Avoid renovation headaches by procuring all necessary permits

Wondering whether you need a permit for the home renovation you are planning? Chances are, the answer is yes. Permits are considered formal permission from your municipality for the construction, demolition or alteration of a home. You need one for most major renovations, including changing structural walls, modifying plumbing systems, installing new windows or altering electrical systems.

Municipal regulations

Each municipality in the GTA has its own set of regulations. A professional renovation contractor can advise you whether you need permits for your specific renovation in your municipality and can also help you obtain them. Your renovator’s help will speed up a process that can take up to several months in some municipalities for large or complex renovations and can be confusing to navigate if you are not familiar with it.

Permits can cost hundreds, even thousands, of dollars, depending on the complexity of the project. In most GTA municipalities, the building permit for a small renovation project will cost about $200 to $300. Permits for changes such as HVAC alterations cost between $200 and $350, and permits for fences, porches and carports cost close to $200. While permit fees may seem expensive, imagine the cost of having to redo the work if it isn’t done according to the building code.

RenoMark program

All building permits must be obtained before you begin renovating. Be wary of renovators who encourage you to forgo permits. They may cite the additional costs or time delays involved in obtaining permits as reasons to avoid them, but their real motivation may be to avoid scrutiny as they cut corners or bypass work required by the building code.

I encourage you to speak with a renovation professional who is part of the RenoMark program.

All RenoMark renovators commit to a code of conduct that requires that they offer a minimum one-year warranty on all work, carry a minimum of $2 million in liability insurance and provide a detailed written contract that oulines the scope of work, 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.

If you are interested in hiring a RenoMark renovator, visit renomark.ca to find one in your area.