What are the steps before construction?
| Step | When it applies | |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning check | Every job: the use has to be allowed, and the building has to fit the zoning | The areas page |
| Site plan approval | Major renovations, additions and new construction for commercial, industrial, institutional and multiple residential uses | Site plan approval |
| Other applicable law | Heritage, a conservation authority, the escarpment, a highway or the LRT corridor | Building near the escarpment or a creek |
| Stamped drawings | Most commercial construction: an architect, an engineer, or both | Who may draw the permit drawings |
| Building permit | Every job that builds, alters or demolishes | What a building permit costs |
The site plan rule is the City's: final approval comes before applying for a building permit for major building renovations, additions or for new construction
in those uses (City of Hamilton, Site Plan Approval, read November 5, 2026). The drawing rule is too: for most industrial/commercial/institutional construction
, the drawings must be stamped by an architect, professional engineer or both (City of Hamilton, Hiring a Designer for Building Permit Drawings, read November 5, 2026).
What does the City review on the permit?
The zoning and other applicable law, the Building Code, the mechanical plans, and fire. The City: In the case of some multi-family residential, commercial, industrial and institutional applications with fire protection systems, these will be reviewed for compliance with the Ontario Fire Code.
(City of Hamilton, Building Permit Review and Approval, read November 5, 2026) If the plan cannot meet the zoning, a minor variance comes first; see when you need a minor variance.
What does a commercial permit cost?
The City charges by floor area, with separate rates for a shell, for finishing only, and for finished space (City of Hamilton, Building Permit Fees, read November 5, 2026):
| Work | Fee per m² |
|---|---|
| Retail, finished | $20.05 |
| Retail, finishing only (a fit-out) | $5.07 |
| Office up to 10 storeys, finished | $24.14 |
| Office up to 10 storeys, finishing only | $5.85 |
| Restaurants and other assembly buildings | $27.21 |
| Industrial, finished | $14.06 |
Fire alarm, sprinkler, kitchen exhaust and sign permits have their own fees in the same schedule, and a foundation permit for a Part 3 building up to 1,200 m² is $1,125.
How does JDT run a commercial job?
The same way as a house. The work is drawn on a picture of the property before the price, the whole scope and price go into one written proposal with the work listed in the order it is built, and payments follow the stages. Written change orders cover anything that changes. The inspections follow the City's stages, set out in the inspections on a build. Larger home projects are on the additions and ADUs pages. Two Ontario rules sit beside the City's: Notice of Project and the constructor, and the owner's list of asbestos and designated substances.
How do I start?
Call (905) 818-0106, or send a request with the address, the current use of the space and what it needs to become.