CITY OF MISSISSAGA, BUILDING PERMIT GUIDE

Before you start a building or renovation project in Mississauga, you need to find out: What you are allowed to build on your property, and If you need a building permit Your property’s zoning will determine what you can build on your property. For example, the City’s Zoning By-law sets out what uses are permitted; how far a structure must be from the lot lines; and, the amount of parking required. A permit is usually needed if you are building and renovating, making interior alterations to an existing building, putting up a sign, or opening a business in a new location .

What is a Building Permit?

Under the Ontario Building Code Act, it is unlawful for anyone to start any construction or demolition work before obtaining a permit. A Building Permit is legal permission to begin construction or demolition.

There are steps you can take to make sure you fill out your building permit application properly.

Filling out an application might seem simple, but often there are additional types of information and approvals you have to provide with the permit application form for your application to be considered as complete.

A complete application must be reviewed within the processing times outlined in the Ontario Building Code. Incomplete applications are not subject to the processing times outlined in the Ontario Building Code.

Plan and Build eServices Centre

the City of Mississauga is known as the city most connected to its residents and clients through its innovative and award winning website — the eCity Web Portal. The eCity Web Portal allows everyone to go to the City’s Plan and Build eServices Centre to access Planning and Building Department services online, providing Building Permit Applicants with the ability to manage their building applications at any time from the convenience of their offices or home computers through features like: • View Building Permit Application Status • View Development Application Status • Schedule Inspections • My Applications Applicants are encouraged to register and set up a portal account to best use all the features available through the Planning and Building eService Centre. In addition to these features applicants can access a wealth of information and services pertaining to property, building and the building permit process. For example, applicants can download required forms; access an FAQ section, view online maps and Official Plans, research the Zoning and Building By-laws, review fee schedules and a host of other services, publications.

Zoning By-Law

The Zoning By-law specifies the permitted uses and regulations for each property within the City of Mississauga. Zoning regulations include items such as the use of land and buildings, building setbacks to property lines, maximum height or size of buildings/ structures. A Building Permit may only be issued when an Applicant has complied with all Zoning By-law regulations. The specific zoning designation of a property and the relevant section(s) of the Zoning By-law can be obtained in a number of ways:

1) the Zoning By-law is accessible on the City of Mississauga’s website at www.mississauga.ca/ portal/residents/official documents

2) information on Zoning is available from Permit Administration at the Building Division Counter on the 9th Floor of City Hall 3) by calling the Zoning Section at 905-896-5581

Committee of Adjustment

Approval of Exceptions to the Zoning By-law If it is not possible to meet one or more of the Zoning By-law regulations, a separate application to the Committee of Adjustment is necessary. The Committee of Adjustment, appointed by City Council and authorized by the Ontario Planning Act to grant minor variances, will make a decision on the merits of the application and may approve a minor variance to the Zoning By-law, thereby amending the Zoning regulation that applies to the property

Applicable Law

In addition to the Zoning By-law, compliance to other Applicable Law may be required. Approvals from outside agencies may also be required prior to the issuance of a Building Permit. The most common additional approvals for residential construction are as follows:

  • Site Plan Approval from the Development and Design Division of the Planning and Building Department – may be required in certain areas of the City – building permit drawings must correspond exactly with the approved site plan drawings;
  • Conservation Authority Approval – required if the property is located within, or adjacent to, a flood plain or a watercourse as per conservation mapping;
  • Heritage Approval – required if the property is designated as a heritage building or if the property has intent to designate notification applied to it. A complete index of Applicable Law is listed on the Applicable Law Form (newly integrated with the Prescribed Building Permit Application Forms) and accessible either on line through the eServices – Plan and Build Forms Centre, or available from Permit Administration at the Building Division Counter on the 9th Floor of City Hall.

Drawing Requirements (Residential)

Along with the fully completed Building Permit Application Forms, two (2) copies of the following drawings are required to be submitted:

  • Site Plan
  • Floor Plans
  • Exterior Elevations
  • Cross Sections
  • Mechanical Drawings Site Plans must be dimensioned in metric units. All other plans must be drawn to scale and fully dimensioned in either metric or imperial units.

How long it will take?

If your application is deemed to be a complete submission, review times are legislated based on the type of application. This means that the City of Mississauga will make every effort to meet the following legislative processing times.

10 Days               Residential housing type applications, new construction and alterations

15 Days              Part 9 scope buildings, other than residential housing

20 Days              Part 3 scope buildings, new construction and alterations

30 Days              Complex buildings

It is important to remember that processing time is the time to complete the initial review of your application; it does not mean that your building permit will be issued within the legislative processing times.

Applications that are processed outside of the complete application process have processing times that can vary.

 Reference

City of Mississauga -updated :2016-07026

http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/completeapplications