The short answer
Cosmetic work rarely needs a building permit. Work that changes the structure, the plumbing, the insulation, the heating, the layout of rooms or the number of units in the house usually does. Electrical work always goes through a separate permit with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), whichever city you live in.
The middle ground is where it gets tricky. Kitchener lets you take out a non-load-bearing wall without a permit; Waterloo and Cambridge do not. Kitchener and Waterloo want a permit to re-insulate walls; Cambridge's published list does not mention insulation at all. Those differences are why a renovation that sails through in one city can stall in the next.
Painting, flooring, tile, new cabinets and countertops in the same layout, and replacing a toilet, sink or tub in the same spot.
Moving or adding plumbing, removing walls, finishing a basement, new or wider windows and doors, additions, decks over 24 inches and any new unit.
Project by project: what each city says
The table below uses each city's own published permit list. "Not listed" means the city's list does not address that work either way, so ask the building department before you start.
| Work | Kitchener | Waterloo | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinets, countertops, tile, paint and flooring in the same layout | No permit | Not listedNot mentioned on the city's list | Not listedCupboards without plumbing and painting need none; countertops, tile and flooring are not mentioned |
| Replacing a toilet, sink or tub in the same location | No permit | No permitSame type, same location | Not listed |
| Adding or moving plumbing fixtures, including a new bathroom | Permit | PermitIncluding new fixtures at an existing rough-in | Permit |
| Removing a non-load-bearing wall | No permitIn a single, semi-detached or townhouse dwelling | PermitAdding or removing walls, interior demolition | PermitAdding or removing walls |
| Removing a load-bearing wall, beam or column | Permit | PermitStructural change | PermitInterior structural alteration |
| Finishing an unfinished basement | Permit | Permit | Not listedNot named; adding walls or plumbing needs a permit |
| Adding a bedroom or changing a room's use | PermitAdding a bedroom to the basement | PermitChanging a room's use | Not listedNot listed on its own; adding or removing walls needs a permit |
| Re-insulating walls, ceilings or floors | Permit | PermitChanging insulation type or R-value | Not listed |
| A new window or door, or a wider opening | Permit | Not listedElevations required if windows change as part of a renovation | Permit |
| Replacing a window or door in the same opening | No permitIf no structure changes and no fire rating applies | Not listed | No permitWhere the size is not changing |
| Changing the heating source or how a space is heated | Permit | Permit | Not listedReplacing a forced-air furnace needs no permit |
| A new fireplace or wood stove | PermitWood-burning needs a permit; a gas fireplace does not | Not listed | Permit |
| A deck 24 inches (about 60 cm) or more above the ground, or with a roof | Permit | PermitMore than 24 inches, or roofed | Not listedCharges a deck permit fee but does not publish the height trigger |
| An addition | Permit | PermitAny addition that changes the footprint | Permit |
| Creating a basement apartment or other additional unit | Permit | Permit | Permit |
| Re-shingling a roof | No permit | No permitIf the old shingles are removed | No permit |
| Replacing siding | Not listed | No permit | No permit |
| Electrical work: new circuits, lighting, a panel upgrade | ESA permitThe city does not inspect electrical | ESA permit | ESA permit |
Permit building permit requiredNo permit the city says none is neededNot listed not on the city's published list, so ask firstESA permit electrical permit from the Electrical Safety Authority
Lists checked against kitchener.ca, waterloo.ca and cambridge.ca in October 2026. Cities update these pages; when in doubt, ask before you start. Heritage properties can need extra approval for exterior work, covered below.
Electrical work is a separate permit
In Ontario, electrical permits and inspections go through the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), not the city. Kitchener says so directly: it does not review or inspect electrical work.
- Only the homeowner or a licensed electrical contractor may do electrical work in a home. ESA is explicit that friends, family and neighbours cannot.
- A homeowner doing their own work still has to file a notification of work (a permit) with ESA before starting.
- A general contractor cannot do electrical work in a house unless it also holds an electrical contractor's licence. Ask who will do yours.
- When the work passes, ESA issues a Certificate of Acceptance, which ESA describes as an important document for insurance and resale.
On RTC projects, electrical work is done by licensed electrical contractors we have worked with for years, and they file with ESA for their scope.
How to apply in each city
All three cities accept applications online, and all three want the same core package for a house renovation: an application form, a Schedule 1 designer information form, and drawings to scale that show existing and proposed work.
| City | Where to apply | What they ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchener | Online services portal, or in person by appointment | Application form, Schedule 1 and a residential project information form. Drawings at 1:75 (3/16 inch to the foot) or larger, showing room names, window and door sizes, stairs, the furnace, new walls, existing ducts and beams, and ceiling heights. |
| Waterloo | Building permit portal, or the counter on the second floor of City Hall | Application form, owner declaration, Schedule 1 unless exempt, and an energy form if insulation changes. Floor plans showing walls, lintels, ceiling heights, insulation, room names, plumbing fixtures and smoke and CO alarm locations, plus structural plans for any structural change. |
| Cambridge | City Application Portal. The City Application Navigator builds a checklist for your property. | The provincial permit application, a residential permit information form and Schedule 1 for each discipline, plus whatever else your project calls for, such as heat loss calculations. Drawings at 3/16 inch to the foot or larger, showing existing and proposed fire separations. |
Who can draw the plans
All three cities allow a homeowner to prepare the drawings for their own house. Otherwise the drawings must come from a designer registered with the province under a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN), an architect or an engineer. Waterloo says larger or more complex projects need an architect, engineer or BCIN-qualified designer, and Kitchener requires a designer or architect once a building has three or more units. Ontario recommends checking a designer on the public QuARTS registry before hiring them.
How long a permit takes
Ontario's Building Code gives a municipality 10 days to issue or refuse a permit for a house once the application is complete. Kitchener and Waterloo both publish this as 10 business days. Waterloo allows 15 business days for a secondary unit in a house, and Kitchener lists 10 or 15 business days for additional dwelling units depending on the type. Cambridge does not publish a timeline, but the provincial timeframe applies.
Two things stretch it. The clock starts only when the application is complete, fees included, and there is no legislated timeframe for resubmissions after the city asks for changes. In practice, the fastest permit is a complete one. Waterloo, for example, does a preliminary check and tells you within 2 business days if anything is missing.
What permits cost in 2026
| Work | Kitchener | Waterloo | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior renovation or basement finish | $0.37 per sq ft ($95 minimum), plus a $250 deposit refunded after final inspection | $0.62 per sq ft for renovations, or $351 flat for a finished basement | $0.50 per sq ft ($143 minimum), plus a $25 zoning review |
| Addition | $1.07 per sq ft, plus the $250 refundable deposit | $1.41 per sq ft | Ask the city |
| Deck | $95 | $132 | $118 |
| New unit in an existing house | $0.37 per sq ft of finished space ($163 minimum), plus the $250 refundable deposit | $392 per unit, plus $0.62 per sq ft renovated | Ask the city |
| Minimum fee | $95 for interior work ($163 for a new unit) | $132 for any permit | $143 |
From each city's published fee pages and by-laws, October 2026. Waterloo and Cambridge note that HST does not apply. Kitchener calls its $250 a rebate fee: it comes back once the final inspection passes.
Inspections: when and how they are booked
Every permit comes with a list of required inspections, and work cannot be covered up until each one passes. Ontario requires the city to inspect within two working days of being notified.
- Kitchener lists these for interior and basement work: structural framing, above-ground plumbing rough-in, HVAC rough-in, insulation and vapour barrier, then the HVAC, plumbing and final building inspections. Book online or by phone by 3 p.m. the day before.
- Waterloo prints the mandatory inspections on the permit and asks that each is booked before the work is covered. The earliest slot is the next business day.
- Cambridge asks for at least 24 hours' notice to the inspector named on the permit, and warns that work continued without inspections may have to be opened up.
Keep the permit posted and the approved drawings on site. Inspectors will ask for them.
Heritage properties and districts
If your house is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act or sits in a heritage conservation district, exterior work may need a heritage permit as well as a building permit. One never replaces the other.
| City | Heritage conservation districts |
|---|---|
| Kitchener | St. Mary's, Upper Doon, Victoria Park, Civic Centre |
| Waterloo | MacGregor Albert, bounded by Seagram Drive, Bricker Avenue, Ezra Avenue, King Street and Caroline Street |
| Cambridge | Blair Village, Dickson Hill, Main Street. A Galt Core district was in planning as of the city's latest update (November 2025). |
Typical triggers are replacing windows or doors or changing their openings, porches and verandahs, additions, changes to siding, soffits, roofing or trim, and masonry work such as repointing. Waterloo notes that routine maintenance like re-shingling or HVAC upgrades usually does not need a heritage permit. Kitchener staff aim to process delegated heritage applications in 10 business days; others go to the Heritage Kitchener committee. For an individually designated property, council has 90 days to decide unless both sides agree to more time.
What happens if you skip the permit
Building without a required permit is an offence under Ontario's Building Code Act. The province lists maximum fines of $50,000 for an individual's first offence and $100,000 for later offences, with much higher limits for corporations. Cities can also order work stopped or corrected.
Starting early costs more too. Waterloo says it will double the permit fee if construction starts before the permit is issued (a sliding scale applies to larger fees), and Cambridge adds a surcharge equal to the fee, up to $9,180 in 2026. If work is covered before it is inspected, Cambridge says you may be ordered to open it up.
Cambridge makes a useful point: a contractor or designer can apply for the permit, but it is the property owner's responsibility to confirm one is in place before work begins.
How we handle permits on RTC projects
Permits are part of our process, not an extra. The deposit at step five covers site measurement, drawings and permit applications. We prepare the drawings, submit the application, answer the plans examiner's questions and book every inspection, and our licensed electrical partners file with ESA for their scope. You see the issued permit before demolition starts.
Planning a kitchen, a bathroom, a basement or an addition? The free site visit is the quickest way to find out exactly which approvals your project needs. For basement apartments, see our guide to legal basement units.
