These requirements apply to all building permit types.
All submitted drawings must be on standardized sized sheets, drawn to scale, fully dimensioned, signed and dated.
Drawings by a designer must include: the designer’s name, designer’s contact information, qualification identification number (if applicable), signature, and stamp / statement that the person has reviewed and taken responsibility for all design activities.
Learn how to apply for a permit, on our Making a Building Permit Application page.
Learn about our digital plans review system , please see our ePLAN Guides and Tutorials.
See examples of permit drawings on our Sample Plans page.
For additional information regarding permits for green building systems (solar panels, wind turbine generators, storm sewage and greywater use, etc), please see our Green Building page.
Housing refers to detached houses, semi-detached houses, or townhouses (less than 4 storeys) containing not more than two dwelling units. A housing permit applies to these buildings or accessory structures to these buildings. The work includes new buildings, additions to existing buildings, and interior alterations. If the project is limited to plumbing only, then a plumbing permit (PP) should be applied for.
Examples of housing permits include: Custom homes, detached garages, sheds, finished basements, wall removal, unenclosed porches, non-stacked townhouse blocks.
Required Forms
Required Documentation
- Approval Documents required by Applicable Law
- Lot Grading Approval (for new homes, additions or accessory buildings. For more information, refer to the Residential Infill Grading and Servicing Application Process through Markham Engineering)
- Shop drawings for pre-engineered floor systems
- Framing Plan
- Beam calculation sheets sealed by a P.Eng
- Shop drawings for prefabricated roof trusses
- Framing plan
- Truss calculations sheets sealed by a P.Eng
- Mechanical Ventilation Design Summary
- Heat loss / heat gain / duct calculations
Required Drawings
- Site plan
- Zoning Summary (permitted / proposed)
- Property lines referenced to a current survey
- Location of all proposed & existing buildings
- Overall dimensions of all buildings (width / length)
- Proposed finished first floor & basement elevations)
- On-site Sewage System (for properties served by private systems)
- System drawings & details
- Statement of Design
- Architectural Plans
- Existing floor plans (required for all additions and alterations)
- Floor plans of every floor level (specify rooms)
- Building elevations with limiting distance calculations (for new buildings, additions, or when existing exterior walls are altered)
- Stair, landings, deck, guards and handrail details
- Details and construction notes / specifications
- Structural (may be incorporated into Architectural Plans)
- Footing / Foundation design
- Floor framing plan (including posts, beams, joists, lintels)
- Roof framing plan (including posts, beams, joists, lintels)
- Mechanical (HVAC) Plans
Special Requirements
- Townhouse Blocks
- Architectural Block plans of each floor level
- Must indicate proposed layout of each unit, including any “optional” floor plans that will be constructed in that lot.
- Architectural / structural unit floor plans are optional. If provided, must be submitted on a single sheet and only indicate the actual options / layouts being constructed.
- Block elevations with limiting distance calculations
- Firewall and party wall sections / details
- Mechanical package (HVAC) for non-stacked townhouse units can be submitted for individual units or for entire block
- Mechanical package, including plumbing, for stacked townhouse units must be submitted as block plans (similar to an apartment building)
A non housing permit applies to a new building, addition or exterior alteration for any building except housing. Non housing permits include temporary event structures. A non housing permit also applies to interior alterations where a change of use under Part 10 of the Ontario Building Code is proposed.
Examples of non housing permits include: warehouse additions, parking structures, apartment buildings, temporary tents, commercial shell building, stacked townhouse block, changing an existing retail space to a restaurant (assembly use).
Required Forms
Required Documentation
- Approval Documents required by Applicable Law
- Subsurface Investigation Report
- Heat loss / heat gain / duct calculations
- Mechanical equipment & Design specifications
- Construction Fire Safety Plan (for mid-rise wood construction projects)
Required Drawings
- Site plan
- Zoning Summary (permitted / proposed)
- Property lines and lot area referenced to a current survey
- Location of all proposed & existing buildings
- Overall dimensions of all buildings (width / length)
- On-site Sewage System (for properties served by private systems)
- System drawings & details
- Statement of Design
- Architectural Plans
- Ontario Building Code Data Matrix
- Existing floor / mezzanine plans (required for all additions and alterations / change of use)
- Proposed floor / mezzanine plans
- Fire separation locations
- Building elevations with limiting distance calculations (for new buildings, additions, or when existing exterior walls are altered)
- Stair and ramp details (including guard and handrail details)
- Room Finish and Door schedules
- Sections, details and construction notes / specifications
- Structural Plans
- Footing / Foundation plans (including design loads)
- Floor framing plans (including design loads)
- Roof framing plans (including design loads)
- Column and beam schedules
- Sections and details
- Mechanical (HVAC & Plumbing) Plans
- HVAC drawings
- Fire protection systems (sprinkler, standpipe)
- Plumbing drawings (fixtures, water, drains, venting)
- Plumbing riser diagrams
- Electrical & Fire Protection plans
- Electrical supply & distribution plans
- Fire protection plans
- Riser diagrams and fire alarm zoning information
- Site Servicing / Grading
- Municipally approved site grading plan
- Municipally approved site servicing plan
An alteration permit is used for an interior alteration on any building except for housing. This includes new partitions, interior demolitions, mechanical work, changes to fire protection systems, new partitions, etc. If the project is limited to plumbing only, then a plumbing permit (PP) should be applied for.
Examples of alteration permits include: tenant fit-up, fire alarm upgrades, maglock installations.
Required Forms
Required Documentation
- Approval Documents required by Applicable Law
- Heat loss / heat gain / duct calculations
- Mechanical equipment & Design specifications
Required Drawings
- Site plan
- Zoning Summary (permitted / proposed)
- Property lines and lot area referenced to a current survey
- Location of all proposed & existing buildings
- Overall dimensions of all buildings (width / length)
- On-site Sewage System (for properties served by private systems)
- System drawings & details
- Statement of Design
- Architectural Plans
- Ontario Building Code Data Matrix
- Key Plan showing location of unit within building
- Existing floor / mezzanine plans
- Proposed floor / mezzanine plans
- Fire separation locations
- Stair and ramp details (including guard and handrail details)
- Room Finish and Door schedules
- Sections, details and construction notes / specifications
- Structural Plans (where structural alterations are required)
- Footing / Foundation plans (including design loads)
- Floor framing plans (including design loads)
- Roof framing plans (including design loads)
- Column and beam schedules
- Sections and details
- Mechanical (HVAC & Plumbing) Plans (where mechanical alterations are required)
- Equipment & Design specifications
- Fire protection systems (sprinkler, standpipe)
- Plumbing drawings (fixtures, water, drains, venting)
- Plumbing riser diagrams
- Electrical Plans (where electrical alterations are required)
- Electrical supply & distribution plans
- Fire protection plans
- Riser diagrams and fire alarm zoning information
Demolition permits are required when a building’s footprint will be decreased. This may be the entire building or only a portion of it. Exterior walls must be included in the scope of work. If the demolition is for interior spaces only, then an alteration permit (AL) should be applied for.
Prior to issuance of a demolition permit, a pre-demolition inspection is conducted. The purpose of this inspection is to confirm that the structure is vacant, the site is fenced in accordance with the Building By-Law and the building subject to the demolition exist. Demolition permits are not issued where there is no building on site or demolition of the building has commenced.
Required Forms
Required Documentation
- Approval Documents required by Applicable Law
- Environmental Building Audit confirming presence / absence of hazardous materials or designated substances
Required Drawings
- Site plan
- Identify building to be demolished and the location of fencing required to protect the site and adjacent properties
- Identify area of excavation, proposed depth of excavation and the location of foundation walls for the new custom home (for infill projects only)
- Property lines and lot area referenced to a current survey
- Temporary shoring plan required for infill housing projects where:
- New foundation walls will be 1.8 m or less from an adjacent property line, or
- Excavation will be within 1.2 m of a property line
Additional Requirements
If the building exceeds 3-storeys in building height, exceeds 600 square metres in building area, or includes pre-tensioned or post-tensioned members, or if the demolition will extend below the level of the footings of an immediately adjacent building, or if explosives / lasers are proposed to be used for the demolition, then the following additional items are required to be submitted with the permit application:
A plumbing permit is a required for any plumbing work located within a building or on private property. When the work is part of a larger project, a separate plumbing permit is not required.
Examples of plumbing permits include: site servicing, pre-servicing connection, fixture installation with no other construction, backflow preventer installation.
Required Forms
Required Documentation
- Approval Documents required by Applicable Law
- Cross-connection survey (for backflow preventer installations)
Required Drawings
- Draft plan of Subdivision (for pre-servicing connections)
- Floor Plan with fixture locations (for fixture installations in existing single-detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling or non-stacked townhouse units)
- Plumbing Plans (for fixture installations in multi-residential or non-residential buildings )
- Plumbing drawings (fixtures, water, drains, venting)
- Plumbing riser diagrams
- Site Servicing / Grading (for site servicing applications)
- Municipally approved site grading plan
- Municipally approved site servicing plan
- Architectural site plan including locations of fire hydrants
- On-site Sewage System (for properties served by private systems)
- System drawings & details
- Statement of Design
This applies to the installation of permanent signs such as: wall signs, ground signs, and projecting signs. It also applies to specific types of temporary signs, including: real estate development signs, subdivision development signs and hoarding signs.
Required Forms
Required Documentation
- Approval Documents required by Applicable Law
Required Drawings
- Site plan identifying location of the sign
- Building elevation drawings
- Position of the sign
- Dimensions of the sign face
- Length / height of the wall
- Sign drawings
- Sign dimensions
- Wording of the sign face
- Lighting
- Structural details (e.g., mounting, weight of fascia signs, foundations)
- Support structures (for ground signs)
Note: The drawings must be prepared by an Architect or Professional Engineer where the sign is a wall sign weighing more than 115 kg, a roof sign with a face greater than 10 square metres, or a projecting sign on a parapet wall.
This applies to the installation of required fencing around in-ground and above-ground pools installed on residential properties. the permit must be obtained prior to the construction of the pool.
Detailed criteria for the design of the pool enclosure are outlined in Markham's Swimming Pool By-law.
Required Forms
Required Documentation
Required Drawings
- Site plan prepared using a current survey
- Location of property lines, existing buildings and proposed pool
- Details of the proposed fence (height, type of material, location)
- Gate location and details (must be self-closing and self-latching)
- Location of septic system (for properties with a private on-site sewage system)
A certified model application is not a permit application. Certified models are a unique building design, that are intended to be constructed on multiple lots (e.g., in a subdivision). Instead of submitting for a lot-specific application, a certified model may be applied for. Once approved, the certified model is referenced in a repeat housing (RP) permit application for a specific lot.
Examples of certified models include: single detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling, detached garage, semi-detached garage.
Townhouse units are not eligible for the certified model program.
Required Forms
Required Documentation
- Shop drawings for pre-engineered floor systems
- Framing Plan
- Beam calculation sheets sealed by a P.Eng
- Shop drawings for prefabricated roof trusses
- Framing plan
- Truss calculations sheets sealed by a P.Eng
- Mechanical Ventilation Design Summary
- Heat loss / heat gain / duct calculations
Required Drawings
- Architectural Plans
- Existing floor plans (required for all additions and alterations)
- Floor plans of every floor level (specify rooms)
- Building elevations with limiting distance calculations (for new buildings, additions, or when existing exterior walls are altered)
- Stair, landings, deck, guards and handrail details
- Details and construction notes / specifications
- Structural (may be incorporated into Architectural Plans)
- Footing / Foundation design
- Floor framing plan (including posts, beams, joists, lintels)
- Roof framing plan (including posts, beams, joists, lintels)
- Mechanical (HVAC) Plans
A repeat housing permit is a permit application for a new building where a previously approved Certified Model is being constructed.
Examples of repeat permits: single detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling, detached garage, semi-detached garages.
Required Forms
Required Documentation
- Approval Documents required by Applicable Law
Required Drawings
- Site plan
- Zoning Summary (permitted / proposed)
- Property lines referenced to a current survey
- Location of all proposed & existing buildings
- Overall dimensions of all buildings (width / length)
- Proposed finished first floor & basement elevations)
- Stamped by a grading engineer, confirming that it complies with the approved grading plan for the subdivision
An Alternative Solution is not a permit application. It is a proposal to allow an alternate design and / or measure in lieu of the prescriptive requirements under Division B of the Ontario Building Code. An Alternative Solution submission must reference a building permit application currently under review.
It is required that you contact the Building Standards Department in advance of submitting an Alternative Solution. Please e-mail Building Standards for further instructions.
Required Forms
Required Documentation
- Reports or other supporting documents referenced in Application
A conditional building permit is a special permission that is sometimes issued where the issuance of a building permit is delayed due to extended timelines of the final stages of Planning and other approval processes. It is issued at the discretion of the Chief Building Official, when the applicant can show that the approvals are routine and forthcoming. If you are considering a conditional building permit application, please review our Guide to Conditional Permits.
It is required that you contact the Building Standards Department in advance of submitting a conditional permit application. Please e-mail Building Standards for further instructions.
Required Forms
Required Documentation
- Deed or other document confirming owner and legal description of property
