Permits · 4 min read
When to contact your municipality about a permit
When to call the city about a kitchen, bathroom, or basement permit in Canada, and what to have ready before you phone.
No website can tell you whether your project needs a permit. Requirements depend on your municipality, zoning, the age and condition of the property, and the exact scope. What a planning tool can do is tell you when the conversation is worth having, which is earlier than most people think.
Call before you commit if your project includes
- Removing or moving any wall
- New or enlarged window or door openings
- Finishing a basement, or adding a bedroom or bathroom
- A secondary suite, second kitchen, or separate entrance
- New plumbing, new electrical circuits, or HVAC changes
- Decks, additions, foundation work, or structural repairs
- A change in how the building is used
What to have ready
- Your address and property roll number if you have it
- A plain description of the work
- A rough sketch of existing and proposed layouts
- The approximate value of construction
- Your intended start date
Why early matters
Permit review is one of the most common causes of schedule slip, and it is the one you can control by starting sooner. Building departments also give free guidance that can simplify your scope before you pay for drawings.
Planning estimate only. Not a contractor quote, permit approval, or financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.