Markham Renovation Permit Checklist: What to Confirm Before Work Starts

Calling a project a kitchen update, basement finish, bathroom refresh, or home renovation does not answer the permit question. Two projects with the same label can involve very different work. Replacing cupboards and paint is not the same as removing a wall, adding plumbing, creating basement rooms, or changing how part of a home is used.

Write down what will be demolished, built, moved, added, replaced, and left untouched. Mark locations on photographs or an existing plan. This scope list gives the City, designer, contractor, and trades the same starting point and reduces the risk of a permit decision being based on an incomplete description.

The City of Markham’s current guidance lists structural and non-loadbearing wall changes, new plumbing piping, bathroom rough-ins, basement rooms, basement entrances, full-basement work, and accessory apartments among examples that need a building permit. It lists cupboards, painting, decorating, maintenance, fixture replacement, and interior basement damp-proofing among examples that do not normally need a building permit.

These examples are useful screening questions, not a substitute for a property-specific decision. Zoning, applicable laws, heritage status, the proposed use, and details that are not obvious from a short description can change the path. If the scope is uncertain, contact the City before work begins.

Markham’s permit process says an application can require forms, drawings, supporting documents, and the applicable fee, with submissions made through ePLAN. Before an application is prepared, confirm who will provide the measurements and drawings, who will submit, who will answer review comments, and who will coordinate inspections.

A useful project file includes the municipal address, owner contact, current photographs, existing and proposed layouts, dimensions, known structural or service changes, intended room uses, product or system information where relevant, and any previous permits or orders that affect the work.

A written quote should not hide permit responsibilities in a general sentence. It should state whether permit determination, drawings, application fees, revisions, inspections, and work needed to address review comments are included, excluded, owner-supplied, or not yet known.

The construction sequence should also reflect approvals. Permit-required work should not be scheduled as though approval is automatic. When scope changes after approval, confirm whether revised drawings or another municipal review are needed before proceeding.

Municipal processes, fees, forms, zoning rules, and the Ontario Building Code can change. The official links below were reviewed on August 11, 2026. Recheck them for the current project and keep the City’s response or submission record with the job file.

Yellow Pencil can help organize renovation scope and drawing information. This guide is general planning information, not a legal opinion or a guarantee that a permit will or will not be required for a particular property.