There are numerous laws and regulations that relate to construction and renovation work (the Building By-law, zoning regulations, codes for plumbing and electrical systems, etc), and Building Permits will only be issued for work that is allowed under these regulations.
Issued permits are followed by inspections at specific preset stages. These inspections are aimed to confirm that the work is constructed according to the issued permit plans and in accordance with the Building Code Act, Ontario Building Code, and all applicable laws and regulations.
If you do not have a permit for work that has already started, and it turns out you need a permit for that work, you could face serious – and potentially costly – consequences, including:
NOTE: As the homeowner, you are responsible for paying these fees or penalties yourself even if you have hired a contractor who assured you that permits were not needed.