# What should I know before a build in Hamilton?

> Plain answers for Hamilton homeowners planning a build: the renovation contract, the building permit and checking a contractor, each with its source.

- Canonical HTML: https://www.jdtconstruction.ca/guides/
- Section: Home > Guides
- Business: JDT Construction Inc., Hamilton, ON, Canada (serves Hamilton)
- Phone: (905) 818-0106 | Email: johnny@jdtconstruction.ca
- Page updated: 2026-11-02

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Guides

Three things decide whether a porch, deck or garage goes smoothly before the first footing is dug: a written contract that covers what Ontario says it should, a building permit with the right person applying for it, and a contractor you have checked with the City of Hamilton. JDT Construction Inc. answers each in a guide below, quoting the City and the Government of Ontario beside every rule. Free to share and quote.

## Which guide answers my question?

- [What a renovation contract should say: Ontario's checklist, the 10% estimate rule and the 10 day cooling off period, beside JDT's own agreement.](https://www.jdtconstruction.ca/guides/renovation-contracts/)
- [Who applies for a building permit: The owner or an agent, the fee up front, the contractor's licence number, and the inspections that follow.](https://www.jdtconstruction.ca/guides/building-permits/)
- [How to check a contractor: The City of Hamilton trade licence, where to look it up, and the other checks Ontario recommends.](https://www.jdtconstruction.ca/guides/contractor-licence/)

## Where do the answers come from?

From the City of Hamilton's [Building Division](https://www.hamilton.ca/build-invest-grow/construction-renovation/residential-building-renovation/building-permit) and [trade licence](https://www.hamilton.ca/build-invest-grow/starting-small-business/business-licences/trade-licence) pages and the Government of Ontario's [home renovation rights](https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs) page, each linked beside the rule it supports and dated the day it was read. Where JDT's own agreement adds something, the guide says it is JDT's. Whether your build needs a permit at all is on the pages for [decks](https://www.jdtconstruction.ca/builds/decks/), [covered porches](https://www.jdtconstruction.ca/builds/covered-porches/) and [garages](https://www.jdtconstruction.ca/builds/garages/).

Published by JDT Construction Inc., Hamilton. Updated November 2, 2026. Free to share and quote, with a link back to this page.

## A question about your build?

Call to talk it through, or send photos of the house.

[Call (905) 818-0106](tel:+19058180106) [Request a quote](https://www.jdtconstruction.ca/request/)

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JDT Construction Inc. Call (905) 818-0106. Full site: https://www.jdtconstruction.ca/