Zoning & Permits

When you are looking to purchase or rent a medical space, add an addition to your current property or build from scratch in Ontario you will need to obtain a building permit from the city or township that you plan to construct.  There is a process in which you should follow as best practice to fulfilling all of the requirements to attain your stamped drawings.

Each City & Township has Zoning bylaws.  Certain plots of land and dwellings have different criteria for the type of business that you are able to construct.  Step one is to find out if the location is viable for your Healthcare use.  In some cities Medical Office, Dental & Pharmacy are all considered the same zoning, in others Pharmacy may be listed as Retail or another type of premise.  These details are the first step to ensure your specific business fits the city zoning criteria.  In many cases your specific business might not be listed.

For example, if you are Naturopath, Psychologist or other Allied Health provided the city might deem your business activity under medical, or they may designate you under office.  The bylaws might not always be 100% clear when reading which is why its important to apply with the city with your specific details to ensure you have a viable business location.  This is best done by a reputable Contractor like CareSpace who understands the process.  Our team is able to take the appropriate action to determine if your business qualifies under the locations zoning.  Other professionals such as Architects and Designers are also able to facilitate this process for you.

Once you have a general idea of your business model, who will occupy the premise and where you can submit zoning to the city/township for approval.  The city/township will confirm if your general layout, space requirements, and parking fit into the zoning and provide further direction on what and how you will need to erect your premise.  Note that you will need to pay fees for the zoning review (as per city/township), but they count towards the total cost that is payable for the entire permit, so there is no additional cost to completing one.  These fees are generally minimal.  It is highly important to complete this step to ensure viability of your project.  The City/Township may reject your application or request changes.  This is prudent information to understanding your business model and viability of your project.

This is something we can manage at CareSpace.  Our team of Designers and Architects understand the requirements to submit the application to see if your space will be approved.  In some cases you are able to build exactly what you want and in others you may have to make adjustments to fit the requirements of your city/township.  At that point you can determine if its the right investment/location for you.

If your zoning application for your proposed project complies with all City/Township zoning by-laws you will get a zoning certificate to confirm that your application can be submitted for a building permit.  When you receive your certificate, your permit designer or architect will then start working on adding in the necessary building code information that applies to your proposed project so that the plans can be ready to be reviewed again by the City for their building code review.  You will design your entire space with all the details of how and what you would like to build.  You will generally need an Architect or Designers as well as a Mechanical Engineer, and in some cases a Structural Engineer.  All together these are the Permit Submission Drawings.

Our team is able to complete all of this work for you and consult on the best layout and flow to match your business needs.  We have experience in all types of medical offices, Pharmacies, and Allied Health Professionals.  There are many ways to construct an office and we ensure that we construct the office that is best for you.

Once you have completed your entire Design Plan you will need to submit for your full permit and away your stamped drawings from the City/Township.  This may take 2-4 months depending on your City/Township and the complexity of your plans.  Generally speaking the smaller and less detailed plans take less time.  The larger the structure with more complexity the longer your permit application will take.

Once you have your permit you are ready to Build!  You will want to choose a reputable company who has experience and the team to get the job done.

If your zoning application has been flagged for minor variances to the local zoning bylaws of your neighborhood, you will have two options.  Option one is to make the necessary changes to get your project to comply.  Option two is to submit an application to Committee of Adjustment to get approval for the minor variances.  Your permit designer or architect should be able to help determine if there are any large risks in going through with Committee of Adjustment, or if you will have a high likelihood of obtaining an approval. There is always a risk of getting rejected, but if there are any doubts about your application you can always consult a private planning consultant to help with your application, which we can help refer you to.

It is important to note that this process can be time consuming and costly.  Before going through this process its important to ensure this fits into your overall business model and that you know the risk before proceeding.”