Building Permits for Small Businesses

Checklist for Retail Stores & Restaurants

When you prepare your building permit application for a retail store or restaurant, make sure you retain:

• A designer with Building Code Identification Number qualifications for smaller buildings up to 600m2 in gross floor area and three storeys or less in building height and/or
• A licensed professional engineer and/or architect for large buildings and restaurants with seating for more than 30 persons.

 Review and include these with your building permit application:

• Provide barrier-free washrooms and barrier-free entrance
• Provide new or additional washrooms
• Construct fire separations including rated doors and windows
• Install or modify existing sprinklers
• Install exit signs and/or emergency lighting
• For restaurants you will need to use a licensed professional engineer to install an oil or grease interceptor and a commercial cooking exhaust
• Provide all required fire separations with proper reference to SB2, SB3 or ULC.

Before you Apply for a Building Permit

Ensure you have completed these, where applicable, before you apply for a building permit:

• Zoning Verification (if applicable)
• Site plan approval for new buildings (email [email protected] or call 905-546-2424 ext 1355)
• Encroachment approval if proposal encroaches onto City property

What is a Change of Use Permit?

A change of use is simply a Building Permit when you need to change from one use to another or if you are modifying or potentially adding a use.

A few examples of changes that would require a Building Permit include:

• changing from a clothing store to a hair salon
• adding a coffee counter/shop to an art store
• changing an office into a restaurant

Requirements for Your Building Permit Project

You must also submit these drawings with your application:

• Floor plans for each floor with details showing compliance with the requirements of the Ontario Building Code
• Elevations
• Cross sections
• Mechanical, structural and/or electrical plans or data
• Truss details
• Plot plan, survey or site plan

Application fee: Building permit fees must be paid in full at the time of the application.

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.

Property owners and contractors, the permit holders, must arrange for inspections of construction once they get their building permits. Building inspectors conduct inspections to make sure that the Ontario Building Code regulations and other applicable municipal by-law requirements are met.

Building Inspectors work closely with Fire Prevention, Public Health, Municipal Law Enforcement and Growth Management, to ensure permit holders adhere to all applicable local regulations. This involves:

• Fire alarm testing
• Informing Fire Prevention, Municipal Law Enforcement and Public Health of possible violations found during routine inspections
• Ensuring compliance with any agreements between the City of Hamilton and any other organization dealing with development of lands such as Development Agreements

Permit holders must ensure that they understand the Ontario Building Code, the City of Hamilton's Zoning By-law regulation and other relevant municipal by-laws as they pertain to their building projects.

Schedule an Inspection

Building inspectors inspect at key stages of construction that are prescribed in the Ontario Building Code. It is the permit holder's responsibility to arrange for inspections at the required inspection stages. Inspectors are also available to inspect work at non-prescribed times to assist permit holders with their projects.

Learn more about how to schedule a Building Inspection