Common Questions

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Do you need a building permit for any renovation or adding a structure?

New structures or structural changes requires a building permit from the local municipalities. We recommend consulting with a geotechnical and Structural engineering company, to ensure your project meets the building codes and safety requirements.

We can prepare the design package and submit the application include detailed drawings and work plan of the proposed work. 

Duration of building permits

It depends on the scope of work and local municipality, typically for interior renovation the building permit approvals take time between 5 to 7 weeks.

For exterior work such as porch, deck, home additions, foundations, retaining wall, basement walkout can take between 8 to 12 weeks. We need to review the zoning requirements for your area prior to develop the concept design.

How can I stabilize the foundation of my house to avoid of settlement or additional cracks?

There are several techniques for stabilizing the poor foundation. Please contact us for a site visit and free estimate.

Do I need a permit to repair my wet basement?

There are several techniques to repair the wet basement from inside or outside of the foundation wall. Usually, exterior excavation and waterproofing from outside needs a permits.

Do I need to get a permit for excavation in my house?

You must obtain the locates prior to any excavation in your front yard or backyard, as there might be buried gas line, electrical cables, telecommunication cables, water, or sewer lines. Please call us for more information. 

What is municipal zoning by-laws?

The Zoning By-Laws are the application of urban planning by restriction of land use through municipality-controlled laws. Municipal zoning by-laws dictate how land can be used. The regulations may impact on the proposed renovations, especially if they change the property’s footprint, size, height, or use.  If your property is near a ravine, natural habitat, water body or within a regulated area, then you may need additional approvals from conservation authorities.

What is the retaining wall?

Retaining wall is a structure that are designed to withstand lateral loads of soil and groundwater. There are various types of retaining wall structures such as:

Gravity Retaining Wall (interlocking blocks)

Gabion Retaining Walls

Cantilever Retaining Wall

Anchored Retaining Wall

Piled Retaining Wall

 When you need a building permit in City of Toronto?

 Here is a list of usually activities or renovations that will require building permits:

1. Construct a new building
2. Construct an addition to an existing building, such as:
   attached garages, carports, sunrooms porches, decks
3. Make structural or material alterations, such as
   adding or removing walls, new windows or doors where there were none before, enlarging or relocating existing windows or doors, enclosing an existing deck, porch or patio 
4. Construct an accessory structure larger than 10 square meters in area, such as
   Detached Garage
   • Workshop, Garden shed, Carport, Pool house 

                      Finishing a basement, if the work proposed includes any of the following,
structural or material alterations, installing or modifying heating and or plumbing, excavating and/or constructing foundations, basement underpinning, constructing a basement entrance, adding a second suite

Construct a retaining wall more than one metre in height provided the retaining wall is on or adjacent to public property , building entrances, and on private property accessible to the public

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

Change a building’s use (i.e. from residential to office or single dwelling unit house to multi-dwelling unit house).