Interior Alteration
A guide to prepare your building permit application.
Interior alterations are any change occurring inside the house that isn't decorative. This could include wall removals, adding new windows or enlarging existing ones, adding new or relocating plumbing fixtures.
Permits typically are not required for replacing existing cabinetry, sinks, faucets, toilets and cosmetic changes to surfaces.
Project preparation
Heritage properties are managed to conserve important cultural heritage attributes. Properties on the town's heritage registry require heritage approval. Learn more on our Heritage Planning page or contact a town Heritage Planner for assistance at 905-845-6601 ext. 3870 or 3875.
If you are removing a load bearing wall, you may require engineered beams. If you are not sure if a wall is load bearing contact a BCIN qualified designer, architect or engineer. If you are adding or removing walls, indicate on the drawings how the HVAC will be modified to ensure the mechanical system's integrity is maintained.
If you are making changes to the building façade for windows or doors you will need heritage approval.
- Digital copies of drawings and documents are required, scaled to size and flattened. If preparing the documentation is beyond your comfort level or experience, we recommend working with a Building Code (BCIN) qualified designer, architect or engineer.
- Contact Ontario One Call at 1-800-400-2255 before you dig to locate underground utilities and avoid damage during construction.
To make interior alterations to your property you will need a building permit.
Submission materials
Prepare the following documents and apply online on our Online Services page.
Select the hyperlinks for example drawings and documents.
- Site plan (required if adding or changing the size of openings like doors and windows)
- Engineered beam details (if applicable to your project)
- Elevations (required if adding or changing the size of openings like doors and windows)
- Schedule 1 designer qualifications (required when someone other than an architect or engineer is designing the project)
- Floor plans, including changes to HVAC (if applicable to your project)
- Heritage approval (if applicable to your property)
- Fees (payable upon application