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Permit guideWhitchurch-StouffvilleBuilding PermitsCommercial, Industrial & Institutional

Commercial, industrial and institutional building permits

You need a non-residential building permit to build any commercial, industrial or institutional building, and for exterior alterations to any non-housing building.

From Whitchurch-Stouffville’s own pages, checked Oct 2026.

  1. Check whether you need a permit

    • A new commercial, industrial or institutional building needs a non-residential building permit.
    • The permit also applies to an addition or exterior alteration to an existing non-residential building.
    • Alterations on a commercial, industrial or institutional building need a permit.
    • A non-housing permit also applies to interior alterations where a change of use under part 10 of the Ontario Building Code is proposed.
    • A portable classroom on the site of an existing school needs a permit.
  2. Only if you are making interior alterations on a non-housing building

    Interior alterations: their own plans, forms and fee

    You need a permit to complete alterations on a commercial, industrial or institutional building. A non-housing permit also applies to interior alterations where a change of use under part 10 of the Ontario Building Code is proposed.

    Site plan details

    Your site plan needs to include or identify:

    • A zoning summary
    • The location of the proposed building
    • Overall dimensions of all buildings (width by length)

    Architectural plans

    You need to include the following architectural plans in your application:

    • Proposed and existing floor plans for every floor level
    • Building elevations with limiting distance calculations
    • Stair and ramp construction details
    • Fire separation locations

    Structural plans

    You need to include the following structural plans in your application:

    • Footing and foundation design
    • Floor framing information (joists, beams, lintels)
    • Roof framing information
    • Columns and beam schedules

    Other documents

    You also need to include the following documents with your application:

    • Approved site grading
    • Heat loss, heat gain and duct calculations
    • On-site sewage system plans (for properties served by private systems), including system drawings and details and a statement of design
    • Mechanical (HVAC) plans and drawings
    • Fire protection plans
    • Plumbing drawings
    • Site servicing plan
    • Electrical plans
    • Emergency plans
    • Mechanical equipment and design specifications

    Interior alteration forms

    To apply for a permit, please submit the required forms, plans and documents to the Building Services counter located in our Municipal Offices at 111 Sandiford Dr.

    Interior alteration permit fee

    • Commercial & institutional building: $0.65 per square foot (≈ $7.00 per m²)
    • Industrial building: $0.65 per square foot (≈ $7.00 per m²)
    • $220 minimum
  3. Only if you are building a portable classroom on the site of an existing school

    Portable classrooms: a temporary structure permit

    The Town's Portable Classroom Permits page sets out the required application documents and permit fees:

    Portable classroom plans

    You need to include the following plans in your application package:

    • A site plan identifying the location of the proposed portable classroom, fire route, fire hydrants and fire department connections, a zoning summary and all proposed setback dimensions to property lines
    • Building elevations with limiting distance calculations
    • Construction details and construction notes
    • Cross sections to show existing and proposed building construction and specifications of all floors, walls, and roof assemblies
    • Electrical plans, including fire protection plans
    • Fire separation locations
    • Floor plans for every floor level
    • Footing and foundation design
    • Mechanical (HVAC/Plumbing) plans, including HVAC drawings, plumbing drawings and site servicing plans
    • Ontario Building Code Matrix
    • Room finish and door schedules
    • Sections and details plan
    • Stair and ramp construction details

    Portable classroom forms

    To apply for a temporary structure permit, please submit the following forms and plans through the Permit Portal or by email.

    Portable classroom permit fee

    • $650 flat fee per portable

  4. Prepare your plans0 of 30

    You need to include the following plans and documents in your application package.

    You need an account to see these 30 items.It’s free. Use Sign in at the top of the page to create one, then tick the items off on any device and print them as a checklist.

  5. Complete the forms7

  6. Submit your application

    • Online, through the Town's Permit Portal
    • Or by email

  7. Pay the fee

    • Commercial building: $1.60 per square foot (≈ $17.22 per m²)
    • Industrial building: $1.50 per square foot (≈ $16.15 per m²)
    • Institutional building: $2.15 per square foot (≈ $23.14 per m²)
    • $220 minimum
    • Cash, cheque or debit

Written from Whitchurch-Stouffville’s own pages as published on 16 October 2026. The municipality decides what a permit needs: confirm with it before you apply. Legal notice

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