Building permits

• any structure occupying an area greater than 10 m² (108 sq. ft.) consisting of a wall, roof or floor, or a structural system, including all plumbing, works, fixtures and service systems that lead to or services that structure
• any structure occupying an area of 10 m² (108 sqft) or less that contains plumbing, including the plumbing that lead to or services that structure
• any addition to an existing building
• any form of plumbing whether in a structure or not
• replacement of a fire alarm panel or control unit
• a sewage or septic system
• "designated" structures as per the Ontario Building Code; (Division A-1.3.1.1)
• any alterations to an existing building which affect the structural design of the building including mechanical, electrical*, plumbing services (no limit on size of building), fire separations, egress (exits), fire protection/suppression systems and/or changing the use of buildings or parts of a building
• adding an additional dwelling unit 

*Note: Contact the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) for electrical permit information.

• decks attached to a building regardless of height
• interior structural alterations
• adding or removing most walls, (creating different room sizes and/or uses)
• porches
• basement or main floor walkout alterations
• sunrooms, solariums
• replacement of brick veneer
• carports, attached or detached garages, sheds
• dormers or finishing of attic space
• installation of irrigation systems
• additions
• installation, repair of storm, sanitary and water service
• finishing a basement or a portion thereof
• furnace and ductwork replacements
• installation of plumbing cleanouts
• conversion from septic to sanitary sewer
• plumbing and/or drains (except replacing fixtures)
• insulating exterior walls when exterior or interior cladding is removed
• new or structural alterations to windows or doors
• installation or repair of private sewer systems and water service
• backflow preventers for lawn irrigation systems
• structural work related to fire damage

• fences (other than for swimming pools)
• asphalt roof shingling
• eaves troughs
• minor repairs to masonry
• damp proofing basements
• air conditioning units or heat pumps added to existing forced-air systems
• kitchen or bathroom cupboards without plumbing
• free-standing satellite dishes
• replace existing forced-air furnace (no duct work alterations)
• replacing siding or windows (provided there are no structural changes)
• pool heaters
• painting and decorating
• landscaping

Demolition permits are required for all buildings greater than 10 square metres (108 square feet), with the exception of farm buildings.

There are five steps to apply for a demolition permit: 

1. Complete  a required clearances for demolition permit form
2. Complete  the application for a permit to construct or demolish
3. Complete  the  undertaking damage to City property form
4. Prepare and submit a letter from the registered owner describing the building to be demolished (Including building use, structural characteristics of the building, and floor area being demolished)
5. Submit the permit fee (see fee schedule for current rates)

To request forms, please email building@london.ca.   

If you are applying for a building permit to resolve an emergency plumbing issue in a single detached dwelling or row townhouse (i.e. a water service repair or installation, sanitary sewer repair or installation etc.), please make sure that  you include emergency plumbing repair in the description of proposed work field  on the application form.  

We will strive to issue the permit the same day the application is received. (Provided all applicable fees have been paid and applicable law has been complied with)

• change of use (where construction is proposed or the change constitutes an increase in the hazard index)
• interior renovations within a floor area affecting fire separations, exits or structural capacity
• interior finishing of shell buildings for tenants (occupancies in commercial or industrial malls and office buildings, etc.)
• fire and water damage affecting interior renovations within a floor area affecting fire separations, exits or structural capacity
• additions to any building having a combined area of 10m² (108 sq. ft.) or more
• installations and major alterations of sprinkler, standpipe, fire alarm or mechanical (HVAC) systems
• plumbing installation and alterations, except replacement of fixtures
• installation or replacement of storm and sanitary sewers, water service (catch basins, weeping tile, clean-outs, change from septic system to sewers)
• installation and repairs to sewage systems (septic systems and holding tanks)
• installation of backflow preventers
• retaining walls exceeding 1 metre (3 ft.- 3 inches) in exposed height adjacent to public property, to an access to a building, or on private property to which the public is admitted
• tents greater than 60 m² (645 sq. ft.)​

Submission of revisions or additional information for a building permit application must be sent to the following email address revisions@london.ca. The subject line must include the municipal address and permit application number.

Please note that the plans must be arranged and named as follows:

• Architectural
• Structural
• Mechanical  - including HVAC and Plumbing
• Electrical -  including fire alarm information
• Sprinkler

All PDF plans must be unlocked so our review stamp can be added to them.

All submissions, for each category above must be in a single PDF file (addressing all deficiency items). Submitting revisions that address only certain items in the deficiency notice will result in delays.

For new residential (single/semi/townhouses) erects, inspectors will call the site contact number to indicate an approximate time of arrival.    The site contact will be advised to ensure that ALL persons in the building (including attached garages) are to vacate.  Upon arrival at the site, prior to entering the building, the inspector will be expecting to find the building completely vacant.  Three phone call attempts will be made within a 15 minute timeframe.   Failure to make contact will result in the inspector attending and advising that the building be vacated.   The site contact will be advised by the inspector that for subsequent inspections, it is expected that they monitor their phone and answer the inspector’s incoming call to ensure the building is vacated prior to the inspection.  

For inspections where no site contact is available:  

For new residential (single/semi/townhouses) erects,  the inspector will arrive and announce their arrival so that the building can be vacated. The inspector will return to his/her vehicle and allow 10 minutes for the building to be vacated.   If, after 10 minutes, there is evidence that the building has not been vacated, the inspector will leave without conducting the inspection and enter a ‘Not Ready-Fee’ attempt result.

All not ready fees referred to above will be implemented on inspections conducted after January 31, 2021.

Please note that any talkback or complaints to the inspector about the inspection protocols in place, would qualify as ‘interfering with the work of an inspector’ and will be deemed as a reason for the inspector to leave the site and have the inspection attempt result listed as ‘Not ready fee’.      

Anyone that may want to speak to the inspectors on site is requested to adhere to a 2-metre safe distance limit. Should the inspectors determine that this is not followed, on a discretionary basis, they will leave the premises.

Inspections are conducted for small residential buildings under renovation with a permit issued for alterations.

If you have requested an inspection under a building permit for alteration work and have not provided us with a site contact phone number, please reply to epermits@london.ca and provide it so your inspection date is not compromised. This allows the inspector to be able to call on the date of the inspection.

Please note: 

• It is your responsibility to ensure the inspector is able to successfully connect with the person assigned this number in order that the inspection be carried out.
• If the inspector calls, and there is no answer, he/she will attempt to knock on the front door.   If no one answers, the inspector will leave and record the inspection(s) as ‘“Inspection cancelled by City”. You will then be required to rebook the inspection(s).
• As a result of the above, when the inspector attends for the second time, he/she will attempt contact by phone only.
• If upon inspection, the inspector finds that the work is not ready or previously identified deficiencies have not been rectified, the inspection will be deemed as “Not ready” and you will need to remit the associated fee. Currently, that amount is $178.68 and indexed annually March 1.

The following site restrictions must be adhered to:

1. At all times during the on-site physical inspection, and after the inspector has confirmed arrival, all other tradespersons are to vacate the area under renovation.  Only upon confirmation of this, will the inspector enter.
2. Anyone wishing to speak to the inspector must do so at a minimum distance of 2 metres.
3. The area under renovation must be separated from the remaining dwelling by use of a full-height temporary partition or a curtain consisting of fabric or vapour barrier material.
4. When the inspector arrives, he/she will call the number given previously and confirm that, if for any reason, occupants (not tradespersons) must remain in the dwelling, the permit holder/homeowner shall provide confirmation via text message (must include the address) to the inspector, prior to the inspection, that all occupants have answered ‘No’ to all of the following questions:

Inspections are available for unoccupied accessory structures (sheds, carports, pool cabanas, both attached and detached garages, decks, etc.).

For select inspection types, platforms such as FaceTime and WhatsApp are available. Please contact your inspector for more information.

Inspections are conducted for partial occupancy permits.

The following protocol must be adhered to for partial occupancy inspections:

1. Contact will need to be made by the site supervisor (site super) to the inspector prior to attendance.
2. A mutually agreed-upon location on site is to be arranged for the inspector and the site super to meet,  if there is no job site trailer available.
3. The site super is to ensure the path of travel to the inspection area will be such that the 2 metre physical distance requirement from the inspector, is adhered to at all times.
4. The site super is to ensure that any elevator usage is restricted to the inspector and the site super only.
5. If stairs are used to enter the floor area(s) to be inspected, the site super shall ensure the stairs are mark for one way travel only (For example: west stairs ascending only and the east stairs descending only).
6. For the floor/area being inspected, the site super is to ensure that there are no tradespersons present.  If this is not possible, all tradespersons are to maintain the physical distance requirement from the inspector at all times while he/she is there.
7. At the end of the inspection(s), the site super must accompany the inspector off the site while maintaining the physical distance requirements.

The inspector may not commence or terminate the inspection at any time, if the above protocol has not been complied with.  The permit holder will receive a “Inspection Cancelled by City” notice via email and will need to re-book the partial occupancy inspection.

Due to COVID-19, new business licence applications for are being accepted digitally by emailing licensing@london.ca. Applications will be reviewed for zoning compliance, however, only locations that are deemed essential by the province will have inspections conducted. New applications for food premises will have their application fee deferred three months from the date of the issuance of the licence.

Purpose:

The Code of Conduct for Building Officials (the “Code”) is enacted in accordance with section 7.1 of the Building Code Act, 1992, as amended (the “Act”). The purpose of the Code is as follows:

1. To promote appropriate standards of behaviour and enforcement actions by the Chief Building Official (the “CBO”) and Inspectors in the exercise of a power or the performance of a duty under the Act or the building code
2. To prevent practices which may constitute an abuse of power, including unethical or illegal practices, by the CBO and Inspectors in the exercise of a power or the performance of a duty under the Act or the building code
3. To promote appropriate standards of honesty and integrity in the exercise of a power or the performance of a duty under the Act or the building code by the CBO and Inspectors.

Application:

The Code applies to the City of London’s (the “Corporation”) Chief Building Official and Inspectors and is in addition to the provisions of the Corporation’s Code of Conduct For Employees Policy and the Workplace Harassment/Discrimination Prevention Policy and Complaint Procedure.

Expected standards of behaviour and performance of duties:

The expected standards of behaviour and performance of duties for the CBO and Inspectors are as follows:

1. Promote the safety of buildings with reference to public health, fire protection, structural sufficiency, conservation and environmental integrity, and barrier free accessibility.
2. Apply the Act and the building code impartially, without influence, and in accordance with all applicable legislation.
3. Perform their duties within their respective area of qualification obtained under the Act.
4. Perform duties with due diligence, honesty and integrity.
5. Extend professional courtesy to all.
6. Keep up-to-date on current building practices through continuous education.
7. Manage confidential and sensitive information in accordance with all relevant legislation and the Corporation’s guidelines and policies.

Allegations of breaches of the Code

Contraventions of the Code are a serious matter to the Corporation and will be dealt with as such. The CBO will review all allegations made against Inspectors. Allegations made against the CBO will be reviewed by the Corporation’s Corporate Management Team.

Upon review of the allegations, either the CBO (in the case of complaints against Inspectors) or the Corporate Management Team (in the case of complaints against the CBO) may determine an appropriate informal course of action which will effectively resolve the complaint.

If a complaint is not resolved informally or if an informal resolution is not appropriate, the CBO or the Corporate Management Team, as the case may be, will follow the formal complaint procedure guidelines enumerated in the Corporation’s Code of Conduct For Employees Policy it being noted that all references to “supervisor”, “designate”, “Human Resources”, or “Human Resources representative” in the formal complaint procedure guidelines shall be replaced by the “CBO” (in the case of complaints against Inspectors) and the “Corporate Management Team” (in the case of complaints against the CBO.) These formal complaint procedure guidelines shall be followed with respect to the investigation of the complaint, the making of findings, and the communication of those findings to the complainant and the respondent.

Corrective action and/or disciplinary action

If a complaint is substantiated, the CBO (with respect to complaints against Inspectors) or the Corporate Management Team (with respect to complaints against the CBO) will determine the corrective action and/or disciplinary action arising from the contravention of the Code. Corrective action and/or disciplinary action may include, but is not limited to, the following:

a) an apology

b) counselling

c) education/training

d) warning

e) suspension/leave without pay

f) demotion

g) transfer

h) termination of employment

Minimum permit fee

Construction

Alterations, renovations and repairs

Demolition 

Designated structures (OBC Div. A-1.3.1.1)

Stand alone and miscellaneous work

Stand alone mechanical work (HVAC & Plumbing)

More than one fee category may apply per building/work proposed.

Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Plumbing and drainage systems-Fixtures-Equipment-Systems

Administrative fees 

Miscellaneous - Charges

For classes of permits not described or included in this schedule, a reasonable permit fee shall be determined by the Chief Building Official.

1.    Online banking

• Applicant must register on the online portal 
• Applicant will receive the form “Request to Submit Payment Through Online Banking” and upon completion, email it to building@london.ca
• Applicant will then receive instructions on how to proceed with online payment  

2.    A cheque made payable to City of London, mailed to Building Services, PO Box 5035, 7th floor, London ON  N6A 4L9.