Need a permit? Onus is on the owner

Before you begin any home improvement, remember to contact your municipality to find out whether you require a permit.

Under the Building Code Act, a building permit is required for the construction of a new building or structure or the demolition where the building area covers more than 108 square feet (10 square metres).

The Act also states that any size addition to an existing structure requires a permit.

The primary reason for a building permit is to ensure your safety and the safety of those who will occupy the building in the future.

The permit process, and the inspections that come along with it, help ensure that the building is safe for occupancy and for adjacent landowners.

It also protects your investment. If work is done without a permit and a problem such as a fire results, your homeowner’s insurance policy will often not cover the loss. When it comes to protecting one's family and one's equity, it is better to be safe than sorry, especially considering the relatively small cost of a building permit.

Work done without a permit can also cause difficulties when you want to sell your home, house inspections can fail and cause legal issues and costly delays closing deals.

And, noncompliance brings hefty penalties.

Onus on the owner

Also, keep in mind it is the resident’s responsibly to clarify if a permit is needed, not the contractor who may be doing the work on your behalf. Commercial buildings have different requirements than residential ones.

Windows and Doors: simply replacing a window or door with the exact same size of window/door does not require a permit. But if you are changing the size of a window or door then a permit is needed. Windows and doors provide structural integrity to a building and if the size changes, a permit is needed to ensure the work is done appropriately and safely.

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