Home Renovations and Permits

When do you need a permit?

With the warm spring air comes many projects around the home including renovations and alterations. You may have spent the winter months dreaming up your plans but it is important to ensure that all your bases are covered in terms of building permits and that all your plans are to code.

If you are planning any renovation or construction project in or around your home, it is always advisable to do your homework and make sure that you get all the necessary permits. We will take a look at the guidelines laid out by the City of Ottawa but since every project is unique, we highly recommend doing the research yourself and reaching out to the City if you have any questions. Other municipalities may have different rules so if this applies to you, make sure to plan accordingly.

When do I need a permit?

All projects that involve the construction of a new building, an addition, or the alteration of any building or structure with a building area over 10 square metres will require a permit according to the Building Code Act. These are the obvious projects that you would likely assume a permit would be necessary but there are many other projects that will also require a permit that you may not have considered. Here are some of the most common:

• Adding or removing walls (does not need to be load bearing)
• Finishing an unfinished basement.
• Adding new windows where there were none before.
• Enlarging or relocating a door or window.
• Plumbing work beyond repairing the existing fixtures.
• Foundation repairs and drain tile replacement.
• Adding an apartment unit to your home.
• Adding a coach house to your property.
• Some outdoor projects including decks, sheds, and out buildings (depending on the type and size of the project).
• Putting in a pool.

How to Apply and What’s Involved

You will need to prepare a Building Permit Application Package and submit it to the City of Ottawa with all corresponding paperwork and the applicable fee. The nature of what is required and the cost will vary quite a bit depending on the scale of the project. All the details can be found on the City of Ottawa website. It is also very important that once you receive your permit that you display it prominently on your front door or in a front window.

The process does vary quite a bit depending on the project the concept is simple. You will complete steps of your project in a certain order and an inspector will come check your work as you complete each step. With smaller projects, there may just be one inspection and larger projects will likely have many. It’s a simple process and will all be laid out for you once your application is accepted.

Why Are Building Permits So Important?

It may seem tempting, depending on the project, to skip the step of getting a permit. For example, it’s true that many basement renovations are done without a permit from the city (although one is technically required) but you are opening yourself up to risk if you choose not to get a permit. If a neighbour were to complain, your entire project could be put at risk and you may need to start over with a permit to ensure compliance. This can be a costly and time consuming process. Also, when you go to sell your home, buyers are often weary on projects that were done without a permit as there is no proof that it was done to code or even done safely.