Building Permits

The following information is designed to assist homeowners with building or home renovation projects. To ensure that your project aligns with all regulations, please review our Zoning By-law and the Ontario Building Code (OBC).

Before you apply

If your project does not comply with the Zoning By-law, you may be required to apply for a minor variance.
If your property is in an area subject to site plan control, you may have to submit an application for site plan approval.

Depending on the nature of your building project, you may need to consult one or more of these agencies to get approval before you apply:

Apply for a building a permit

What projects require a building permit?

The following is a list of typical projects that require a building permit:

New homes
Additions
Decks greater than 24” above grade
New fireplaces
Completion of roughed-in fireplaces
Porches
Sunrooms
Finished Basements
Carports
Garages (attached or detached)
Dormers
Plumbing and/or drains
New, replacement or repair of private sewage systems
Structural alterations (i.e., adding windows or doors)
Adding or removing walls
Basement or main floor walkouts
Accessory apartments
Change of use

If you're unsure if you require a building permit, please contact us.

What to include with your application

Along with a complete application, you'll need to submit:

Appropriate fee
A Letter of Authorization (if your not the property owner)
A Commitment to General Review by Architects and Engineers (if applicable)

Drawings

You will need to include two (2) copies of the OBC compliant drawings for residential projects or three (3) copies of the OBC compliant drawings for all non-residential projects, which may include the following:

Architectural
Structural (if applicable)
Mechanical (if applicable)
Electrical (if applicable)

If you are not sure what type of drawings to submit with the building permit application, please contact us. If you do not submit the proper drawings this can delay the entire approval process.

Fees

Depending on the nature of your project, please review the building permit fees for a complete list of fees. We accept payment by cheque. Please make all cheques payable to the Town of Whitby.

Please contact us should you require further information.

Mail the complete building permit application along with the supporting documents and fee to:

Town of Whitby Building Division
575 Rossland Rd E
Whitby, ON L1N 2M8

If you can't mail your application, you can contact us to book an appointment to apply in person at 3050 Garden St., Unit 102 or you can use the drop box outside Town Hall located at 575 Rossland Rd. E.

Due to the pandemic, a permit application may take longer to process. Our staff is working hard to accommodate requests in a timely manner.

Approval process

When all requirements have been met, we'll contact you to let you know we've issued the building permit. You have a choice of either picking up the permit or having it mailed to you. Please call 905.430.4305 to book an appointment if you'd like to pick up the building permit.

Book an inspection

Fill out the Building Inspection Request form to book an inspection. The following information will be required:

Building permit number and the site address
Type of inspection requested
Site contact name and phone number

If your request is received by 3 p.m., the inspection can be scheduled for the next business day.