Additions and structural changes

Rear additions, second storeys, and wall removals with engineered drawings and permits.

Additions and structural changes need a building permit and drawings. Beams, footings and new floor systems are designed by an engineer or a designer qualified under the Ontario Building Code, and the City reviews them before work starts.

Zoning comes before design. Setbacks, height and lot coverage decide how big an addition can be. If the design does not fit, a minor variance through the Committee of Adjustment adds months, so it is worth checking early.

On Leda clay, footings for an addition are designed with the soil in mind. A geotechnical opinion is sometimes needed, especially next to an older foundation.

Once the permit is issued, the City inspects at set stages: footings, framing, insulation and final. The contractor books each one and does not cover work until it passes.