Building Requirements and Permits

Building Permits

Building Services serves the community by ensuring all construction requiring a building permit, meets the standards set out in the Ontario Building Code (OBC). We review and inspect the project from the permit submission until construction is complete.

2024 Ontario Building Code (OBC) Transition Rules and Applications

Ontario has a new 2024 Building Code which comes into effect January 1, 2025, with a three-month transition period until March 31, 2025 for certain designs that are already underway. The link below is intended to inform and clarify how the Town of Ajax Building Approvals Section will be applying the transition between the current 2012 OBC and the 2024 OBC.

2024 OBC Transition Rules & Applications

All applications for building permits, demolition permits, sign permits, plumbing permits, and alternative solutions can be submitted by emailing: buildingpermits@ajax.ca. While our preference is for email submissions, paper applications for minor construction projects will be accepted by appointment only. The building permit card and approved permit drawings however will be issued electronically.

Please see our online Guides to Building Permits. It shows the application forms, drawings and documents that you need to submit for select types of permit applications. Requirements for new dwellings can be found on the Home and Property Renovations page.

Application Submission

Applicant completes application forms
Applicant submits the completed application forms, drawings, and supporting documentation by emailing: buildingpermits@ajax.ca.
Staff conducts a pre-screen review to confirm the project complies with our submission standards.
Once the submission passes the pre-screen review, it becomes a building permit application. The applicant will receive an email indicating the applicable permit fee and payment instructions. The date of application is the day following the date that the pre-screen review is approved.

Application Review

All plans review and any required resubmissions are conducted electronically.
Plan review comments will be sent to the applicant via email
Applicant resubmits revised plans and documents for further review (until approval)

Approval

The applicant will receive an email notification if there are any fees outstanding, all fees must be paid before the permit can be issued.
The issued building permit card, approved plans, and documents will be emailed to the applicant.
Applicants are responsible for printing the building permit card, and one (1) set of approved plans and documents, printed to scale and in colour for use on site by the building inspector.

Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)

Having a building permit is not the same as filing an electrical notification with the Electrical Safety Authority. You may need both. You can find more information here.

Building Permit Requirements

The requirements for building permits differ based on the type of construction and proposed work. The following documents outline the requirements when applying for a building permit.

Minor Construction

Moderate Construction

Major Construction

Building Permit Applications & Standard Forms

To simplify the building permit process and help applicants submit a complete application the most common forms are provided below:

Building Permit Fees

List of fees for building and demolition permits.
All building permit fees are outlined in Building By-law. Fees are exempt from HST. Fees are due at the time of submitting an application.

Section A: Construction of new buildings, additions to buildings, including mezzanines


Item	Occupancy Classification	Work Description	Multiplier
1	Group A – Assembly	Shell Only⁽¹⁾	$8.69
2		Complete Building (partitioned, finished, mezzanine)	$17.41
3	Group B – Institutional	All Types	$15.80
4	Group C – Residential	Detached, Semi-Detached, Duplex, Triplex, Townhouse	$13.70
		Multiple Unit Buildings (<5 storeys)	$10.98
5		Multiple Unit Buildings (≥5 storeys)	$8.23
6		Motel, Hotel	$13.70
7	Group D – Business and Personal Services	Shell Only⁽¹⁾	$8.69
8		Complete Building (partitioned, finished, mezzanine)	$14.80
9	Group E – Mercantile	Shell Only⁽¹⁾	$8.69
10		Complete Building (partitioned, finished, mezzanine)	$13.74
11	Group F – Industrial	Shell Only⁽¹⁾	$5.99
12		Complete Building (partitioned, finished, mezzanine)	$7.95
13		Unserviced Storage Building	$4.65
14		Parking Garage	$3.70
15		Farm Building	$3.70
16	All Occupancies	Service Floors	$4.23

Section B: Alteration, Repair and Other Structures


Item	Occupancy Classification	Work Description	Multiplier	Flat Fee
17	Group A – Assembly		$8.46
18	Group B – Institutional		$6.66
19	Group C – Residential	Additional Dwelling Unit	$9.32
20		Retrofit Accessory Apartment		$141
21		All other Residential Occupancies	$6.90
22	Group D – Business and Personal Services		$7.50
23	Group E – Mercantile		$5.43
24	Group F – Industrial		$4.40
25	Other Structures	Accessory Utility Building (garden shed, gazebo)		$141
26		Below Grade Entrance		$317
27		Detached or Semi-detached Carport/Garage⁽²⁾		$208
		Deck/Platform/Porch (unenclosed)		$141
		Foundation/Unfinished Basement	$4.23
28		Permanent Tent/Air Supported Structure	$4.23
29		Retaining Wall (per metre of length or part thereof)	$11.63 $823 min.
30		Single, Detached Portable Classroom		$529
31		Temporary Building or Tent⁽³⁾		$529
32		Temporary Sales Structure		$529

Section C: Miscellaneous


Item	Occupancy Classification	Work Description	Multiplier	Flat Fee
33	Residential Service Connections	Service Connection (per lot)		$141
34	Solar Panels	Serving Individual Dwellings		$141
35		Serving all other Buildings		$459
36		Balcony Guard Replacement/Repair (per metre of length)	$1.59
37		Electromagnetic Locking Device (each)		$211/ea. $823 max.
38		Fireplace/Woodstove		$141
39		Parking Structure Repair	$1.06

Classes of Permits and Permit Fees


Item	Class of Permit	By-law Reference	Fee Payable
1.	Building Permit	5.2 Schedule A - Part 2	See Schedule ‘B' - Table 2 Minimum fee payable: Minor Permits - $141 Moderate Permits - $317 Major Permits - $529
2.	Demolition Permit	5.3	$0.25 per square metre of floor area
3.	Permit for a Stage of Construction (Partial Building Permit)	5.4	An amount equal to 10% of the building permit fee for each phase of construction. Minimum fee in accordance with Item 1 of this table Maximum fee is $529 Partial permit fees are non-refundable.
4.	Conditional Building Permit	5.5	An amount equal to 10% of the building permit fee. Minimum fee in accordance with Item 1 of this table Maximum fee is $1058 Conditional permit fees are non-refundable.
5.	Change of Use Permit (No construction proposed)	5.6	$317 flat fee
6.	Site Servicing Permit	5.7	An amount equal to 1.60% of the estimated construction value of the servicing
7.	Signs Permit (regulated by the Building Code)	5.8	$264 per sign
8.	Occupancy Permit for an Unfinished Building	8.4	$529 flat fee

Other Fees


Item	Fee Type	By-law Reference	Fee Payable
9.	Resubmission of application previously found to be incomplete.	5.10	25% of permit fee
10.	Revision to application or permit	8.2	$159 per hour The minimum fee for the review shall be the minimum fee in accordance with Item 1 of this table
11.	Alternative Solution Examination Fee	8.2	$159 per hour (minimum 1 hour for houses, and 4 hours for other buildings). Alternative Solution fees are non-refundable.
12.	Inspection Fee - Additional	8.3	$159 per inspection
13.	Permit Surcharge	8.5	The greater of: Surcharge of 25% of the permit fee when construction has begun and a permit application has been received; Surcharge of 50% of permit fee when construction has begun and no permit application has been received, or Minimum fee in accordance with Item 1 of this table
14.	Registration and/or Discharge of an Order on/from Title	8.6	$317 flat fee (each)
15.	Transfer of Permit	10	$141 flat fee
16.	Spatial Separation Agreement	14	$317 flat fee

Security Deposit may be requested by Engineering Services for residential buildings with excavation works. Please contact EngineeringServices@ajax.ca for further information.

Development Charges

Building Statement of Activities

Statement of Activities report

Non-Residential Building Permits

The following information is required when submitting a permit application for a non-residential building.

Designer Requirements

All construction drawings for the permit application are required to be prepared by a qualified designer, architect, professional engineer, or a combination thereof, depending on the building description and scope of work.

The OBC requires qualified and registered designers who review and take responsibility for design activities to include the following information on any documents submitted to the Chief Building Official:

The name and building code identification number (BCIN) of the registered firm.
A statement that the qualified person has reviewed and taken responsibility for the design activities.
The name and BCIN of the qualified person.
The signature of the qualified person.
Completed Schedule 1 – Designer Information form

The OBC specified when a project is required to be designed and reviewed by an architect, professional engineer, or both. When the construction requires an architect and/or professional engineer the person retained is responsible for the following:

Commitment to General Review by Architect or Professional Engineer form
Ensure design and construction is in accordance with the performance standards of the Ontario Association of Architects or the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario.
Determine whether the construction is in general conformity with the plans, drawings, graphic representations, specifications and other documents, including revisions.
Provide copies of written reports arising out of the general review to the Chief Building Official.

Drawing Requirements

Depending on the construction project different permit requirements apply. Refer to the Building Permit Requirements to find out what is needed for the building permit submission.