Residential Permits

There are a number of steps to apply for residential building permits, including pre-approvals, such as:

  • Site alteration permits (approved grading)
  • Planning approval (SPA), where applicable
  • Conservation authority approval (TRCA)
  • Urban planning approval

Note: Richmond Hill requires a registered M plan and municipal addresses prior to accepting building permits for single family, semi-detached and City house construction in new subdivisions. 

Contact Building Division staff at 905-771-8810 or building@richmondhill.ca if you have any questions about building permits.

Drains and plumbing work

Richmond Hill's building permit applications include drain and plumbing related work. You must also submit any related fees for the work that will be done, including:

  • $134.53 minimum plumbing fee
  • $27.84 flat fee for water service
  • $134.53 flat fee for sanitary and storm drains
  • $19.70 per fixture for additions or alteration projects only

You are responsible for notifying us when you reach each stage of the housing inspection process.

Residential Project Guidelines

For residential infill projects, please follow the Residential Project Guidelines to help minimize neighbourhood disruption and help ensure a successful project.

What else is needed?

Richmond Hill has a number of forms and checklists to help you complete your residential building permit application correctly.

Residential project forms and related permit fees

Project FormsDescriptionFees

Demolition Permits, Required Clearance
  • Permits demolition of buildings with an area greater than 10 m2
  • Informs you of pre-approvals that require sign-off from the Tax and Water department and Heritage
  • Requires site plan showing location of building to be demolished
  • Certain demolitions require an engineer to be retained to undertake a general review
  • $255.14 flat fee for residential single or semi-detached buildings
  • $405.91 flat fee for all other residential and commercial buildings

Compliance with Applicable Laws
  • Proves your project meets Ontario Building Code (OBC) requirements for compliance with applicable law(s)
  • Requires documentation that proves each regulation and law is met, where applicable
  • None

Energy Efficiency Design Summary
  • Ensures that one of four energy efficiency compliance options is used to meet the requirements of the OBC Supplementary Standard SB-12
  • Identifies project design conditions, design zone, and building envelope conditions
  • None

Schedule 1: Designer Information
  • A form completed by each person who takes responsibility for a design that is submitted with a permit application
  
  • None

Application to Construct or Demolish

  
  • Permit application form for the construction or demolition of a building
  
  • None

Builder Data Spreadsheet - Townhouse
  • Spreadsheet used for digital permit submission for town block with up to 15 units
  • None

Builder Data Spreadsheet - SFD, Semi
  • Spreadsheet used for digital permit submission for up to 15 lots of the same model
  • None

Residential project checklists and related permit fees

Project ChecklistDescriptionFees

Deck
  • Informs you of pre-approvals required for deck projects
  • Lists the details needed to complete project drawings
  • $144.94 flat fee

Finished Basement
  • Informs you of approvals needed before a permit can be issued
  • Lists all architectural drawings, mechanical drawings, structural information, site plans or surveys needed for your application
  • $3.68 per m2
  • $127.55 flat fee (minimum residential permit fee)
  • Fees for drains and plumbing work may also apply
    ($134.53 minimum fee, OR $19.70/fixture)

Addition or Alteration
  • Informs you of permits and pre-approvals required for additions
  • Additions greater than 400 ft2 in footprint area require a site alteration permit prior to applying for a building permit
  • Lists deposits, payments and other approvals needed before a permit can be issued
  • Lists drawing types required for a complete application including: site plans, architectural drawings, mechanical drawings and structural information, etc.
  • $16.34 per m2, building addition fee
  • $6.04 per m2, building alteration fee
  • Fees for drains and plumbing work may also apply

Basement Walkout
  • Informs you of drawings and plumbing requirements for a basement walkout
  • Lists pre-approvals, architectural drawings, structural information, site plans, etc. that may be required for your permit application
  • $127.55 flat fee (minimum residential permit fee)
  • $134.53 flat fee for sanitary and storm drains

Garage, Carport or Shed
  • Informs you that permits are needed to build garages, carports or sheds attached to a house or that are more than 10 m2 in area\
  • Detached buildings greater than 400 ft2 in footprint area require a site alteration permit prior to applying for a building permit
  • Recommends checking Zoning By-laws about lot coverage, location, height and setback requirements
  • Lists pre-approvals and drawings required for a complete permit application
  • $278.31 flat fee for accessory structures less than 50 m2 in building area
  • $417.46 flat fee for accessory structures equal to or more than 50 m2 in building area

Residential Permit Checklist
  • Lists deposits, payments and approvals needed before a permit can be issued
  • Lists pre-approvals, site plans, architectural drawings, structural information and mechanical drawings required for a complete application
  • Informs you of other submission requirements that may apply to your project
  • $16.34 per m2 (detached, semi-detached, City house or duplex building fee)
  • $127.55 flat fee (minimum residential permit fee)
  • Fees for drains and plumbing work also apply:
    • $134.53 for drains
    • $27.84 for water service
  • If basement is to be finished, $3.68/m2 of finished basement