Tents

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 225m² in area or that has any element of the structure (i.e. wall, roof, or floor) more than 5m 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. 

Tents must also meet Fire Code requirements.

• Contact the Fire Department for more information.

Start the process at least 10 business days before your event.

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 can be found on the Applicable Law Checklist.

Other approvals could 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, drawings, and pay the fees 

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 is to 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, which 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.

Fees

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

For a list of current fees, visit the Building Permit Fee Schedule.

• 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.

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.

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 Inspection page for helpful information.

City of Niagara Falls
Building Services
4343 Morrison Street
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6X5
905-356-7521 ext. 4001
[email protected]