Do I need a building permit to replace my roof in Ontario?

Answers (1)

1. LE

   LokalMatch EditorialLokalMatch editorial

   Answered September 22, 2026

   Not to re-shingle. Ottawa lists installing asphalt shingles among the projects that do not require a building permit, and that is the usual position across Ontario: replacing the covering on an existing roof is not a material alteration of the building.

   The moment the framing is touched, that changes. Removing, repairing or replacing structural framing — trusses, rafters, beams, joists, support posts — requires a permit. That is not a hypothetical on a tear-off: it is the decision that gets made on the second morning when the old roof is off and rot turns up in the deck. Changing the roof line, adding a dormer or moving to a much heavier covering puts you back in permit territory too.

   Being exempt from a permit does not exempt the work from the Ontario Building Code or the zoning by-law. And permits are municipal, not provincial, so one call to your own building department before the tear-off is worth more than any page on the internet, including this one.

Answers come from pros and are reviewed by LokalMatch before they’re published. They’re general information — for regulated or safety-critical work, have a licensed professional assess your situation.

Sources

Where the facts on this page come from.

1. 1

   Projects not requiring building permits — City of Ottawa (accessed September 21, 2026)

2. 2

   When do I need a building permit? — City of Toronto (accessed September 21, 2026)

3. 3

   Citizens’ guide to land use planning: building permits — Government of Ontario (accessed September 21, 2026)