Architects are trained to help you realize your objectives and guide you through the design and construction process. In particular, architects will help you through the complex regulatory building process including zoning bylaws, building codes, and contractors’ bids.

Education, training, and professional experience enable the architect to transform your ideas into design solutions that meet function needs. The architect – who serves as advisor, coordinator, and technical manager, as well as creative artist – can design and administer a contract resulting in a project that is completed on schedule, within budget, and to a high standard of quality.

Selecting the right Architect is one of the most significant decisions you can make. An architect will prepare the construction documents required for your building permit application.

You need a building permit to:

  • construct a new building or accessory structure greater than 10 square metres in area
  • renovate, repair or add to a building
  • make any structural alterations to a building
  • demolish or remove all or a portion of a building
  • change the use of a building or part of a building
  • install, change or remove partitions and load-bearing walls
  • make new openings for, or change the size of, doors and windows
  • build a garage, porch or balcony
  • build a heated or unheated sunroom
  • build a deck more than 10 metres square in area or more than 2 feet (0.61 metres) above adjacent grade
  • excavate a basement to increase headroom
  • construct a foundation
  • underpin an existing foundation
  • install a basement walkout entrance
  • construct a chimney serving a solid fuel fired appliance
  • install or create a Second Suite
  • install or modify heating, plumbing, air conditioning systems or fireplaces
  • install or reconstruct a chimney, wood burning stove or fireplace
  • do structural or mechanical fire-damage repair
  • install, replace or repair a private sewage system

It’s worth noting that any list is not comprehensive and is always subject to change

To choose an architect, visit The Ontario Association of Architects, to search by name, specialty, city and member type.