As the COVID-19 situation in Hamilton continues to evolve, these Frequently Asked Questions for Development Approvals will be regularly updated as circumstances change to provide residents and developers with current information.
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.
1. Permit fees shall be calculated based on the formula given below, unless otherwise specified in this schedule:
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.
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
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 of $259 for processing and issuance of permits,except where specifically noted otherwise in this By-law.
| 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 | $24.18 |
| Portable Classrooms | $386 (flat fee) |
| Shell only | $20.99 |
| Finishing only | $5.49 |
| Non-Residential - Outdoor Patio | $194 (flat fee) |
| Group B (Institutional Occupancies) | Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated |
|---|---|
| Institutional, Hospitals, Medical Care Facilities, Nursing Homes, and other Group B Buildings | $28.90 |
| Shell only | $23.12 |
| Finishing only | $6.39 |
Group C - Residential Occupancies
Group C (Residential Occupancies)
Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated
Single Family Dwelling, semi, duplex, row house, townhouse
$16.28
Apartment buildings
$16.28
Hotels, Motels
$21.53
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)
$16.25
Office Buildings (up to 10 storeys) (Finishing only)
$5.20
Office Buildings (up to 10 storeys) (Finished)
$21.45
Office Buildings (more than 10 storeys) (Shell only)
$19.65
Office Buildings (more than 10 storeys) (Finishing only)
$5.52
Office Buildings (more than 10 storeys) (Finished)
$25.16
| Group E (Mercantile) | Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated |
|---|---|
| Retail (Shell only) | $13.33 |
| Retail (Finishing only) | $4.50 |
| Retail (Finished) | $17.84 |
| Group F (Industrial) | Service lndex (SI) $/m2 unless otherwise indicated |
|---|---|
| Industrial (shell only) | $8.08 |
| Industrial (finishing only) | $4.42 |
| Industrial (finished) | $12.52 |
| Parking Garages | $7.38 |
| Gas Stations | $13.46 |
| Foundation Permits | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential under Part 9 of Division B of the Building Code | $402 |
| Residential/Commercial/lndustrial/institutional under Part 3 of Division B of the Building Code (up to 1200 m2) |
$1,000 |
| Residential/Commercial/lndustrial/institutional under Part 3 of Division B of the Building Code (greater than 1200 m2) |
$3,002 |
| Excavation and Shoring | $11.10 per linear metre |
| New water service (low density residential only) | $166 |
| New water service when included with a complete building permit application for a new building (low density residential only) | $149 |
| New sewer service (low density residential only) | $166 |
| New sewer service when included with a complete building permit application for a new building (low density residential only) | $149 |
| Designated Structures | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Communication Tower, Crane Runway, Retaining Wall, Silos | $465 |
| Exterior Storage Tanks – Above and below ground (except for fire fighting water reservoirs) | $465 |
| Pedestrian Bridge/Walkway | $465 |
| Satellite Dish (face area equal to or greater than 5 m²) | $465 |
| Outdoor Public Spa | $952 |
| Outdoor Public Swimming Pool | $1,885 |
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
$220 each (maximum $659)
Fire Alarm System
$386 (flat fee)
Emergency Lighting/Exit Signs
$386 (flat fee)
Sprinkler System
$0.64
Standpipe System
$386 (flat fee)
Combined Sprinkler and Standpipe System
$0.64 (minimum $386)
| Mechanical Systems (stand alone) | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Commercial Cooking Exhaust System | $386 |
| 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 | $0.48 |
| Accessory structures to a residential use | $0.48 ($166 minimum) |
| Non-residential and multi residential | $0.48 ($412 minimum) |
| Plumbing Devices (stand alone) | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Backflow Preventer - For first premise or zone device | $259 |
| Backflow Preventer - For each additional premise or zone device | $166 |
| Backwater Valve | $259 |
| Grease/Oil Interceptor | $259 |
| Renewable (Green) Energy Systems | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Geothermal System for a Single/Two Family Dwelling | $465 |
| Geothermal System for all other Buildings | $623 |
| Solar Collector for a Single/Two Family Dwelling | $259 |
| Solar Collector for all other Buildings | $465 |
| Wind Turbine | $465 |
| Sewage Systems | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| To construct a sewage system pursuant to the provisions of the Act |
$899 |
| To construct a Class 5 sewage systems or to repair a sewage system pursuant to the provisions of the Act |
$550 |
| Sewage System Maintenance Inspection Program | $252 |
| Signs | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Ground Sign with a sign area of less than or equal to 2.5 m2 | $231 |
| Ground Sign with a sign area of greater then 2.5 m2 and up to 4.0 m2 |
$407 |
| Ground Sign with a sign area greater than 4.0 m2 | $815 |
| Awning, Canopy, Marquee, Parapet, Projecting and Wall Signs | $407 |
| Billboard | $815 |
| 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 | $5.84 |
| Farm Buildings | $2.99 |
| Greenhouses | $1.79 (Maximum $5,883) |
| Tents |
$1.94 (Maximum $412)
|
| Temporary Structures - Sales Offices | $15.91 |
| Temporary Structures - Construction Trailers | $12.59 |
| Temporary Structures - Stages | $259 (flat fee) |
| Temporary Structures - Other Structures (intended to be used for less than 6 months) | $259 (flat fee) |
| Residential greenhouses, deck, balcony, open porch, exterior stair, ramp, open carport |
$4.76 |
| 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 | $3.60 |
| 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) | $0.31 |
| Administrative Fees | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| Additional Plan Review (Resubmission) Where a non-compliant resubmission is submitted above and beyond the first resubmission |
$166 (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) |
$166 For each additional hour, or part thereof, of review time - $166 |
| Alternative Solution Application for an Alternative Solution under Section 2.1, of Division C, of the Building Code (up to 4 hours review time) |
$601 For each additional hour, or part thereof, of review time - $166 |
| Applicable Law Review Review and consultation for Applicable Law requirements |
$254 |
| Building Code Compliance Letters Written requests for information concerning a building's compliance with the current Building Code |
$166 (per hour of review time) |
| Change of Use Permit Change of use Permit with no construction |
$259 |
| Conditional Permit Fee Review and approval of Conditional permit Agreements/Undertakings |
10% of permit fee (minimum $1,083, maximum $3,792) |
| Fire Watch/Fire Plan Review and approval of Fire Watch/Fire Plans during construction |
$542 |
| 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 |
$586 |
| Occupancy of an Unfinished Building Occupancy inspection prior to completion as per Subsection 1.3.3 of Division C of the Building Code |
$166 (per unit) |
| Permit or Application Extensions Extension of a building permit or permit application where no revisionsare required |
$166 |
| Pre-Consultation Building Code preliminary design consultation for proposed designs and developments |
$166 (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: |
$220 (per inspection) |
| Stock Plans Review of stock plans for a new single family dwelling prior to a complete permit application being submitted |
$421 |
| Suspended Permit Where an inspection is requested for a Permit that has been suspended |
$220 (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. |
$166 |
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.
Refer to Hamilton’s Building Permit By-law 20-259 (PDF, 423KB) for full details about building permit fees, requirements, refunds and code of conduct.
