Tents

Are you planning to set up a temporary tent on your property for a special occasion like a wedding? You might need a building permit. Start the permit process at least 10 business days before your event to ensure everything is ready on time. Don’t let a missing permit disrupt your big day!

Do you need a building permit for a tent?

A building permit is required for installing a tent:

When the area of the structure exceeds 60 square metres, or
When the area of two or more tents exceeds 60 square metres
Two or more tents are considered a group of tents if the tents are not more than 3.0 metres apart

A tent or group of tents may not require a permit if they are:

Not more than 60 square metres in total (aggregate) ground area;
Not attached to a building; and
Constructed more than 3.0 metres from all other structures

If you are planning to have a stage platform larger than 225 m² in area or that has any element of the structure (i.e. wall, roof, or floor) more than 5 m above ground, you are required to obtain a building permit(s).

A building permit is required for a structure supporting audio equipment and/or lighting in any of the following situations:

It supports a weight more than 115 kg (1.13 kN),
It is more than 3 m above ground level when supported by the ground, or
It is more than 3 m above the stage platform when supported by the stage platform

Fire safety

Tents must also meet Fire Code requirements. For more information, contact the Fire Department.

How to apply for a building permit for a tent

Step 1: Complete any applicable agency approvals

To avoid delays, complete all necessary approvals from other regulatory agencies before you apply.

The details and contact information are on the Applicable Law Checklist.

Other approvals might include:

Niagara Escarpment Commission
Niagara Peninsula Energy/Ontario Hydro (minimum setbacks from the hydro lines are applicable)
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
Regional Municipality of Niagara
Ministry of Transportation or other Ministries

Step 2: Submit your application and drawings

Incomplete or non-compliant applications may delay or prevent permit approval.

Application

Apply in your City Dashboard Account. Fill in the information, and you will be prompted to upload your completed building permit forms and documents.

Drawings and other documents

Site plan

You must include a site plan to scale, identifying:

A title, scale, north arrow, and property dimensions
Street name and municipal address number
Where the tent(s) will be located, with dimensions to property lines
Information on all fences and other structures present on the site
Available parking spaces
Location of any easements
The location of all overhead hydro wires on or adjacent to the property on which the tent will be installed. Minimum setbacks from the hydro lines are applicable, and approvals from the utility may be required in advance.
The location of all overhead hydro wires on or adjacent to the property on which the tent will be installed. Minimum setbacks from the hydro lines are applicable, and approvals from the utility may be required in advance.

Tent manufacturer’s drawings and specifications

Manufacturer’s drawings should be readily available to you in the package containing the tent. Any tent 225 square metres (2422 square feet) or larger must be designed by a professional engineer licensed in Ontario, and the drawings should bear the engineer’s stamp and signature.
Manufacturer’s specifications, including all fabric materials used for the tent, must bear a label or other written proof must be submitted to prove the material is certified to CAN/ULC S-109 or NFPA 701

Step 3: Pay the fees

Once the Building Permit application has been accepted, you will receive notice that fees are payable via the CityView Portal. Payment can be made in the following ways:

Pay online through your City Dashboard account
Pay with cash or debit in person at the Building Department at 4343 Morrison Street (credit cards are not accepted)
Submit cheques payable to the “City of Niagara Falls” in person or by mail. Include the permit number and address on the cheque notes.

For a list of current fees, visit the Schedule of Fees page.

Utility locates - Ontario One Call

If you plan to dig, you must submit a utility locate request. This also applies to any staking or digging for a tent.

Ontario One Call is a free service that helps locate underground utilities like gas lines, water pipes, and electrical cables. Contacting them before you dig is not just smart—it’s the law in Ontario.
You or the contractor doing the work can submit a locate request online at ontarioonecall.ca. Submit the request at least five business days before you plan to dig.

Building permit inspections

You are responsible for requesting all required inspections to finalize your building permit.

Once the permit is issued, all required inspections can be booked on your City Dashboard account or by contacting 905-356-7521 x 4330, or pbd@niagarafalls.ca.

Visit our Building Permit Inspection page for helpful information.

Contact Us

City of Niagara Falls
Planning and Building
4343 Morrison Street
P.O. Box 1023
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 6Z9
Canada
905-356-7521 ext. 4330
pbd@niagarafalls.ca