Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I go to apply for a building permit?

You can apply for a building permit through the Online Permitting Portal. If you require assistance please contact the Building Standards department at 905-832-8510 or by email at buildingstandards@vaughan.ca.

Please note, that as of January 1, 2021, we will no longer be accepting paper applications.

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

Business hours 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 and/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 by phone at 905-832-8510 or by email at buildingstandards@vaughan.ca.

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 B 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. Once construction commences, the permit will not expire, although, it can still 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 an uncovered deck?

A building permit is not required for an uncovered deck maximum 18.6 square metres (about 200 square feet), not exceeding 0.6 metres (about 23.6 inches) above grade and not attached to an existing structure. If an uncovered deck is attached to an existing structure, it will require a permit regardless of size or height, above grade.

Although a building permit may not be required for an uncovered deck, the deck is still required to meet the City of Vaughan Zoning By-law.

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 ESA is 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 – 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 along with all other relevant information and applicable law requirements are completed. These applications are exempt from the timelines listed above.

Zoning Services

For General Questions email zoninginfo@vaughan.ca

What size shed can I build?

Shed size is dependent 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 (TRCA) 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.

How do I apply for driveway widening and curb cuts?

Driveway widths and curb cuts are controlled by the City of Vaughan's Zoning By-Law 1-88 (PDF).

To widen a driveway or obtain a curb cut, submit an application to the Transportation Services, Parks and Forestry Operations Roads division. For further information, view the Curb Cut and Driveway Widening Application Process and Information Brochure (PDF).

For information about the width allowed for a driveway widening or curb cut, please contact the Building Standards department at 905-832-8510 and request to speak to a Zoning Plans Examiner.

On-lot parking

If driveway widening is not an option or the driveway is already at the maximum width permitted under the City’s Zoning By-law, parking might be allowed on a portion in front of a home, on hard landscaping or next to a driveway.

On-lot parking is only allowed on properties with lot frontages that measure six metres (about 19.6 feet) or greater. Soft landscaping requirements will still apply.

Questions about on-lot parking requirements for a property should be directed to the Building Standards department at 905-832-8510. Request to speak to a Zoning Plans Examiner.

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, nor is a pool iincluded 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). To submit the request form, please send the completed compliance letter, along with the compliance fee, by cheque, made payable to the City of Vaughan, to 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, required 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 long does a compliance letter request take to process?

It takes 3 to 5 business days to process a compliance letter request.

Can a compliance letter request be fast-tracked?

The City does not offer fast-track service for compliance letters.

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 905-832-8510 or by email at zoninginfo@vaughan.ca. If an inspection is required, an appointment can be scheduled with a building inspector.

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 (TRCA), 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 a fee per unit, as updated. 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 based on our

current fee schedule 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 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 5 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

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

or by email at buildingstandards@vaughan.ca.

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 at 905-832-8511 or by email at buildingstandards@vaughan.ca.

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 by phone at 905-832-8510 or by email at buildingstandards@vaughan.ca.

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.

Please contact the Environmental Services Department 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