Building News
View this page for the latest news and updates from Markham Building Standards.
- 2024 Ontario Building Code Timing and Transition Provisions
Overview
Ontario has released a new Building Code to reduce regulatory burdens for the construction industry, increase the safety and quality of buildings, and make it easier to build housing.
The 2024 Building Code streamlines processes for the sector and increases harmonization with the National Construction Codes by eliminating at least 1,730 technical variations between the provincial and national requirements.
Timing and Transition Provisions
The 2024 Building Code comes into effect on January 1, 2025, with a three-month grace period until March 31, 2025 for certain designs that are already underway.
Please take careful note of the following transition period dates:
Until December 31, 2024
Permit applications will be reviewed under the 2012 Building Code.
January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025
Permit applications will be reviewed under the new 2024 Building Code
Permit applications will be reviewed under the 2012 Building Code if the applicant demonstrates that their working drawings for all disciplines were substantially complete by December 31, 2024
- If applicants want to use 2012 OBC they will need to provide the following:
- Declaration Form signed by all design consultants stating drawings substantially complete prior to Dec 31, 2024 (Coming Soon!)
- Estimated permit fees paid in full prior to April 1, 2025
- Construction must commence within 6 months of permit issuance
- Repeat permits can use approved 2023 Certified Models up to March 31, 2025 (fees must be paid in full prior to April 1, 2025)
- Construction must commence within 6 months of permit issuance
April 1, 2025
Permit applications will be reviewed under the 2024 Building Code.
- After April 1, 2025 all Repeats must use 2025 Certified Models (reviewed under 2024 OBC)
- If applicants want to use 2012 OBC they will need to provide the following:
- Draft Fee By-law Notice 2024
- Building Official Intern Program
For further information about the program, please contact the Building Standards Department at buildingofficialinterns@markham.ca
- Accessory Dwelling Units
Many homeowners are interested in creating an accessory dwelling unit on their property. A building permit is required to be obtained and the construction inspected when an accessory dwelling unit is created. The accessory dwelling unit is not legal unless it has been registered with the City. These requirements are intended to make accessory dwelling units safe, legal and livable.
Check out the Accessory Dwelling Unit Guide for more information on the permit application and registration process for accessory dwelling units.
- Temporary Event Structures
Earlier this year the Ministry of Municipal Affairs announced an amendment to the Ontario Building Code (O.Reg. 30/23). This amendment introduced prescriptive requirements for temporary stages and associated sound and lighting equipment towers.
With this amendment, temporary stages now require a building permit where they meet any of the following conditions:
- The platform(s) has an aggregate area more than 60 m2 and any part of the platform(s) is more than 3 m in height above adjacent ground level,
- The platform(s) has an aggregate area more than 225 m2, or
- Any part of the platform(s) or any roof, wall or structure attached to or located on any platforms is 5 m or more in height above adjacent ground level.
This amendment introduced new requirements for demountable support structures. A demountable support structure is a structure that is not attached to or located on a stage and is capable of supporting banners, stage sets, props, sound equipment, lighting equipment or other equipment. A building permit is required for a demountable support structure when:
- The demountable support structure is more than 3 m in height above adjacent ground level, or
- The demountable support structure is designed to carry a superimposed specified load greater than 115 kg, or
- The demountable support structure would create a hazard to the public.
Our Quick Guide for Temporary Event Structures is updated to include these changes.
If you are planning an event and don't know if you need a permit for your temporary structures, send an email to Building Standards with the details of your event.
- 2022 ePLAN at a Glance
Thanks to ePLAN, in 2022 Markham Building Standards continued to accept, review and issue building permit applications without experiencing any delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See below for a summary of the outstanding environmental and application processing results.
- Occupancy of Unfinished Building
Occupancy of unfinished buildings under construction is permitted under the Building Code when authorized by the Chief Building Official with an Occupancy Permit. The Building Standards department requires the owner to complete an Application to Occupy an Unfinished Building. The following link is a guide containing the Occupancy of Unfinished Building Application Form and the calculations used to determine the corresponding invoice.
Note that occupancy of a building where construction has been completed and verified by the Building Inspector is not subject to occupancy fees.
If you have any questions or would like clarification on the application for Occupancy of Unfinished Buildings, please email bins@markham.ca
- Code of Conduct Building Official 2022
- 2021 ePLAN at a Glance
Thanks to ePLAN, in 2021 Markham Building Standards continued to accept, review and issue building permit applications without experiencing any delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See below for a summary of the outstanding environmental and application processing results.
- Certified Models and Repeat Permits
Certified Models (CMs) are preliminary reviews of a design’s compliance with the OBC. CMs are not permit applications. In anticipation of the upcoming OBC amendments, 2023 CMs approved (certified) will not be valid after March 31st, 2025.
A repeat permit application cannot be filed until the Certified Model has been reviewed (certified), the plan of subdivision is registered, all other applicable law has been satisfied and the permit addresses are entered into our database. Once accepted, all estimated permit fees must be paid in full within the timelines specified in Markham’s Building By-law or the application may be deemed abandoned and cancelled.
If you will be submitting repeat permit applications after March 31st, 2025, you will be required to re‑certify your existing CM(s) prior to submitting your repeat permit applications. All certified model applications submitted in 2025 (both new and previously certified models) are required to include a complete application package, as outlined in the Certified Model (CM) section of our online Guide to Building Permits.
Please refer to the "2024 Ontario Building Code Timing and Transition Provisions" section of our Building News page and if you have any questions regarding Certified Model Applications, please contact the Building Counter at 905.475.4870.
- Changes to Municipal Noise By-laws
Municipal Construction Noise Bylaws Are Coming Back into Effect
In response to COVID-19, the province made regulations under the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the Municipal Act, 2001 that temporarily limit municipalities from regulating construction noise from healthcare-sector-related and other permitted construction projects.
These temporary measures will end at 12:01 AM on October 7, 2021, which is when Ontario Regulation 131/20 and Ontario Regulation 130/20 will be revoked.
This means that municipalities will again have the authority to regulate construction noise in their communities at all times of day and night and any municipal bylaws that are limited by these regulations will be back in effect on October 7, 2021.
- 2021 ePLAN Submission Standards
Building Standards has updated our ePLAN Submission Standards for all applications submitted to the Building Standards Department. Changes include:
- simplified criteria for drawing file names,
- removal of the landscape only orientation requirement
- clarification of the blank space requirement
Some application types are exempt from the complete Submission Standards. Refer to the Application-Specific Quick Reference Guides for more information on exemptions.
If you have any questions or would like clarification on the revised Submission Standards, please email bsd@markham.ca with the subject line ePLAN Submission Standards. If the question is related to a specific project or application, please include that information within the email.
- 2020 ePLAN at a Glance
Thanks to ePLAN, in 2020 Markham Building Standards continued to accept, review and issue building permit applications without experiencing any delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See below for a summary of the outstanding environmental and application processing results.
- Sewer Inspections for Infill Housing Projects
The sewer connection between the house and the City storm and sanitary laterals must be accomplished by gravity flow only. Recently, there have been numerous occasions where a back slope towards the house has resulted in basement flooding. This Builder Tip was developed as Department policy to ensure positive gravity flow from the house to the City street laterals. Review this Builder Tip with your builder and surveyor for submission of the information on the sample drawings contained in the Builder Tip. These drawings will be required the day prior to requesting the sewer inspection.
Builder Tip No. 103 — Sewer Inspections for Infill Housing Projects [PDF]
- 2019 ePLAN at a Glance
On January 1, 2019, ePLAN became mandatory for all building permit applications. Last year, just under 3000 building permit applications were received, reviewed and issued electronically. See below for the incredible results achieved for both the environment and the improved processing of applications.
