitted and proposed zoning provisions, including lot area, building area (GFA), coverage, and grade elevations should also be provided, along with dimensioned parking areas, driveways, landscape treatments, and accessory structures (sheds, decks, detached garages, etc.).
- Lot Grading Plan: A plan illustrating the proposed lot grading, designed to prevent ponding on existing adjacent properties and the subject property during and after construction, in accordance with the Lot Grading Criteria for Infill Housing.
- Floor Plans: Fully dimensioned plans for each level, indicating existing and proposed uses of all spaces, including the location of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and plumbing fixtures. Additionally, details of existing and proposed construction, foundation, exterior walls, interior partitions, and structural framing above are required.
- Roof Plan and Truss Drawings: An existing and proposed roof layout with details of the roof structure, skylights, roof slopes, hips/valleys/peaks, and ventilation. Truss drawings and floor joist plans are necessary if engineered roof trusses or floor systems are proposed.
- Elevations: Exterior finishes with roof slopes, window/door types, locations, and sizes, including the height of sills above the floor level. The area of the exposed building face, percentage of unprotected openings, required limiting distances, exterior decks, landings, stairs, guards, and handrails should be specified. The overall building height dimension is also required.
- Sections: Cross-sections showing existing and proposed building construction, along with specifications of all floor, wall, and roof assemblies. Details of footing and foundation walls, height of exterior grade above the basement floor, floor-to-floor, floor-to-ceiling, and overall building heights, as well as stairs, landings, guards, and handrails, should be included.
- Construction Details and Notes: Building materials and specifications of all wall, floor, and roof assemblies, along with typical wall sections and typical roof details. Guard details, including connection details, should also be provided.
With these detailed and comprehensive documents in place, your building permit application will be complete, enabling you to proceed confidently with your new house project.
Conclusion
By adhering to the permitting process and providing the required documentation, you can confidently move forward with your new house project, ensuring that the construction is conducted safely and in compliance with all relevant regulations. This not only protects your investment but also contributes positively to the overall development of the community.