Get all the necessary permits before you renovate
I frequently get questions about home renovations, the most popular being, “Do I really need to get a permit for such a small job?”
Often, the answer is yes. Building permits are granted by municipalities and are considered formal permission for the construction, demolition or alteration of a home. Each municipality in the GTA has its own set of regulations but most major renovations — such as changing structural walls, modifying plumbing systems, installing new windows or altering electrical systems — require a building permit.
A professional renovator can advise on whether or not permits are needed for a particular renovation.
A renovation professional can also help the homeowner obtain the necessary building permits, speeding up a process that can take several weeks or even months. In some municipalities, like Toronto, it can take up to 46 weeks to receive a permit for big or complex renovations.
This means a homeowner could be waiting close to a year to receive a building permit to begin a home renovation project.
These delays can discourage homeowners from doing renovations or, in some cases, result in projects being started without the necessary permits.
All building permits must be obtained before you begin renovating. Be wary of renovators who encourage you to forgo permits.
Their reason could be that it may cost more money, it may lengthen the renovation time, or that they are unfamiliar with building codes and don’t want their work to be inspected, allowing them to cut corners or bypass work that is required by the building code.
All renovators who are part of the RenoMark program must procure permits for all their jobs, as outlined in the RenoMark Code of Conduct.
RenoMark renovators insist on having a detailed set of drawings and a scope of work attached to a construction contract before they begin a project. The contract outlines items such as timelines, payment schedules and whether permits are required.
If building permits are needed, RenoMark renovators will ensure that they are in place before they start construction.
Most municipalities in the GTA charge a building permit fee in the range of $150 to $300 for a small renovation project. An electrical permit adds an additional $49 to $124 to the cost.
Overall, permits for a small project can run $200 to $450. While this may seem expensive, imagine the cost of having to redo the work if it isn’t done according to the building code.
A professional renovator will guide you through your renovation, doing everything right the first time with a written contract, all necessary permits and a warranty in place before construction begins.
If you’re interested in hiring a RenoMark renovator, please visit renomark.ca.
Each municipality in the GTA has its own set of regulations but most major renovations require a building permit