Tents

Tents require a Building Permit when the area of the structure exceeds 60 square metres or when the area of two or more tents exceeds 60 square metres. Two or more tents are considered a group of tents if the tents are not more than 3.0 metres apart.

A tent or group of tents may not require a permit if they are:

• Not more than 60 square metres in total (aggregate) ground area;
• Not attached to a building; and
• Constructed more than 3.0 metres from all other structures

Note: Although a Building Permit may not be required, you must still comply with the requirements of the applicable Zoning By-law.

Permit Requirements for Your Project

You will need to submit:

• A Site Plan drawing identifying:
  • Title, scale, north arrow, and property dimensions
  • Street name and municipal address number
  • Where the tent(s) will be located with dimensions to property lines
  • Information on all fences and other structures that may be present on the site and dimensions to proposed tent(s).
  • Available parking spaces
  • Location of any easements
• Manufacturer’s drawings which should be readily available to you in the package containing the tent.
  • Any tent 225 square metres or larger must be designed by a professional engineer licensed in Ontario, and as such the drawings should bear the engineer’s stamp and signature.
• Manufacturer’s specifications including all fabric materials used for the tent must bear a label or other written proof must be submitted to prove the material is certified to CAN/ULC S-109 or NFPA 701.
• Building Permit Fees
• Commitment to General Review form(PDF, 204.89 KB)
  • For tents required to be designed by a professional engineer

Apply Online for a Building Permit

Applications can now be submitted online by property owner, or agent acting on behalf of the owner through the City of Hamilton’s Customer Portal. 

New and returning applicants can submit applications, track progress, and manage information securely online.