Understand the language
Building rules,
without the fog.
Short definitions first. Real examples next. Official sources attached.
Building permit
A municipal approval required before certain construction, alteration, demolition or change-of-use work can proceed. The permit review checks the proposed work against the Ontario Building Code, local zoning and other applicable law.
Read definitionZoning by-law
A municipal rule set that controls how land and buildings may be used and developed, including matters such as permitted uses, setbacks, height, lot coverage and other site-specific standards.
Read definitionSetback
A required distance between a building or structure and a property line, street, another feature or another regulated reference point.
Read definitionLot coverage
A zoning measurement describing how much of a lot is occupied by buildings or structures under the applicable municipal rules.
Read definitionApplicable law
Requirements outside the Ontario Building Code that must be satisfied before a building permit can be issued when the Building Code identifies them as applicable law.
Read definitionMinor variance
An approval route through a municipality’s Committee of Adjustment for certain proposals that do not comply with the zoning by-law.
Read definitionZoning Applicable Law Certificate
A Toronto preliminary review of submitted plans used to confirm zoning and other applicable-law compliance before a building permit application is treated as complete.
Read definitionComplete building permit application
A permit application that includes the information and approvals required for the municipality to process it as complete under the applicable rules.
Read definition