Building Permits

Construction or demolition projects may require building permit applications, sign permit applications, permit fees and or returnable fees.

With respect to building permits, the Building Standards department offers:

Before making a building permit application, make sure the proposal complies with the City of Vaughan Zoning By-laws.

When building permits are not required

In general, the following projects do not require a building permit:

Constructing a detached accessory building less than 10 square metres (about 107 square feet) on the property that does not contain plumbing
A shed is exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit under section 8 of the Act and is exempt from compliance with this code, provided that the shed,
- is not more than 15 square metres in gross area
- is not more than one storey in building height
- is not attached to a building or any other structure
- is used only for storage purposes ancillary to principal building on the lot, and
- does not have plumbing
Building 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. Although a building permit may not be required for the uncovered deck, the deck is still required to meet the City of Vaughan Zoning By-law
Damp-proofing basements
Replacing existing plumbing fixtures
Replacing an existing furnace or adding air-conditioning units
Conducting electrical projects (inspected through the Electrical Safety Authority)
Replacing kitchen or bathroom cupboards and counter tops
Painting and decorating
Replacing existing windows and doors
Replacing roofing or shingles
Building retaining walls less than one metre (about 39.3 inches) in height
Constructing sidewalks, planters or interlocking patio stones

For clarification, contact the Building Standards department at 905-832-8510 or read the frequently asked questions.