The Need for Building Permits: Toronto

Did you know that if you plan to do any type of home renovations in Toronto, including kitchen renovations, that you need to apply for a building permit from Toronto Building?  A building permit for renovations or construction can be obtained by submitting an application, or your designer or architect may also apply for the building permit on your behalf.

What is a Building Permit?
A building permit is a document that is issued by the municipality that you live in when you want to build, add on, renovate or demolish your property.  Along with providing proof that you have permission from the city to renovate, a building permit gives city officials the ability to enforce current building standards.  A building permit ensures that both the owner’s interests and the interests of the community are protected and that all renovations are safe.

In order for a building permit application to be approved, Toronto Building staff will review your plans to ensure that they fall within all guidelines and meet with the Ontario Building Code, as well as local zoning by-laws and any other regulations that may be in place.
You will need a building permit if you plan to do such renovations as plumbing, air-conditioning/heating and moving load-bearing walls.  Building permits are not required for certain small home renovation projects, including the installation of kitchen cupboards without plumbing, dry-wall or plaster and painting/decorating.

If you plan on doing home renovations and have not applied for a building permit, you may find that this will cause delays, work that has been completed may be removed and you may even find yourself facing legal action.

Building Permit Applications
As a rule, your contractor will apply for the building permit on your behalf.  But if you are planning on doing your own renovation work, you will have to apply for the building permit yourself.  You can easily do this by going online and downloading the form at http://www.toronto.ca/building/building_permits.htm#permit.  Or you can visit one of four Toronto Building customer service offices, which can be found at the following locations:

• Toronto and East York District – Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West
• North York District – North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street
• Etobicoke York District – Etobicoke, 2 Civic Centre Court
• Scarborough District – Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Drive

The Ontario Building Code requires that all designers provide any pertinent information about themselves and the work that they will be doing for you, including design information, registration and qualification to perform the work required.
There are certain requirements that must be met with any building permit application.  Some of these requirements include, but are not limited to, proper blueprints or plans (done either in metric or imperial, but not both,) and a floor plan, including the location of smoke alarms, ventilation and interior finish materials.
So if you plan on doing any kitchen renovations or any other type of renovations, make sure that you get your building permit, so that you do not encounter any problems down the road.

 

We provide full service for your entire building plan needs. We do everything from the initial measurements to architectural building drawings and obtaining the building permit for your projects.

We can answer all your questions about the entire project to make the planning process simple and easy.

We also provide stunning, eye-catching architectural rendering that will bring all the life and excitement to your project. We offer the highest quality architectural renderings to diversified base of clientele using Autodesk 3ds Max, Adobe Photoshop and others.

We offer single or combination of these services...
- Architectural Realistic Renderings
- 3D Floor Plans
- Virtual Tours

 

Advice for Garage Builders in Toronto

If you are planning on adding a garage on to your property and live in Toronto, you will need to make sure that you have the proper building permits before you begin construction.  It is a simple process to apply for a building permit.  All you have to do is visit one of the four Toronto Building locations, or go online to download the forms.

When you are planning to add a garage onto your property, you need to make sure that the construction will fall within all of the rules and regulations of the city, and that it stays within a specific size.  Once your plans are approved, you can start building or your contractor can begin the work, whichever way you are planning on.

Choosing a Contractor
If you are going to hire a contractor for your garage-building job, there are a few things that you need to know.  First of all, you need to shop around for the best person to do the job.  Ask contractors about their rates for both labor and materials, and about the types of products that they use.  Ask to see photos of other work that they have done, and also ask for references so you can see how others like their work.

Tips for Building a Brick Garage
One of the easiest types of structures to build is one made from bricks.  And these structures are extremely durable and long-lasting when built properly.  If you are looking to save money, brick is the way to go, and to save even more money, you may want to consider only making a one-car garage.  Below you will find a few tips for saving money when building a brick garage (and remember not to begin any work until you have the proper building permit.)

Unless your garage is going to be attached to your home or you plan on storing expensive or classic automobiles in it, it isn’t always necessary to use insulation.  After all, you won’t be living there, only your car will and maybe a few tools and other odds and ends.  If you do want to have insulation, you can install half-wall insulation, which is still less expensive than full insulation.

Look into getting many of your supplies from demolition sites and other such areas.  You can get some great deals on many items, including doors and windows that are in excellent condition.  Sometimes, you can even get these items for free.  This is a great way for garage builders to save money and still have a great-looking garage, complete with windows.

Do you really need a floor?  If it isn’t overly important to you, there really is no need to pour a concrete floor in a brick garage.  As long as the structure has the right kind of foundation, a dirt floor will do absolutely fine, unless of course you have an antique automobile or something equally valuable.

No matter what type of garage you decide to build, just make sure that you know what you are doing or have hired a capable contractor for the job.  And don’t forget to get your permit.

 

Architectural Drawings and Your Home Improvement Project

Whenever you have a home improvement project, whether it be a renovation, remodel, addition or more, you have to start with finding the right contractor, but there is another step that you will have to take before a single hammer is lifted and before the first delivery of materials.  You and your contractor will have to look at and agree on architectural drawings so that you know what you should be expecting and the plans can be made accordingly.

The Three-Dimensional Vision of Your Dreams

Architectural drawings are the starting point of your project.  The contractor can look at this drawing and get an idea of how much of each type of material needs to be ordered and how much they will all cost.  But these drawings can also be helpful to you as well, by allowing you to get a rough idea of what your finished addition or room will look like.  Having this vision in mind may make it easier to come up with the finishing touches that you would like to have for this project.

Finding a Professional for These Drawings

In some cases, you may need a professional architect to get your architectural drawing completed, but in other cases, you may find that your contractor can do this step himself.  There are some who use specialized computer programs that allow for these “drawings” even if they do not have any of the technical skills for doing them.  A contractor who can use these programs has an advantage because he can see beyond what is flat on the paper and can see beyond what is suggested by the computer program.  Remember, what works on paper and in theory does not always work well for real life.

If you already know a contractor, you should start with finding out what they recommend for your plans - will he do the plans with the computer program himself or will he send you to a professional architect to get the plans drawn up that way?

Looking for Professionalism and Expertise

If you do need to go to a professional architect, it is likely that you will be looking for someone in the local area.  Starting with a professional referral can give you a listing of the names to look at first; however, if you have not found any professionals who can refer you to an architect, you may have to seek the advice of other sources.  A professional services finding service, typically located online, can be very beneficial and will save you from having to make countless phone calls.

When you are discussing the rates and terms with the architect, make careful note of how you are being treated - you want to be included in the process or you will not be happy with the final results.  After all, it is not the architect’s home, it is yours.  You know how you will want to be using this room and what the final vision will be.  Make sure that the architectural drawing will reflect that vision.