Building Services and Permits | City of Peterborough

You need a building permit for many construction activities, including residential, industrial, and commercial projects. A building permit allows us to ensure that projects are done safely and according to code. We are here to help!

Learn which projects require a permit, how our online application portal works and our current fees.

Basement Finishing Guide

Get started on your basement renovation with guidelines on permit requirements.

Additional Residential Units

Our Additional Residential Unit (ARU) Guide outlines the permit process for both new and existing ARUs.

Signs

Planning to install a sign in the City of Peterborough? Find out what information to include in your permit application.

Swimming Pools

Learn about the application process before you install a swimming pool on private property.

Development Charges

New development can lead to new infrastructure. Development Charges help cover the costs associated with growth.

Heritage Permits

A permit is required to perform certain alterations on a designated heritage property or property in a Heritage Conservation District.

Property Standards Complaint Form

Property Standards help promote, ensure and enforce a set of general repair and safety standards within our community.

Lodging or Rooming Houses

Zoning compliance and licences are required to operate both small and large lodging houses.

Projects that require a permit

Constructing a new building that's more than 15 square metres (161 square feet)
Installing a swimming pool (Pool Enclosure Permit)
Demolishing or removing all or part of a building
Changing a building's use
Installing, changing or removing partitions and load-bearing walls
Making new openings for, or changing the size of, doors and windows
Building a garage, balcony or deck or enclosing an existing deck
Excavating a basement or constructing a foundation
Installing or modifying any life safety or fire suppression system, such as fire alarms, sprinklers, standpipe, or fixed extinguishing systems
Installing or modifying heating, plumbing, and air conditioning systems, fireplaces, fireplace inserts, or woodstoves
Installing or renovating plumbing
Building or reconstructing a chimney
Finishing a basement or converting a room to a bedroom

If you're doing any construction or renovations, you will need to check whether you need a building permit before you can start on the project.

Please contact the tax department at 705-742-7777 ext. 1865 to discuss any possible tax implications resulting from a change to your property.

Projects that do not require a permit

Replacing existing same size doors, subject to distance from lot lines, and same size windows, not acting as egress windows, subject to distance from lot lines
Installing siding on small residential buildings, subject to distance from property lines
Building under 15 square metres (161 square feet), but must conform to zoning setbacks
Re-shingling a roof, provided there is no structural modification
Installing eaves troughs, provided that drainage is contained on your property
Damp-proofing basements
Painting or decorating, including interior finishes, but excluding insulation
Reinstalling/replacing kitchen or bathroom cupboards without plumbing
Erecting a fence, except for swimming pool and hot tub enclosures

A shed is exempt from the requirement to obtain a building permit under section 8 of the Act and is exempt from compliance with the Ontario Building Code (OBC), provided that the shed:

(a) is not more than 15 m2 in gross area; (b) is not more than one storey in building height; (c) is not attached to a building or any other structure; (d) is used only for storage purposes ancillary to a principal building on the lot, and (e) does not have plumbing.

Note: Should a shed structure exceed any one of the above mentioned requirements then it would require a building permit and need to conform to the technical requirements as set forth within the OBC. Additionally, the location on the property of the shed structure and its set back distance from the property line must be in accordance with the property specific requirements as stated in the City of Peterborough Zoning By-law.

Apply for a permit online

Use our online application portal to apply for the following types of building permits:

Buildings less than 600 m² and three storeys

Construction of an addition or renovation to an existing residential building.
The addition of Additional Residential Units (Secondary Suites).
Open decks
New, renovation or addition to existing commercial, institutional or mixed use (commercial and residential)
Complete building demolition for commercial, institutional or mixed use (commercial and residential)

Buildings greater than 600 m² and three storeys

New buildings for commercial, institutional , industrial uses or mixed use (commercial and residential)
New, renovation or addition to existing for residential use.
Complete building demolition for residential use.

Also available

Curb Cut Permit

Online application portal

We recommend using a standard desktop computer to complete permit applications through our online portal. Mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets may cause technical issues. If you don't have access to a desktop computer, please visit our kiosk in Building Services to complete your application. We provide all necessary equipment to create a profile and apply for a permit through the online portal. The kiosk is also equipped with a scanner to create digital versions of hard copy drawings and/or documents as part of your application. The kiosk is available on a drop-in basis during regular business hours.

Fees and forms

Building permit fees

Note: All building areas determined as gross area in the Ontario Building Code. Minimum fee $225, unless otherwise noted.

2025 Building permit fees
Construction type	Administrative Fee	2025 permit fee
All New Residential Construction Including Single & Multi Units, Row House, Apartments, etc. (Including Additions)	$125.00	$28.27/m² of gross floor area min. $225
Residential Alterations Without Identifiable Gross Area	$62.50	$32.63/$1,000 construction value, min. $225
Change of Use	N/A	$245/permit
Conditional Permit	N/A	Full Fee
Occupancy Permit	N/A	No charge if final permit complete; $465 if building is unfinished
Re-Inspections	N/A	$465/permit
Transfer Ownership	N/A	$242/permit
Construction Commenced Without a Permit	N/A	$242/permit
General Information: Property Standards By-law (Chapter 611) of the City of Peterborough Municipal Code	N/A	Available at Office Only (No Charge)
Construction Requirements for Guards (SB-7)	N/A	Available at Office Only (No Charge)

Industrial Commercial Institutional Fees

ICI Fees
Construction type	Administrative Fee	Permit fee
Shell	$125	$20.18/m² of gross floor area, min. $225
Tenant Fit-Up and Alteration	$125	$28.41/$1,000 construction value, min. $225
Finished	$125	$26.90/m² of gross floor area, min. $225
ICI Alterations Without Identifiable Gross Area	$125	$28.40/$1,000 construction value, min. $225

Miscellaneous categories - fixed fee

Misc. fixed fees
Construction type	Administrative Fee	Permit Fee
Demolition of Building Up to 600 m² or Up to 3 Storeys	$100	$282/permit
Demolition Over 600 m² or 3 Storeys	$100	$530/permit
Designated Structures & Stand Alone Works	$62.50	$265/permit
Plumbing/Mechanical Permit 10 Fixtures or Less	$62.50	$140/permit
Plumbing/Mechanical Permit More Than 10 Fixtures	$62.50	$260/permit
Pool Enclosure Permit	TBD	$262/permit
Solar Panel Permit	$62.50	$275/permit
Change of Use	$62.50	$245/permit
Conditional Permit	N/A	Full Fee
Occupancy Permit	N/A	No charge if final permit complete; $465 if building is unfinished
Re-Inspections	N/A	$465/permit
Transfer Ownership	N/A	$242/permit
Construction Commenced Without a Permit	N/A	$242/permit
General Information: Property Standards By-law (Chapter 611) of the City of Peterborough Municipal Code	N/A	Available at Office Only (No Charge)
Construction Requirements for Guards (SB-7)	N/A	Available at Office Only (No Charge)
Cancelled Building Permit Refund	N/A	Refund in accordance with Building By-law 10-048

Septic fees

Fees for septic permits

No administrative fees applicable to the permits listed below.

Septic fees
Construction type	Permit Fee
Class 4 Sewage System Permit - Less Than 4500L Per Day	$750/permit
Class 4 Sewage System Permit - Greater Than 4500L Per Day and Less Than 10,000L Per Day	$1200/permit
Class 4 Sewage System Tank Permit - Replacement Only	$400/permit
Class 5 Sewage System Permit - Holding Tank	$750/permit
Class 3 Sewage System Permit - Cesspool	$500/permit
Class 2 Sewage System Permit - Greywater System	$500/permit
Trench Bed Repair or Extension Permit 16m or Less	$500/permit
Filter Bed Repair Permit, Replacement or Extension 6m or Less	$500/permit
Transfer Ownership	$375/permit
Existing System Inspection (Change of Use, Addition, Comments on Minor Variance or Rezoning)	$400/permit
Rezoning or Minor Variance Comments Requiring a Site Visit	$250/permit
Severance or Subdivision Comments - First Lot	$300/permit
Severance or Subdivision Comments - Each Additional Lot	$150/permit
Severance or Subdivision Re-Inspection - First Lot	$300/permit
Severance or Subdivision Re-Inspection - Each Additional Lot	$150/permit
Copies of Archived Permits	$35/permit
File Search (e.g. Lawyers, Real Estate), Copies and Letter	$125/permit
Septic System Re-Inspection Fee (Source Water Protection Area)	$325/permit

Forms and documents

Forms

Request for Information

Complete the fillable Request for Information form below and submit to Building Services. If the fillable version does not open, you can download, print and complete the download/print version from the list below.

Request for Information - Building Services fillable form (fillable PDF form)
Request for Information - Building Services for download/print (download and print PDF)

Documents and Resources

By-laws

Adequate and Suitable Heat for Rented Dwelling Accommodation By-law 1958-97
Fencing Along Driveways By-law 94-64
Licensed Rental Premises By-law 17-067
Property Maintenance By-law 96-41
Property Standards - Chapter 611
Signs on Private Property By-law 15-045

Building forms and application process

Building Services staff review your application for compliance with the Ontario Building Code, the zoning by-law, site plan, and other applicable laws. It may be sent to other municipal officials for consideration.

If you're applying for a simple alteration or addition, it can usually be dealt with fairly quickly. It takes longer to process more complex proposals.

If there are concerns with your proposal, our building officials will discuss them with you before considering refusal of a permit.

When your application review is done, we will notify you by e-mail or phone if there are any outstanding requirements or concerns. If you want to ask about the status of your application, please call 705-742-7777 ext. 1892. If your application is approved and there are no outstanding requirements, we will let you know through e-mail or by phone that you can receive your permit through e-mail or pick up the permit at the Building Services office at City Hall.

There are two options available to apply for a building permit:

email a completed application for signs, residential or commercial permits to either signs@peterborough.ca, residentialpermits@peterborough.ca or commercialpermits@peterborough.ca
Hand deliver a completed application to Building Services Division and drop in the bin with a submission form filled out and attached to application. Location: north end of City Hall, 500 George St. N. (red brick building or Carnegie wing of City Hall).

Invoices and payments

If you have received an invoice for payment for your building permit application, you can pay online or mail in a cheque to:

City of Peterborough, Building Services Division

500 George St. N.

Peterborough, ON K9H 3R9

Code of Conduct

The City of Peterborough's building officials are subject to the Corporate Code of Conduct as required by the Building Code Act. If you have any questions or wish to file a complaint pertaining to the Code of Conduct and staff of the Building Division, please contact the City Clerk at 705-742-7777 ext. 1799.