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Home > City Hall > Departments > Building Standards > Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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Building permits
Zoning services
Inspection services
 

Building permits

Where do I go to apply for a building permit?

To apply for a building permit, please bring all required documents (outlined for your specific project) to the Building Standards department at Vaughan City Hall, 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr., Level 100.

What are the Building Standards department’s regular business hours?

The business hours of the Building Standards department are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

When is a building permit not required?

A building permit is required before starting many construction or demolition projects, but not all of them. Here is a list of projects that do not require a building permit. To be absolutely sure your project does not require a permit, please contact the Building Standards department for clarification.

Can I do my own drawings for permit applications?

Yes. Under the Ontario Building Code there is an exemption for the owner to create their own drawings, provided the design falls within the scope of Division C part 9. However, if the drawings are below standard or missing information, the owner will be asked to complete them or hire a designer who carries the qualifications as required by the Ontario Building Code.

I am moving to a new house and wish to do construction work to it. Can I apply for my building permit before taking ownership?

No. You must be the owner of the house before applying for a building permit. If you have bought a house that is in mid-project construction from the previous owner, then you must apply to transfer the permit from the previous owner to yourself.

How long is my permit valid?

You have six months after the permit is issued to start construction and have an inspection completed on your project or the permit may be revoked as per section 8 of the Building Code Act. Once the first inspection is completed, the permit will not expire, but may be revoked, as per section 8 of the Building Code Act, if construction discontinues for more than one year.

Do I need a permit for landscaping?

Most types of landscaping, such as hedges and patio stones, do not require permits. Structures greater than 10 square metres require a permit.

Do I require a permit for a deck or porch?

A building permit is required for any deck or porch that is 60 centimetres (about 23 inches) or greater above grade, or any deck that is 18.6 square metres (about 200 square feet) or greater in building area. If a deck or porch is attached to an existing structure, it will require a permit regardless of size or height above grade.

Do I need a permit for electrical work?

For electrical permits and information, contact the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) at 1-877-372-7233, the regulatory body responsible for electrical work permits and inspections across Ontario.

How long does it take for a permit to be issued?

A complete building permit application is usually processed within the following number of business days, based on the building classification of the project listed below:
  • Single-family dwellings and other small projects – 10 business days
  • Small buildings other than houses – 15 business days
  • Large buildings – 20 business days
  • Complex buildings – 30 business days
Incomplete applications will not be processed or issued until all zoning and planning approvals and relevant information and all other applicable law requirements are completed. These applications are exempt from the timelines listed above.

Zoning services – general questions

What size shed can I build?

Shed size is dependant on lot frontage and any specific zone requirements that are specific to the property (site-specific by-law), including percentage of coverage. Refer to the residential section for accessory buildings and structures located in the City of Vaughan's Zoning By-law.

What are the setbacks for sheds and decks?

Setbacks are specific to zones and any site-specific exception. Refer to the City of Vaughan Zoning By-law for details. Also, if the property abuts open space conservation lands, refer to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority for any additional restrictions.

I have very little grass in my front yard, can I pave over it?

No. The City of Vaughan Zoning By-law requires that a percentage of the front exterior yard, not including the driveway, remain soft or contain horticultural elements.

What does soft and hard landscaping mean?

Soft landscaping means an area of land made up of trees, shrubs, flowers, grass or other horticultural elements.
 
Hard landscaping means an area of land covered by materials like unit pavers, patio stones, concrete, decorative stonework or other architectural elements designed to enhance the property visually. Hard landscaping of this nature does not include areas devoted to parking areas or driveways.

Is artificial turf considered soft landscaping?

No. Artificial turf is not considered soft landscaping. Soft landscaping must contain natural horticultural elements.

Is a pool considered soft or hard landscaping?

A pool is not considered to be either soft or hard landscaping. Do not include it in your lot coverage calculations.

Zoning services – compliance

How do I request a compliance letter?

To obtain a compliance letter, you can download the Standard Compliance Letter Request Form (PDF). For a paper copy, visit the Building Standards department at Vaughan City Hall, 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr., Level 100.

What information is required for a compliance letter request?

The following information must be included in your request to obtain a compliance report:
  • Municipal address of property
  • Legal description of property
  • Instrument numbers and copies of agreements
  • Vacant land requests require maps and reference plans

Who can request a compliance letter?

  • The owner of the property
  • The solicitor for the vendor
  • The solicitor for the purchaser
  • The tenant, agent or client only if there is authorization from the current owner

How much does a compliance letter request cost?

Please contact the Building Standards department at 905-832-8510 for the current rate. Fees are made payable to the City of Vaughan and are subject to annual changes.

How long does a compliance letter request take to process?

It takes three to five business days to process a compliance letter request.

Can a compliance letter request be fast-tracked?

The City does not offer fast-track service. If the Building Standards department is in possession of the compliance letter for a period of five working days, you may call the department at 905-832-8510 before 11 a.m. and the compliance letter will be processed and faxed on the next working day before 2 p.m.

Will a compliance response give details as to why building permits and/or building code violations are still active on a property?

No. A zoning compliance response will show what is active, but will not disclose these details. This information must be obtained by calling the Building Standards department at 905-832-8511. Staff will notify the appropriate building inspector to follow up with your request or book an inspection of the property.

Do compliance letters disclose any special conditions placed on the property?

Yes. A compliance response will indicate information regarding special conditions such as the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, heritage districts, greenbelt conservation areas, oak ridges moraine and any other special conditions affecting the property you seek information on.

What are the fees for compliance responses that disclose information about each specific unit in a commercial or industrial building or residential condominium?

The Building Standards department charges $148 per unit. Building Standards will grant occupancy certificates based on each specific use within a multi-tenant industrial or commercial building and each individual unit within a residential apartment or condominium complex. 

Does the City charge a separate fee to obtain information regarding the status of subdivision agreements, site plan agreements and other agreements that are submitted along with the original compliance request?

No. These details are included in the standard fee and on the original compliance response as needed.

Zoning services - restrictions

What are Land Titles Section 118 Restrictions?

Section 118 Restrictions prevent the transfer of certain lands without the City’s consent. They are used to fulfill certain conditions under the subdivision agreement before a transfer of land.

Who can make an application to the City to consent to the deletion of a Section 118 Restriction?

The application is to be made by the land owner’s solicitor.

What is the fee?

The City’s fee for providing consent to the deletion of a Section 118 Restriction is $96 per lot or unit. There is no fee required for consents to transfer vacant lands or mortgages. Fees are subject to change annually.

Who registers a Section 118 Restriction?

Restrictions are registered by the developer’s solicitor to the satisfaction of the Building Standards department, upon registration of a plan of subdivision.

How is the City’s consent provided?

It is provided by a fax to the developer’s or builder’s solicitors. This paper consent is the solicitor’s authority to add the proper law statements stating they have been given permission to get the electronic transfer document.

Can a consent be obtained for the deletion of Section 118 Restrictions on residential vacant lands?

The City will not give a consent for the deletion of the restriction until a dwelling has been constructed on the lands and certain conditions under the subdivision agreement have been fulfilled. A consent subject to the continuance of restrictions will be given.

Which conditions need to be fulfilled?

Conditions under the subdivision agreement prior to transfer of land include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Solicitor’s certification of maintenance easements
  • Survey
  • Engineer’s certification for noise, central air-conditioning, acoustic barriers, etc.
  • Ontario Land Surveyor’s certification for location of air conditioning units
  • Occupancy certificate
  • Signed warning clauses by purchaser
  • Restrictive covenants
  • Applicable fees

How is the Section 118 Restriction deleted from a title?

It is deleted by the Land Registry Office upon the certification of a transfer document that contains the required law statement.

How much time is required to process a request for consent?

The City requires five business days to process this request.

Inspection Services

What information do I need when I call to book my inspection?

The following information is needed when requesting an inspection for your project:
  • Building permit number
  • Municipal street address of the project
  • Type of inspection being requested
  • Preferred inspection date
  • Contact name and telephone number of the person meeting the inspector on site for the inspection

Who schedules inspections?

It is the responsibility of the owner or their authorized agent to call and request all required inspections.

When is it time to call for an inspection?

Read more about building inspections to learn about required inspection timelines.

Are specific inspection times available?

Specific inspection times are not provided when an inspection is requested. To request a specific inspection time, contact your inspector between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. on the day of the scheduled inspection to arrange a time.

What is required during the inspection?

The following information is needed on site during all scheduled inspections:
  • All original permit documentation for the inspector on site
  • A City of Vaughan building permit card – the inspector will sign the back of the card at each approved inspection stage

Can copies of permit documentation be provided during inspections?

No. Only original permit documentation is acceptable for inspector reference.

Are there any additional documents required for the inspection?

Additional project-specific documents and reports may be required during inspections. Examples include: professional engineer reports, manufacturer product specifications, CSA approval documents, etc.
Please refer to your permit documents to verify if you require any additional documents for your project. Contact your inspector if you have any further questions relating to this matter.

How do I get a record of the comments from the inspections on my house?

Inspectors can be contacted by calling the Building Standards department at 905-832-8511.

May I plant something other than grass over my on-site sewage system leaching bed?

Yes. You may plant vegetation that has a shallow root system that will not affect the operation of the leaching bed. It is recommended that you call the Building Standards department for guidance.

What should I do if I suspect my on-site sewage system is not working properly?

Notify the Building Standards department if you suspect you have a faulty onsite sewage system.

Does the City of Vaughan have a backflow prevention program?

Yes.  The City has a Backflow Prevention By-law and a Commercial Backflow Prevention Program which will be starting in 2019.
 
Please contact the www.vaughan.ca/waterbackflow for further information.
 

 Contact Information

 

Building Standards​​​

Phone: 905-832-8510
Inspection Services: 905-832-8511
City of Vaughan: 905-832-2281

Fax: 905-832-8558

Email: buildingstandards@vaughan.ca

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location:
Vaughan City Hall, Level 100
2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.
Vaughan, ON  L6A 1T1​​​
 

 Related Links

 
  • Building Standards department
  • By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services
  • City by-laws
  • Development Engineering Services
  • Development Planning
  • Environmental Services department
  • Zoning by-laws
 

 Additional Resources

 
  • Build Right Ontario
  • Code of Conduct for Building Officials (PDF)
  • Fees and Charges By-law 171-2013 (PDF)
  • Ministry of Municipal Affairs
  • Ontario Association of Architects
  • Ontario Building Code
  • Ontario Building Code Act, 1992
  • Ontario Building Officials Association
  • Professional Engineers of Ontario
  • Tarion
  • York Region
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