WE PREPARE BUILDING PERMIT DRAWINGS FOR PORCH

A porch is a structure with a roof and at least one side that is open and unenclosed that may be accessed by stairs from grade. 

All new porches must meet Zoning By-law requirements and all other applicable regulations.

A new porch constructed with footings and foundations regardless of its size, if it serves as an entrance or exit from a house must have a building permit before you start construction.

Porch Foundation

Footing and foundation construction details, including footing size, spacing, depth, height above grade and frost protection details.

Plan View of the Porch

Dimensions of porch, wall (if any) and roof construction details (size and spacing of framing members) including support details at all bearing points; roof slopes; roof space ventilation; location of skylights and surrounding framing; size, grade and spacing of roof rafters; roof joists (if cathedral or flat); ceiling joists; collar ties and ridge supports for conventional roof framing and the framing for all openings (windows and doors); if engineered trusses are proposed – engineered truss details are required at the time of submission

floor joist material, size, spacing and dimension (span) where a new floor is provided

Section

Illustration of footing, foundation, porch floor construction, porch wall construction (if any), porch roof construction, 

beam and lintel sizes

porch wall cladding and porch roof covering details

Porch Construction Details

• Illustration of the method of connection of the porch to the house (floor and roof) - attachment between the house and porch, the porch and beams, the beam and posts and piers. and the size of the ledger board
• Details of porch footings
• Sizes and locations of all porch columns; sizes, locations and spans of all beams.
• Porch Stair Construction Details, including height and depth of stair treads and headroom above stairs
• Porch Guard Construction Details, including information about openings and climbability, and the location of the guards with respect to stairways, landings, and edges of the proposed platform.

Site Plan

Site plan showing property lines, location of existing buildings and proposed porch with overall dimensions including setback dimensions to property lines and adjacent buildings, dimensioned parking areas, driveways, front yard landscaping, hard and soft landscape treatments, summary of permitted and proposed zoning provisions and right-of-way and/or easements referenced to a current topographical boundary survey. 

Lot Grading Plan (if deemed necessary by the municipality)

Ministers' Ruling or BMEC Approvals are required for innovative materials or systems. 

Constructing or altering a porch without a building permit can result in numerous problems including:

• Complaints from neighbours
• Not conforming to the Ontario Building Code
• Incurring liability should an injury occur to someone (visiting your property) as a result of a porch not conforming to the Building Code
• Extra cost in having to reconstruct the porch in accordance with the Zoning By-law and Ontario Building Code
• Possible demolition of porch
• Possible minor variance for lot coverage or setbacks may be required

Typical Zoning Provisions for a Porch:

Typical Zoning provisions permit porches in the  front, interior and exterior side yards in accordance with the following regulations: 

(a) No part may be closer than 1.2 m front lot line or exterior side lot line and no closer than the required interior side yard for the main building

(b) The maximum permitted encroachment into the required rear yard setback is 3 m. 

(c) Stairs or landings associated with a porch may not be located any closer to the front and exterior side lot line than 0.5 m and from the interior side lot line 0.5 m, or meet the minimum interior side yard whichever is less. 

Zoning provisions vary significantly between different municipalities.

If one or more municipal zoning by-law requirements cannot be met and it is not possible to revise the proposed porch to fully conform to the municipal by-law, you are provided the option of seeking minor variance approval. If all provisions of the municipal by-law are met no minor variance approval is required and you may proceed to the next step in the building permit application process for the proposed porch. 

Stamped Architectural & Engineering Drawings

Foundation - footing and foundation construction details, including footing size, spacing, depth, height above grade and frost protection details.

Plan View - dimensions of porch, wall (if any) and roof construction details (size and spacing of framing members) and the framing for all openings (windows and doors); if engineered trusses are proposed – engineered truss details are required at the time of submission

joist material, size, spacing and dimension (span) where a new floor is provided

Section - illustration of footing, foundation, porch floor construction, wall construction (if any), roof construction, 

beam and lintel sizes

wall cladding and roof covering details

Details

illustration of the method of connection to the house (floor and roof)

Details of footings, 

Sizes and locations of all columns; sizes, locations and spans of all beams.

Stair Construction Details, including height and depth of stair treads and headroom above stairs

Guard Construction Details, including information about openings and climbability, and the location of the guards with respect to stairways, landings, and edges of the proposed platform.

Cost: $1,985⁺ʰˢᵗ

Stamped Engineering Site Plan

Site plan showing property lines, location of existing/proposed buildings with overall dimensions including setback dimensions to property lines and adjacent buildings, dimensioned parking areas, driveways, hard and soft landscape treatments, summary of permitted and proposed zoning provisions and right-of-way and/or easements referenced to a current topographical boundary survey. 

Cost: $975⁺ʰˢᵗ plus the cost of a new topographical boundary survey.

Stamped Engineering Lot Grading Plan (if deemed necessary by the municipality) Cost - $975⁺ʰˢᵗ

Up to 5,000ft² of Urban Subdivision Infill Lot, a Topographical Boundary Survey prepared by an OLS would cost $2,395⁺ʰˢᵗ plus disbursements of $295 to $385. Sloped and/or difficult terrain, excessive vegetation, waterfront properties, and large parcels of land may cost extra.

If deemed necessary, our fee for

• applying to the  Committee of Adjustment for a minor variance on behalf of the property owner for the proposed porch
• attend one Committee of Adjustment meeting to introduce the minor variance application and
• answer any questions that the public or the Committee of Adjustment may have

is $985⁺ʰˢᵗ.

If the application is deferred at the COA meeting, attending subsequent Committee of Adjustment meetings would cost $495⁺ʰˢᵗ.

Our fee for applying to the Municipality for a building permit for a proposed porch on behalf of the property owner and addressing any comments that the Municipality may have is $495⁺ʰˢᵗ per porch.

For Additional Information please contact one of our key design team members:

• Miaoyi Xue, P.Eng.
• Joo Min Park, MEng, P.Eng.
• Saloni Khoja, B.Arch.
• Wei Ming Lin, P.Eng.
• Rui Cong Xia, P.Eng
• Liu Sun, B.Des (Arch)
• Pamela M. Jerezano, B.Arch.

LAND DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS

Land Line: 905 940 9937

After Hours / Text Messages: 647 877 8262

Email: landbuildex@gmail.com 

Once you receive your porch permit, please read the approved permit plans and documents thoroughly before commencing the construction of the porch. The construction of the porch must be in accordance with the approved porch permit drawings issued with your porch permit. Any changes made before or during the construction of the Porch must be submitted to the municipality for approval.

Inspections by the municipality are also required during construction of the porch to ensure that all work is done in accordance with the approved porch permit drawings. Some key inspections include:

• Prior to pouring any concrete for piers or footings
• Framing inspection
• Final inspection

The Building Permit must be posted on the property in a conspicuous location and the approved porch permit documents must be kept on site and available during inspections. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that the contractor contacts the municipality to request an inspection before proceeding to the next phase of construction of the porch. All required inspections are listed on the building permit. Failure to schedule will result in not being allowed to occupy or use the porch and may also result in uncovering the work. 

We prepare stamped engineering permit drawings to obtain building permits from any municipality in Ontario, including the following:

County of Brant, City of Brantford, City of Chatham-Kent, Haldimand County, City of Hamilton, Norfolk County, City of Kawartha Lakes, City of Toronto

REGIONAL MUNICIPALITIES

Durham

    City of Oshawa, City of Pickering, Municipality of Clarington, Town of Ajax, Town of Whitby, Township of Brock, Township of Scugog, Township of Uxbridge

Halton

    City of Burlington, Town of Halton Hills, Town of Milton, Town of Oakville

Niagara

    City of Niagara Falls, City of Port Colborne, City of St. Catharines, City of Thorold, City of Welland, Town of Fort Erie, Town of Grimsby, Town of Lincoln, Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Town of Pelham, Township of Wainfleet, Township of West Lincoln

Peel

    City of Brampton, City of Mississauga, Town of Caledon

Waterloo

    City of Cambridge, City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo, Township of North Dumfries, Township of Wellesley, Township of Wilmot, Township of Woolwich

York

    City of Vaughan, Town of Aurora, Town of East Gwillimbury, Town of Georgina, City of Markham, Town of Newmarket, City of Richmond Hill, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Township of King

COUNTIES

Dufferin

    Town of Grand Valley, Town of Mono, Town of Orangeville, Town of Shelburne, Township of Amaranth, Township of East Garafraxa, Township of Melancthon, Township of Mulmur

Elgin

    City of St Thomas, Municipality of Bayham, Municipality of Central Elgin, Municipality of Dutton/Dunwich, Municipality of West Elgin, Town of Aylmer, Township of Malahide, Township of Southwold

Hastings

    City of Belleville, City of Quinte West, Municipality of Centre Hastings, Municipality of Hastings Highlands, Municipality of Marmora and Lake, Municipality of Tweed,  Town of Bancroft, Town of Deseronto, Township of Carlow/Mayo, Township of Faraday, Township of Limerick, Township of Madoc, Township of Stirling-Rawdon, Township of Tudor & Cashel, Township of Tyendinaga, Township of Wollaston

Northumberland

    Municipality of Brighton, Town of Cobourg, Municipality of Port Hope, Municipality of Trent Hills, Township of Alnwick/Haldimand, Township of Cramahe, Township of Hamilton

Oxford

    City of Woodstock,  Town of Ingersoll, Town of Tillsonburg, Township of Blandford Blenheim, Township of East Zorra-Tavistock, Township of Norwich, Township of South-West Oxford, Township of Zorra

Peterborough

    City of Peterborough, Township of Asphodel-Norwood, Township of Cavan Monaghan, Township of Douro-Dummer, Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen, Township of North Kawartha, Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, Township of Selwyn, Municipality of Trent Lakes

Simcoe

    City of Barrie, City of Orillia, Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury,  Town of Collingwood,  Town of Innisfil, Town of Midland, Town of New Tecumseth, Town of Penetanguishene, Town of Wasaga Beach, Township of Adjala-Tosorontio, Township of Clearview, Township of Essa, Township of Oro-Medonte, Township of Ramara, Township of Severn, Township of Springwater, Township of Tay, Township of Tiny

Wellington

    City of Guelph, Town of Erin, Town of Minto, Township of Centre Wellington, Township of Guelph-Eramosa, Township of Mapleton, Township of Puslinch, Township of Wellington North

County of Perth

City of Stratford, Municipality of North Perth, Town of St. Marys, Township of Perth East, Township of Perth South, Municipality of West Perth

County of Middlesex

City of London, Municipality of North Middlesex, Municipality of Southwest Middlesex, Municipality of Thames Centre, Township of Adelaide Metcalfe, Township of Lucan Biddulph, Township of Middlesex Centre, Township of Strathroy - Caradoc, Village of Newbury

County of Huron

Municipality of Bluewater, Municipality of Central Huron, Municipality of Huron East, Municipality of Morris-Turnberry, Municipality of South Huron, Town of Goderich, Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, Township of Howick, Township of North Huron

County of Bruce

Municipality of Arran Elderslie, Municipality of Brockton, Municipality of Kincardine, Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, Municipality of South Bruce, Town of Saugeen Shores, Town of South Bruce Peninsula, Township of Huron-Kinloss

County of Grey

City of Owen Sound, Town of The Blue Mountains, Town of Hanover, Municipality of Meaford, Township of Chatsworth, Township of Georgian Bluffs, Municipality of Grey Highlands, Township of Southgate, Municipality of West Grey

County of Haliburton

Township of Algonquin Highlands, Municipality of Dysart et al, Municipality of Highlands East, Township of Minden Hills

District of Muskoka

Town of Gravenhurst, Town of Bracebridge, Town of Huntsville, Township of Muskoka Lakes, Township of Lake of Bays, Township of Georgian Bay