Building Permits Required for Which Projects
What construction projects need building permits?
A building permit is required for any new building greater than 10m2 (108 sq ft), any addition to an existing building, any material alterations to an existing building which affects: the structural design of the building; mechanical; electrical; plumbing services (no limit on size of building); fire separations; exiting; fire protection systems; and the use of buildings or parts thereof. Below you will find a list of typical residential and commercial/industrial/institutional projects that require a building permit:
For residential dwelling units (single family, semi-detached and row housing), projects requiring a building permit include:
• decks greater than 600mm (24 inches) above ground or serving the principal entrance for a unit
• interior structural alterations
• adding or removing most walls, (i.e., creating different room sizes and/or uses)
• porches
• basement or main floor walkout alterations
• sunrooms
• solariums
• replacement of brick veneer
• carports
• attached or detached garages, sheds
• replacement of masonry chimney below roofline
• dormers or finishing of attic space
• installation of irrigation systems
• additions
• installation, repair of storm, sanitary and water service
• finishing a basement or a portion thereof
• furnace and ductwork replacements
• installation of plumbing cleanouts
• conversion from septic to sanitary sewer
• plumbing and/or drains (except replacing fixtures)
• insulating exterior walls when exterior or interior cladding is removed
• new or structural alterations to windows or doors
• installation or repair of private sewer systems and water service
• installation of backflow preventers for lawn irrigation systems
• structural work related to fire damage
For all other buildings, (Commercial, Industrial, Institutional), projects requiring a building permit include:
• change of use (where construction is proposed or the
A building permit is required for any new building greater than 10m2 (108 sq ft), any addition to an existing building, any material alterations to an existing building which affects: the structural design of the building; mechanical; electrical; plumbing services (no limit on size of building); fire separations; exiting; fire protection systems; and the use of buildings or parts thereof. Below you will find a list of typical residential and commercial/industrial/institutional projects that require a building permit:
For residential dwelling units (single family, semi-detached and row housing), projects requiring a building permit include:
• decks greater than 600mm (24 inches) above ground or serving the principal entrance for a unit
• interior structural alterations
• adding or removing most walls, (i.e., creating different room sizes and/or uses)
• porches
• basement or main floor walkout alterations
• sunrooms
• solariums
• replacement of brick veneer
• carports
• attached or detached garages, sheds
• replacement of masonry chimney below roofline
• dormers or finishing of attic space
• installation of irrigation systems
• additions
• installation, repair of storm, sanitary and water service
• finishing a basement or a portion thereof
• furnace and ductwork replacements
• installation of plumbing cleanouts
• conversion from septic to sanitary sewer
• plumbing and/or drains (except replacing fixtures)
• insulating exterior walls when exterior or interior cladding is removed
• new or structural alterations to windows or doors
• installation or repair of private sewer systems and water service
• installation of backflow preventers for lawn irrigation systems
• structural work related to fire damage
For all other buildings, (Commercial, Industrial, Institutional), projects requiring a building permit include:
• change of use (where construction is proposed or the