Apart from having to engage a designer as per the OBC requirements when applying for building permit, a professional designer provides value in the way of experience and knowledge.
Under the Building Code Act, a building permit is required for the construction and/or demolition of a new building, an addition, or material alteration of any building or structure. The following is a list of common projects that require or do not require a building permit:
- Construct a new building
- Construct an addition to an existing building, such as
- second or third story additions
- attached garages, carports
- sunrooms
- solariums, porches, decks.
- Make structural or material alterations, such as
- adding or removing walls (i.e., changing room sizes and/or uses)
- new windows or doors where there were none before
- enlarging or relocating existing windows or doors
- enclosing an existing deck, porch or patio of any size.
- Construct an accessory structure larger than 10 square metres* (108 square feet) in area, such as
- Detached Garage
- Workshop
- Garden shed
- Carport
- Pool house or cabana
*Note: If you are constructing an accessory structure and it is attached to an existing building and/or has plumbing, regardless of its size, a building permit is required.
- Finishing a basement, if the work proposed includes any of the following,
- structural or material alterations
- installing or modifying heating and or plumbing systems
- excavating and/or constructing foundations
- basement underpinning
- constructing a basement entrance
- adding a second suite
- Energy and environmental building improvements, such as
- roof top storm water retention systems
- green roofs
- structures used in the support of a wind turbine generator with a rated output of more than 3kW
- solar projects such as installation of solar collector systems and solar hot water systems
- Construct a deck more than 60 centimetres (24 inches) above ground
- Construct a retaining wall more than one metre (3 feet 3 inches) in height provided the retaining wall is on or adjacent to public property (including streets), building entrances, and on private property accessible to the public
- Constructing a tent that
- covers more than 60 metres squared (646 square feet); and/or
- is attached to a building; and/or
- is within 3 metres (9 feet 10 inches) from another structure.
- Demolish or remove all, or a portion of a building
- Install or reconstruct a chimney or fireplace
- Install a wood burning stove or fireplace
- Install or modify heating and or plumbing systems
- Install a backwater valve
- Install a backflow prevention device
- Change a building’s use (i.e. from residential to office or single dwelling unit house to multi-dwelling unit house). Even if no construction is proposed, if a change of use is proposed a building permit is required.
As per section 3.2.4 of the Ontario Building code, any person engaged in the business of providing design activities to the public must be qualified and registered with the Ministry as per the The Building Code Act 1992.
The right Design Professional has the knowledge, experience, and creativity necessary to create the proper design.
They will be able to assist and guide you through the process which can be complex and challenging. They have a good understanding of building practices, materials, cost, and schedule.