Building Permits

Contact us to make sure that your proposed building project meets all regulations outlined in the Zoning By-law:

• 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:

• Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority
• Town of Whitby Heritage
• Contact Town of Whitby Engineering
• Ministry of Transportation
• Region of Durham
• Electrical Safety Authority

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

Brief description of building permit types

• 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)
• Plumbing, drains and heating systems
• 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
• ADU - Additional Dwelling Unit
  
• Change of use
• Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) new builds, alterations and interior fit-ups

For all other questions about building permits or additional building permits, please contact us.

To apply for a Building Permit, the following mandatory documents must be included:

1. Application to Construct or Demolish Form
   
2. Schedule 1: Designer Information Form(s)
   
3. Architectural drawings/documents

In addition to the mandatory documents, you may also need to provide:

• Letter of Authorization
• CLOCA Permit
• Region of Durham Health Department (Septic System)
• Grading, Servicing and Drainage Permit from Engineering (GSDP)
• A Commitment to General Review by Architects and Engineers

Technical drawings/documents that might apply to your project:

• Grading Plan
• Structural drawings
• Engineered Floor/Roof drawings
• HVAC drawings/documents

If you are unsure which documents are required for your Building Permit application, please refer to the Documentation Required when Applying for a Building Permit. 

For further clarification, please contact us.

Important: Incomplete submissions may delay the entire approval process.

Fees

Building permit fees depend on the nature of your project. Please review the building permit fees for detailed information.

For E-Portal and email applications, payment can be made with a credit card.

For total fees exceeding $20,000, payment must be by cheque in person.

Please Note: Beginning July 28, 2025, email applications will only be accepted for the following permit types: Demolitions, Partial Occupancy, Revisions to Residential Permits and Signs. All other Residential Permits Applications must be submitted through the E-Portal.

The Town of Whitby accepts Residential Building Permit applications through the following methods:

• E-Portal
  
• Email
• In-person (printed document)

While all three methods are acceptable, the Town strongly recommends the use of E-Portal as the preferred method.

Please note that Non-Residential Building Permit applications must be submitted in person. These applications require a visit to the Building Services Division for pre-screening and submission. Applications for Pre-Approved Models (PAM) for Subdivisions are available through the E-Portal. However, Building Subdivision House (BSH) applications must still be submitted in person at the Building Services Division.

The following table highlights the options on how to apply for a Residential Building Permit:

Before submitting your application, please review the E-Portal Submission Standards or Electronic Building Permit Submission Standards (email). These documents explain how to properly prepare your digital documents and drawings.

When uploading documents to the E-Portal or sending files via email, the Town requests your assistance in adopting a standardized file naming convention. This will help streamline the review process and minimize the risk of misplaced information.  Please refer to the File Naming Convention document for more information.

Brief description of building permit types

Building Permit Application Options

Option 1 - E-Portal Submission (Pre-screening)

You can upload all required documents and drawings through the E-Portal. Your application will undergo a pre-screening process. Once approved, instructions for the next steps, along with the invoice to make a payment via credit card will be provided via email.

Option 2 - Email Submission (Pre-screening)

You can submit your documents and drawings via email. Your application will undergo a pre-screening process. Once approved, instructions for the next steps, along with the invoice to make a payment via credit card will be provided via email.

Option 3 - Paper Submission (Pre-screening)

For Non-residential Building Permit Applications and subdivisions, submit your application in person for pre-screening to: 

Town of Whitby – Building Services Division
3050 Garden St. Unit 102
Whitby, ON L1R 2G7

The Town of Whitby accepts Pre-Approved Model (PAM) submissions through the E-Portal, streaming the process and improving efficiency for developers.

It is important to clarify that PAM's are not building permits but rather submissions intended to facilitate the application for Building Subdivision Houses (BSH) permits.

To apply for a PAM in the E-Portal, log in and click on the "New Pre-Approved Model" button.

Requirements for Pre-Approved Model Submission

• A valid Subdivision or Site Plan Number
• A valid Builder License Number (Tarion)
• All required documentation as outlined in the Pre-Approved Model (PAM) Submissions through E-Portal guidelines.

Accepted Dwelling Types for PAM Submissions

• Semi-Detached
• Semi-Detached - ADU
• Single Detached
• Single Detached - ADU
• Street Townhouse

Project Information

As part of the PAM submission, the applicant must select from the applicable design variants (options) listed below:

• Elevations (up to a maximum of 4 elevations are accepted)
• Upgraded Elevations
• Walk-Out Basement Option
• Look-Out Basement Option
• Deck Option
• Opt. 9’ Ceiling Height
• Opt. 10’ Ceiling Height
• Opt. Finished Basement Area
• Below Grade Entrance
• Opt. Additional Bedroom (ground/second floor only)
• Other Options (Specify)

Required Documentation

The following documents must be uploaded for all PAM submissions:

• Schedule 1
• Architectural drawings
• Engineered Floor drawings
• Engineered Roof drawings
• HVAC drawings
• Energy Efficiency Design Summary form

Note: Engineered Roof drawings are not mandatory for Street Townhouses.