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Permit guideKitchenerBuilding PermitsAdditions & Alterations

Addition, interior alteration, load-bearing wall and HVAC permits

You need a building permit for interior alterations, including partial and full basement finishing projects, to build an addition on your home, to remove a load-bearing wall, column, lintel or beam, and to change your HVAC heating system.

From Kitchener’s own pages, checked Oct 2026.

The municipality lists what to submit. CodeEase shows what the building code asks of it. See CodeEase →

  1. Check whether you need a permit

    The list below includes examples of projects that need a building permit. It is not a complete list.

    • finishing the basement of a house
    • adding a bedroom to the basement
    • constructing an addition to a building
    • removing a load-bearing wall, column, lintel or beam
    • changing the heating source in an existing building (ex. electric baseboard heaters replaced with forced air gas, or vice versa)
    No building permit

    The list below includes examples of projects that do not need a building permit.

    • painting, wall papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work
    • replacing a door or window within an existing opening, where no structural members are changed, and no fire-resistance rating is in place
    • removing a non-load-bearing wall in a single, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling
  2. Only if your project is an interior alteration, including a partial or full basement finishing project

    Interior alterations and finishing your basement

    You need a building permit for interior alterations, including partial and full basement finishing projects.

    Process guide

    Construction drawings

    • window and door sizes
    • room names
    • kitchen and/or bathroom layout
    • location of stairs, furnace, etc.
    • new wall construction
    • location of existing ducting or overhead beams
    • ceiling height

    Forms

    • application form
    • schedule 1 form
      Another Kitchener page says this differently: “The Ontario Building Code requires us to ensure all drawings submitted are prepared and reviewed by a qualified, registered designer, architect or professional engineer.” (Apply for a building permit). Confirm before you apply: City of Kitchener, 519-741-2312.
    • Project Information: Residential

    Fees

    • permit fee: $0.37 per square foot (≈ $3.98 per m²) or $95 (minimum)
    • rebate fee: $250 (automatically refunded when the final building inspection is approved)
  3. Only if you are building an addition on your home

    Building an addition

    You need a building permit to build an addition on your home.

    Site plan

    Show these items in your site plan:

    • property boundaries
    • existing building(s)
    • other structure locations (example: shed)
    • proposed location of the addition
    • dimensions and distance to the property lines of the proposed addition

    Floor plans

    • note and size all structural elements such as floor joints, rafters, beams, columns, lintels, and footing pad sizes
    • window/door locations and width and height
    • room names including finished basements
    • stair location and direction, cabinets and fixtures (fridges, stove, sinks, etc.)
    • show Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detector
    • dimensions of interior and exterior walls and overall dimensions
    • provide floor area totals in square feet for each level including basement
    • deck plan and guard details (if applicable)

    Elevations

    • show size and location of existing window and door openings
    • label wall cladding and roofing material
    • show finished grade
    • show footing and foundations below grade (broken lines) including steps in foundation

    Wall sections and details (cross-section)

    • show materials to be used on section
    • locate finished grade, dimension grade to exterior cladding
    • dimensions for all floor heights

    Construction notes

    provide construction notes for:

    • exterior and interior wall assemblies
    • all floors assemblies
    • roof / ceiling assemblies
    • footings and foundation
    • weeping tile and damp proofing

    Details

    details for:

    • items that are not typical and/or clarify construction
    • examples – plans view for unique stair, guards, deck connection to house, section of cathedral / vaulted ceiling

    Other information

    • truss layout drawings (if applicable)
    • pre-engineering floor joist layout drawings (if applicable)

    Forms

    Fees

    • permit fee: $1.07 per square foot (≈ $11.52 per m²)
    • rebate fee: $250 (automatically refunded when the final building inspection is approved)
  4. Only if you are removing a load-bearing wall, column, lintel or beam

    Removing a load-bearing wall

    You need a building permit to remove a load-bearing wall, column, lintel or beam.

    Process guide

    Floor level where the wall is being removed

    Plan view – for the floor level where the wall is being removed

    • direction of the existing floor joists span
    • new beam sizes and supports
    • distance measure from the new beam to the next wall or beam that is supporting the floor joists (for each side of the beam)

    Floor levels above and below

    Plan view – for all floor levels above and below the floor where the wall is being removed

    • direction of the existing floor joists span
    • all existing beams below the new posts from above and their sizes and post locations
    • distance measured from the existing beam to the next wall or beam that is supporting the floor joists (for each side of the beam)

    Forms

    Fees

    • permit fee: $95
    • rebate fee: $250 (automatically refunded when the final building inspection is approved)
  5. Only if you are changing your HVAC heating system

    Changing an HVAC system

    You need a permit to change your HVAC heating system.

    Forms

    Fees

    • permit fee: $95 (per residential suite)
    • rebate fee: $250 (automatically refunded when the final building inspection is approved)

  6. Check the drawing requirements

    • be fully dimensioned - elevation and construction floor plans shall be drawn to scale: min. 1:75 or 3/16” = 1’
    • note all sizes and types of construction materials that will be used, as well as the locations of these materials
    • note finishes to all walls, ceilings and floors
    • all existing and proposed fire separations
    • Your drawings must differentiate between the existing building and the proposed new work.

  7. Submit your application

    You can apply for your building permit online or in person. All projects must follow our zoning bylaw.

    • Use our online services.
    • To apply for a building permit in person, please book an appointment. Please bring your completed forms and drawings to your appointment.

Written from Kitchener’s own pages as published on 23 October 2026. The municipality decides what a permit needs: confirm with it before you apply. Legal notice

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