Building Permit Classes and Fees
You must pay permit fees when you submit your Building Permit application. Building Permit fees are determined by Hamilton’s Building Permit By-law 15-058 consolidation (PDF, 284 KB).
Refer to Hamilton’s Building Permit By-law 15-058 consolidation for full details about building permit fees, requirements, refunds and code of conduct.
Schedule A to the Building By-law
Calculation of Permit Fees
1. Permit fees shall be calculated based on the formula given below, unless otherwise specified in this schedule:
- Permit Fee = SI x A
Where SI = Service lndex for the applicable Classification under section 3 below of the work proposed, and A = floor area in m2 of work involved.
Permit Fees
2 a. Permit fees shall be rounded off to the nearest full dollar.
2 b. Where the permit fee is in excess of $50,000 an applicant may elect to pay 55% of the full permit fee at the time of building permit application and the balance at the time of permit issuance.
2 c. Fees noted in this Schedule are subject to Harmonized Sales Tax (H.S.T.) where applicable
Classes of Permits and Fees
3. Permit fees shall be calculated using the following table:
Table 1 - Classes of Permits and Fees has been separated into the following Groups:
Minimum Permit Fee
Minimum permit fee of $265 for processing and issuance of permits,except where specifically noted otherwise in this By-law.
Group A - Assembly Occupancies
| Group A (Assembly Occupancies) | Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated |
|---|---|
| All Recreation Facilities, Elementary Schools, Daycare Facilities, Libraries, Places of Worship, Restaurants, Theatres, Arenas, Gymnasiums, Indoor Pools, Secondary Schools and all other Group A Buildings | $24.78 |
| Portable Classrooms | $396 (flat fee) |
| Shell only | $21.51 |
| Finishing only | $5.63 |
| Non-Residential - Outdoor Patio | $199 (flat fee) |
Group B - Institutional Occupancies
| Group B (Institutional Occupancies) | Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated |
|---|---|
| Institutional, Hospitals, Medical Care Facilities, Nursing Homes, and other Group B Buildings | $29.62 |
| Shell only | $23.70 |
| Finishing only | $6.55 |
Group C - Residential Occupancies
Group C (Residential Occupancies)
Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated
Single Family Dwelling, semi, duplex, row house, townhouse
$16.69
Apartment buildings
$16.69
Hotels, Motels
$22.07
Group D - Business and Personal Services
Group D (Business and Personal Services)
Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated
Office Buildings (up to 10 storeys) (Shell only)
$16.66
Office Buildings (up to 10 storeys) (Finishing only)
$5.33
Office Buildings (up to 10 storeys) (Finished)
$21.99
Office Buildings (more than 10 storeys) (Shell only)
$20.14
Office Buildings (more than 10 storeys) (Finishing only)
$5.66
Office Buildings (more than 10 storeys) (Finished)
$25.79
Group E - Mercantile
| Group E (Mercantile) | Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated |
|---|---|
| Retail (Shell only) | $13.66 |
| Retail (Finishing only) | $4.61 |
| Retail (Finished) | $18.29 |
Group F - Industrial
| Group F (Industrial) | Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated |
|---|---|
| Industrial (shell only) | $8.28 |
| Industrial (finishing only) | $4.53 |
| Industrial (finished) | $12.83 |
| Parking Garages | $7.56 |
| Gas Stations | $13.80 |
Subsurface Works (in addition to the regular permit fee)
| Foundation Permits | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential under Part 9 of Division B of the Building Code | $412 |
| Residential/Commercial/lndustrial/institutional under Part 3 of Division B of the Building Code (up to 1200 m2) |
$1,025 |
| Residential/Commercial/lndustrial/institutional under Part 3 of Division B of the Building Code (greater than 1200 m2) |
$3,077 |
| Excavation and Shoring | $11.38 per linear metre |
| New water service (low density residential only) | $170 |
| New water service when included with a complete building permit application for a new building (low density residential only) | $153 |
| New sewer service (low density residential only) | $170 |
| New sewer service when included with a complete building permit application for a new building (low density residential only) | $153 |
Designated Structures
| Designated Structures | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Communication Tower, Crane Runway, Retaining Wall, Silos | $477 |
| Exterior Storage Tanks – Above and below ground (except for fire fighting water reservoirs) | $477 |
| Pedestrian Bridge/Walkway | $477 |
| Satellite Dish (face area equal to or greater than 5 m²) | $477 |
| Outdoor Public Spa | $976 |
| Outdoor Public Swimming Pool | $1,932 |
Fire Protection Systems (stand alone - excludes relocation of components for existing system)
Fire Protection Systems (stand alone - excludes relocation of components for existing system)
Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated
Electromagnetic Locks
$226 each (maximum $675)
Fire Alarm System
$396 (flat fee)
Emergency Lighting/Exit Signs
$396 (flat fee)
Sprinkler System
$0.66
Standpipe System
$396 (flat fee)
Combined Sprinkler and Standpipe System
$0.66 (minimum $396)
Mechanical Systems (stand alone)
| Mechanical Systems (stand alone) | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Commercial Cooking Exhaust System | $396 |
Demolition (complete or partial building - not issued under Demolition Control By-law)
| Demolition (complete or partial building - not issued under Demolition Control By-law) | Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated |
|---|---|
| Residential - single/two family dwelling and townhouses | $0.49 |
| Accessory structures to a residential use | $0.49 ($170 minimum) |
| Non-residential and multi residential | $0.49 ($422 minimum) |
Plumbing Devices (stand alone)
| Plumbing Devices (stand alone) | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Backflow Preventer - For first premise or zone device | $265 |
| Backflow Preventer - For each additional premise or zone device | $170 |
| Backwater Valve | $265 |
| Grease/Oil Interceptor | $265 |
Renewable (Green) Energy Systems
| Renewable (Green) Energy Systems | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Geothermal System for a Single/Two Family Dwelling | $477 |
| Geothermal System for all other Buildings | $639 |
| Solar Collector for a Single/Two Family Dwelling | $265 |
| Solar Collector for all other Buildings | $477 |
| Wind Turbine | $477 |
Sewage Systems
| Sewage Systems | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| To construct a sewage system pursuant to the provisions of the Act |
$921 |
| To construct a Class 5 sewage systems or to repair a sewage system pursuant to the provisions of the Act |
$564 |
| Sewage System Maintenance Inspection Program | $258 |
Signs
| Signs | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Ground Sign with a sign area of less than or equal to 2.5 m2 | $237 |
| Ground Sign with a sign area of greater then 2.5 m2 and up to 4.0 m2 |
$417 |
| Ground Sign with a sign area greater than 4.0 m2 | $835 |
| Awning, Canopy, Marquee, Parapet, Projecting and Wall Signs | $417 |
| Billboard | $835 |
Other Classifications (not previously listed)
| Other Classifications (not previously listed) | Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated |
|---|---|
| Accessory structures, garage, storage shed, new basement, cold cellar, unenclosed canopies, air supported structures | $5.99 |
| Farm Buildings | $3.06 |
| Greenhouses | $1.83 (Maximum $6,030) |
| Tents |
$1.99 (Maximum $422)
|
| Temporary Structures - Sales Offices | $16.31 |
| Temporary Structures - Construction Trailers | $12.90 |
| Temporary Structures - Stages | $265 (flat fee) |
| Temporary Structures - Other Structures (intended to be used for less than 6 months) | $265 (flat fee) |
| Residential greenhouses, deck, balcony, open porch, exterior stair, ramp, open carport |
$4.88 |
| Alterations/partitioning/renovations to existing finished areas (where no building systems are being installed or altered), relocation/moving permits, finishing a basement in a single family dwelling | $3.69 |
| Exterior barrier free access in existing single and two family dwellings |
$0 |
| Re-roofing without any structure changes (Except for buildings containing less than 4 dwelling units for townhouses) | $0.32 |
Administrative Fees
| Administrative Fees | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Additional Plan Review (Resubmission) Where a non-compliant resubmission is submitted above and beyond the first resubmission |
$170 (per hour of review time) |
| Additional Permit Fee (Revision) Where an applicant makes a material change to a plan, specification, document, or other information, following the issuance of a building permit (includes first hour of review time) |
$170 For each additional hour, or part thereof, of review time - $170 |
| Alternative Solution Application for an Alternative Solution under Section 2.1, of Division C, of the Building Code (up to 4 hours review time) |
$616 For each additional hour, or part thereof, of review time - $170 |
| Applicable Law Review Review and consultation for Applicable Law requirements |
$260 |
| Building Code Compliance Letters Written requests for information concerning a building's compliance with the current Building Code |
$170 (per hour of review time) |
| Change of Use Permit Change of use Permit with no construction |
$265 |
| Conditional Permit Fee Review and approval of Conditional permit Agreements/Undertakings |
10% of permit fee (minimum $1,110, maximum $3,887) |
| Fire Watch/Fire Plan Review and approval of Fire Watch/Fire Plans during construction |
$556 |
| Limiting Distance Agreements For Review and approval of Limiting Distance Agreements under Sentence 3.2.3.1.(8), 9.10.14.2.(4) or 9.10.15.2.(4), of Division B, of the Building Code |
$601 |
| Occupancy of an Unfinished Building Occupancy inspection prior to completion as per Subsection 1.3.3 of Division C of the Building Code |
$170 (per unit) |
| Permit or Application Extensions Extension of a building permit or permit application where no revisionsare required |
$170 |
| Pre-Consultation Building Code preliminary design consultation for proposed designs and developments |
$170 (per hour of review time) |
| Premature/Additional Inspections Where an inspection request is premature and the inspector must re-attend the site to complete the necessary inspection, upon notice to the owner an additional fee of: |
$226 (per inspection) |
| Stock Plans Review of stock plans for a new single family dwelling prior to a complete permit application being submitted |
$432 |
| Suspended Permit Where an inspection is requested for a Permit that has been suspended |
$226 (per inspection) |
| Transfer of Permit Where ownership changes on a property and there are no other changes to the project or the professional services required. |
$170 |
4. Where no new floor area is created, or where materials, systems or equipment regulated by the Code render it impossible to determine the permit fee on the basis of the classifications noted in this Schedule, the permit fee payable shall be 1% of the prescribed value as determined by the Chief Building Official under section 6 of this by-law, subject to a minimum fee as per Section 3 of this Schedule.
5. The total fees under this Schedule and Schedule "C" shall be paid prior to the issuance of the permit.
Other Fees Related to Construction
Other fees, such as Development Charge fees and/or Parkland Dedication Fees, may also apply, depending on the nature of the proposed development. For Development Charge purposes, development includes redevelopment (e.g., change in use of a building). As per Development Charge By-law 19-142 Consolidated, Redevelopment is defined as follows: the construction, erection or placing of one or more Buildings on land where all or part of a Building has previously been demolished on such land, or changing the use of a Building from a Residential Development to a Non-residential Development or from a Non-residential Development to a Residential Development, or changing a Building from one form of Residential Development to another form of Residential Development or from one form of Non-residential Use to another form of Non-residential Use and including any development or redevelopment requiring any of the actions described in section 12. For further details, please refer to Development Charge By-law 19-142 Consolidated or the Development Charges page.
Contact us
For questions or inquiries related to Development Charges contact Development Charge Request
Phone 905-546-2424 ext. 4400
Email [email protected]
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