Contact(s)
City of Orillia Building Permit Application Process
The City of Orillia Building Division is accepting the submission of Building Permit applications by e-mail to building@orillia.ca. This allows homeowners, contractors, renovators and business owners to apply for Building Permits without the need to submit paper drawings or paper application forms. Building Permit applications can also be mailed, sent via courier, or in-person at the 3rd floor Building counter.
If you wish to submit your permit electronically, please follow the guideline below.
Guideline to Electronic Building Permit Submission
For more information please contact the Building Division.
Building permits ensure that zoning requirements, health, fire, structural safety standards and other building standards are met. Under the Ontario Building Code Act, you must have a building permit to construct or alter any structure greater than 10 square metres (108 square feet) in area or to install plumbing.
To obtain a building permit, you are required to submit the building permit application, a site plan, and construction drawings, along with the application fee. You may also be required to submit a pre-application screening form. See the links below for more information.
| Residential Building Permits |
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Click here for a detailed guide outlining the building permit application process, what can be done if your project doesn't comply with the City's by-law, and examples of construction drawings that will be required. It also includes a list of who to All residential permit applications will require two sets of construction drawings. One copy will be kept for office use and the other copy will be returned to the applicant when the permit is issued. Click here to download the Building Permit Application Form and Checklist. For detailed information on building decks, click here. |
| Commercial/Industrial/Institutional Permits |
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All non-residential permit applications will require three sets of construction drawings. A pre-application screening form may also be required. Please see 'Source Water Protection' below. For detailed information on Sign Permits, click here. |
| Site Plan |
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A Site Plan is required to be submitted with most Building Permit applications to ensure the Building Permit application will comply with the City of Orillia’s Zoning By-law 2014-44, as amended. Your Site Plan will include providing details about your existing and proposed development including property lines, dimensions and setbacks to property lines of existing and proposed buildings, and parking. The Guide below outlines the information required on a Site Plan and provides examples of different development scenarios. |
| Zoning By-law |
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During the preliminary planning stage of your project it is imperative that you determine what Zoning By-laws apply to your property. Zoning By-laws regulate the use, size, location and types of buildings permitted on a parcel of land. The information you will require from the Zoning By-law will include:
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| Fees |
| Forms & Procedures |
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Building Permit Application Form and Checklist Commitment to General Review Form |
| Other Approvals |
In addition to or instead of a building permit, your project may require the following approvals:
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| Process |
| You can download and complete the Building Permit Application Form and Checklist. You can also obtain a copy of the application at the front counter of the Development Services and Engineering Department on the third floor of City Hall at 50 Andrew St. S., Orillia.
In addition to the completed application, you will also need:
The completed application and additional materials must be submitted as a permit package to the Building Department. Building Department staff will review your application to ensure it is complete and correct. Once the permit package is reviewed, the Building Department will determine the applicable fee. The building permit will be issued when the fee has been paid. The video below describes the process of applying for a building permit in the City of Orillia. |
| Source Water Protection Pre-Screening Application Form |
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Effective July 1st, 2015, in accordance with the provincially approved South Georgian Bay Lake Simcoe Protection Plan and Clean Water Act, 2006, all potential applicants who plan to submit a permit(s) or application(s) that are located within the Wellhead Protection Area and/or Intake Protection Zone area are required to complete a Pre-Application Screening Form prior to the City accepting a permit or application. For more information regarding Source Water Protection, and to see if you are located in a WHPA/IPZ area, click here. Please find the Pre-Application Screening form below: |
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Timeline |
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Timelines will vary depending on the size of the project, the time of year, and the completeness of the permit package. Small residential projects take about two weeks from start to finish, while larger projects can take four to six weeks. When you submit your building permit application, Building Division staff can give you a better idea of the timeline you can expect. |
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