Building and Renovating

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If you are considering doing work to your home, or property, the Town offers many services to help you get the job done right. The links on the left provide detailed advice on the Town processes to get your project approved. Many homeowner projects do not require a building permit. 

To view a more complete list of minor construction work that is exempt from a permit, visit our web page Work Exempt from Building Permits.

Although a building permit may not be required, there may be other approvals needed for your project. The following is a list of work that may need special approvals even though a building permit is not required;

• Air-conditioners located in a front yard or an exterior corner lot side yard
• Planning permission from the Town
• Boulevard work or landscaping between your property and the street
  • Condo Board approval if your boulevard is within a condominium
  • Builder/Developer approval if your subdivision is unassumed
  • Public Works approval if your subdivision is assumed
• Driveway widening or adding a second entrance to your property
  • Condo Board approval if your driveway is within a condominium
  • Builder/Developer approval if your driveway is within an unassumed subdivision
  • Public Works approval if your driveway is within an assumed subdivision
  • Ministry of Transportation (MTO) highway approval if your driveway is onto a Provincial highway
  • Regional approval if your driveway is onto a Regional road
• Electrical Work
  • Obtain an Electrical Safety Authority permit
• Fence construction
• Zoning check by the Town's Planning Division (recommended)
• Condo Board approval if your property is not free-hold
• Builder/Developer approval if your subdivision is unassumed
• MTO highway approval if your property touches a Provincial highway
• Call Ontario One Call before you dig any post holes
• Retaining walls less than 1 metre in height
  • Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) or Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) conservation approval if your proposed retaining wall is near or on flood prone land
  • Site alteration check by the Town's Engineering Division (recommended)
  • Condo Board approval if your property is not free-hold
  • Builder/Developer approval if your subdivision is unassumed
  • MTO highway approval if your property touches a provincial highway
• Sheds that are less than 10 m²
  • Zoning check by the Town's Planning Division (recommended)
  • TRCA or LSRCA conservation approval if your shed is near or on flood prone land
  • Condo Board approval if your property is not free-hold
  • Builder/Developer approval if your subdivision is unassumed
  • MTO highway approval if your property touches a provincial highway
  • Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) approval for electrical work
  • Call Ontario One Call before you dig any foundations
• Solar collectors mounted on the ground that generate more than 10kw
  • Renewable Energy Approval from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE)
  • Call Ontario One Call before you dig any foundations
• Wood deck construction less than 600mm above ground
  • TRCA or LSRCA conservation approval if your shed is near or on flood prone land
  • Condo Board approval if your property is not free-hold
  • Builder/Developer approval if your subdivision is unassumed
  • MTO highway approval if your property touches a Provincial highway
  • Call Ontario One Call before you dig 

If you are unsure whether your project needs certain permits or approvals, just contact us. We are here to help.

Landowner Environmental Assistance Program

The Landowner Environmental Assistance Program (LEAP) provides landowners with funding and technical assistance for environmental projects on their land. LEAP is administered by the LSRCA and made possible by funding from municipal partners and the support of the York, Durham, and Simcoe chapters of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Click here for more information.