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Building permits in Toronto cover you to ensure your construction projects are safe, legal, and insured. However, negotiating which kind of projects need a permit can be a minefield.

Ontario has some of the most robust building regulations in Canada. If you’re considering a bathroom renovation in Toronto, here’s all you need to know about whether you need a permit and what you’re covered for.

Do you need a permit to renovate your bathroom?

Bathroom renovations can add space and functionality to your home, whether adding a new bathroom space or remodelling what you already have. Before starting your project, you’ll need to assess whether you need a building permit for the renovations you have in mind.

All renovation work must meet safety standards and comply with local regulations and building codes. Failure to comply could result in you being subjected to inspections, delays, and heavy fines.

So, how do you know if you need to apply for a permit to renovate your bathroom?

As a rule of thumb, renovations that lead to structural changes require a permit. This includes plumbing and electrical works related to bathtubs, showers, sinks, toilets, and any wall changes. So, if your bathroom renovation involves a change in the layout, you will need to contact the local building department at the local authority to apply for a permit.

However, you do not need a permit if your renovation doesn’t involve structural changes. So, suppose you’re sticking to cosmetic modifications, such as replacing the floor, painting, re-tiling, or replacing taps and other fixtures and fittings. In that case, you can begin without contacting your local authority.

Changes that require a permit

If you’re making changes to your bathroom within the city of Toronto, these are the times when you need to apply for a permit:

·         Structural alterations—If you’re making structural alterations, such as adding or removing walls or changing the size of doors and windows, this includes changing the size or layout of the bathroom and making changes, such as replacing a shower unit with a bathtub.

·         Pluming and heating – Any changes to your plumbing and heating systems or installing a new one.

·         Backwater valves – If you’re installing a backwater valve

·         Change of Use – If your renovation changes the use of space and rooms, such as changing a utility room into an additional bathroom.

Changes that don’t require a permit

Meanwhile, cosmetic changes that don’t change the layout or size of a room or changes to the walls, doors, windows, or plumbing don’t require a building permit.

These include:

·         Insulation – Adding or replacing old insulation.

·         Fixtures and fittings – Replacing or repairing plumbing fixtures and fittings, such as taps and plugs.

·         Cabinets – Attaching bathroom cabinets to walls.

·         Tanks – Installing hot water tanks and pumps.

What does a building permit cover?

Building permits cover different things depending on where you live. In Ontario, building permits are approved by the local authority and are usually valid for six months. They allow you to begin a construction project that makes physical alterations to the structure of the building.

This includes new constructions and demolitions of buildings or walls.

The permit shows that your renovation plans comply with all local regulations and are safe and legal. It ensures the integrity of the works and keeps everyone involved in the build safe from home. Anyone in Ontario can begin projects themselves so long as they’re working on their own property, regardless of their qualifications. Still, many individuals may prefer to use the services of professional contractors.

Ontario building codes

The Ontario Building Code came into effect in 1976 and has undergone several revisions since as techniques and technologies have progressed.

Whether amateur or professional, everyone participating in a renovation must follow standards to safeguard homeowners and the local authority. This demonstrates Ontario’s commitment to safe construction practices.

Separate permits may be required for specialised workers, such as plumbers, electricians, and heating engineers, to ensure they are certified to undertake the work safely and meet local regulatory standards. In addition, while the Ontario Building Code is usually needed for any kitchen renovations, that isn’t necessarily the case for bathroom works.

Performing work without a permit can have significant consequences. The permit system isn’t optional in Ontario; it’s a legal requirement. Failure to get a permit when required can lead to complications if you try to sell your home, invalidate your home insurance cover, and compromise safety.

Why you need a permit for bathroom renovations

Ensuring you begin your renovation project with the correct permits and licences ensures that you safeguard your home’s look and meet all regulatory and legal requirements. This helps to ensure your home’s value is protected.

Getting a permit for your bathroom renovation also safeguards you against legal challenges later and the hassle of undoing or redoing work following inspections from the local authority.

When do you need to obtain a permit?

You should obtain your permit before any construction work begins, especially any plumbing, electrical, or structural work.

Apply to your local authority, and the building department will review your plans in detail during the application process. Once they’ve reviewed your plans and asked any questions they need to, they’ll give you the green light to proceed. At this stage, you can begin the work.

Smaller projects typically see permits granted in about five business days, while larger projects can take up to a month to gain approval. So, leave yourself enough time for the application process before you want to begin work.

Who will handle my bathroom renovation permit?

If you’re handling the renovation yourself, you must apply for a permit from the local authority. If you have professional contractors supporting your project, they may help you navigate the application process or handle the permit yourself.

Others, meanwhile, may leave the entire process to you. So, it is crucial to understand when you need a permit for your bathroom renovation and how to apply.

Don’t get caught out; get your Ontario building permit

Undertaking a bathroom renovation that changes your bathroom’s size, layout, and plumbing requires you to get a building permit. As well as safeguarding the quality of your build by ensuring it complies with all local building regulations, having a permit can also add value to your home.

A bathroom renovation without a building permit could invalidate your home insurance, jeopardise any future sale, and potentially lead to fines.

So, if you want to undertake a bathroom renovation, get your building permit first.

 

 

Wintertime can prove harsh on your home. From the exterior being battered by the rugged Canadian climate to short days making interior projects last longer than needed, the summer is the perfect time to refresh your home.

Here are some of the best home improvement projects to tackle this summer, taking advantage of longer days and the holiday season and ensuring your home is ship-shape and watertight ahead of fall and winter.

Check your walls and basement for leaks

The dryer weather is the perfect time to check your home for signs of leaks or water damage in your exterior walls and basement. With the Canadian winter climate offering plenty of dampness, it’s easy for moisture to get into the walls and basement, potentially causing severe damage.

Cracks in your walls and water in the basement after a dry spell can be signs of water damage. Waterproofing your exterior walls and basement is a summer home improvement activity that is more expensive than others but can be a wise investment in the longer term.

Renovate your bathroom

Further upstairs in your home, summer is also the ideal time to renovate your bathroom, with the warmer, dryer weather particularly helpful. Project times are shorter than during the winter due to the longer daylight hours that allow for extended work hours. At the same time, higher temperatures also help paint, adhesives, grout, and sealant dry faster.

Indeed, you can also take advantage of the holiday season by booking your renovation project while you’re on vacation to minimise disruption to your everyday life and avoid the upheaval of being without washing facilities during the hot, sticky summer and living among a dusty construction site.

Pressure wash your walls and yard

Winter weather is rarely kind to outdoor areas, with dirt, grime, and debris scattered across your home’s exterior walls and yards. Summer is ideal for grabbing your pressure washer or hiring one for a few hours if you don’t own one and thoroughly cleaning your external brickwork, pathways, and terraces.

Remember to aim the nozzle downwards when cleaning external walls to prevent water from entering cracks or seams in the house. If using a pressure washer on more delicate surfaces that could be damaged, such as painted walls or wooden decking, use a lower pressure setting to avoid damage.

Declutter your home

There’s nothing new about spring cleaning, thoroughly cleaning your house from floor to ceiling and decluttering as you go. However, delaying a couple of months to clear your home of unnecessary items you no longer need or use means you can get outside and tackle your shed, basement, and garage.

Clearing your home of clutter gives it a much-needed lift, almost as good as a fresh coat of paint, and, best of all, it costs absolutely nothing. Indeed, it could even make you money if you sell things you no longer need on eBay or hold a yard sale, giving you money to put toward your next home improvement job.

Uplift your house’s aesthetic appeal with a new paint job

While taking a paintbrush to your home’s interior can be a job for any time of the year, bigger paint jobs, such as re-touching or completely repainting the exterior walls, are one for the longer summer days.

While the better weather makes summer the perfect time to work outdoors, the higher temperatures can help transform your walls, using the adage “less is more” by allowing the paint to cure correctly and last longer.

And if you want to take advantage of a top tip, painting at least part, if not all, of your house white can help make it look bigger, brighter, and more attractive to passersby.

Re-stain and re-finish outdoor wood

Pressure washing your exterior wooden items, such as fences, sheds, and decking, can help remove debris and stains, yet there’s nothing like a fresh coat of creosote or varnish to freshen them up.

While re-staining and re-finishing your decking, outhouses, and fences will make your exterior wood look as good as new, it also reduces cracks and splinters, making them friendlier to the skin when you touch them.

Clean the wood and sand off the old, tired finish before applying the new coat. Not only will everything look beautiful and perfect for entertaining during the summer, but it will also weatherproof the wood for the harsh winter climate.

Get landscaping

There’s nothing better than spending time outside, soaking up the sun and enjoying the beautiful weather. So, why not spend some time taking on simple, cheap DIY improvements to your front yard or back garden to make you want to spend time outside?

Remove weeds, trim back foliage, re-soil flower beds, repot plants, refresh gravel areas, and remove dead plants, shrubs, or trees to increase the appeal of your outdoor spaces for you, your family, and people passing by.

Adding colour is a great way of elevating your outdoor spaces to the next level, and adding some gorgeous patio furniture doesn’t have to break the bank while giving you somewhere to sit and admire the beauty of your little natural oasis.

Clean your windows

Modern methods have made cleaning windows easier than ever before. You no longer have to brave heights while climbing ladders to reach upstairs; instead, you can clean your exterior windows with several novel new methods.

Extendable poles are a great way of reaching high-up spaces. Alternatively, invest in magnetic or robotic window cleaners to remove the danger. You’ll immediately feel the benefit of crystal-clean windows, boosting your home’s curb appeal and allowing more natural light to flow into your indoor spaces.

After the long, hard months of a Canadian winter, taking time during the summer to take on renovation and home improvement jobs can make a massive difference to you and your home.

While your house benefits from improved curb appeal, attracting admiring glances from onlookers and neighbours, you can reap the benefits of having a home that’s not only standing proud during long, bright summer days but is also winter-ready.