Accessory Buildings

For houses like detached, semi-detached, or row homes:

• No Building Permit is needed for a detached accessory structure if it meets the conditions outlined in the Ontario Building Code:
• Is not more than 15 square metres (161 square feet) in gross area
• Is not more than one storey in building height.
• Is not attached to a building or any other structure.  Important: If your garage or carport is attached to your house, no matter the size, it’s considered an addition and always requires a Building Permit.
• Is used only for storage purposes ancillary to a principal building on the lot, and
• Does not include plumbing

For all other building uses:

• No Building Permit is needed for a detached accessory structure if it:
• Is not more than 10 square metres
• Does not include plumbing

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 may apply)
• Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
• Regional Municipality of Niagara
• Ministry of Transportation or other Ministries

Step 2: Zoning confirmation

You can confirm that your project meets zoning requirements in one of two ways:

• Simultaneous zoning review
  • You can have your zoning compliance reviewed as part of your building permit application.
  • The zoning compliance fee will still apply, but no separate application is needed.
• Zoning Compliance Certificate
  • Apply through your City Dashboard account for a separate Zoning Compliance Certificate before submitting your building permit application.
  • This is a separate application with its own fee. · Visit our webpage for more details about the Zoning Compliance Certificate process.

Step 3: Submit your application, drawings, and fees

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.

Site plan

You must include a site plan to scale identifying: 

• Your existing house and the size and location of the proposed accessory building.
• Title, scale, north arrow, and property dimensions
• Legal description including lot and plan number, street name and municipal address number
• Setbacks to all property lines for the existing dwelling and the proposed accessory building (including roof/eave overhang)
• Any right-of-ways and/or easements
• Location and size of all accessory buildings, porches, decks, or swimming pools
• Front yard landscaping, such as a driveway or sidewalks (if applicable)
• Location of existing septic system (if applicable)
• The location of all overhead hydro wires on or adjacent to the property on which the tent is to be installed. Minimum setbacks from the hydro lines are applicable and approvals from the utility may be required in advance.
• Plans must be fully dimensioned in either metric or imperial units, but not a combination of both.

Detailed construction drawings

Usually in the form of floor plans and elevations, including:

• Dimensions of proposed accessory building, including the height from grade to roof peak
• Slab, foundation wall, or pier construction details including size, depth, and compressive strength of concrete
• Width, location, and lintel size of all openings
• Size, spacing, and grade of studs and any structural members
• Roof framing: size, spacing, and grade of rafters, showing support details at all bearing points; or, if using trusses, the manufacturer’s engineered drawings (request these from your truss supplier).

Fees

Pay the required building permit fees when you receive notice that fees are payable via the CityView Portal. Payment can be made the following ways:.

• Cash or debit in person at the Building Department at 4343 Morrison Street (credit cards are not accepted for in-person payments).
• Cheques payable to the “City of Niagara Falls” in person or by mail. Include the building permit application number and address on the cheque notes.
• Pay online through your City Dashboard account.

For a current list of fees, visit our Building Permit Fees page.

If you are planning to dig, you must submit a utility locate request. This applies to any digging project, whether you're putting in a pool, putting up a fence, or planting a tree.

• 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. 

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 extension 4251/4285 or emailing [email protected].

• Visit our Building Permit Inspections page for more information.

City of Niagara Falls
Building Services
4343 Morrison Street
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6Z9
905-356-7521 ext. 4001
[email protected]