Can You Renovate a Condo in Ontario? Rules for Flooring, Walls, and Plumbing
If you own a condo in Ontario and you’re planning a renovation, many homeowners in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) wonder whether they’re allowed to do that. The answer to that question is YES. It is certainly allowed to renovate your newly purchased condo in Toronto and Ontario. However, not without following strict rules for flooring, walls, and plumbing changes.
Each change you make to your condo has a set of rules. From painting to hard flooring, homeowners need approval from the board. Similarly, for building new walls or removing old ones, you also need written approvals. Unless engineers review it, you cannot build anything new or remove an existing structure or condo feature.
Don’t just assume that you can ignore any of these rules or approvals. This may lead to hefty fines or an order to stop any renovation work immediately. In this guide, we’ll walk you through these harsh realities before you can even decide to renovate your GTA condo.
The Rule You Must Follow Before a Condo Renovation
- Get Written Board Approval First
When it comes to renovating a condo in Toronto, first, you cannot use your legitimate right to make any changes to the property without getting a written approval. According to the Condominium Act, 1998, owners are not allowed to make any changes unless they get an approval from managers or board.
This means without taking any step toward changes in the property, you must obtain a written approval. Don’t just imagine getting a verbal approval can even count toward that. To get the approval, you need to:
- Place an application to your board for initiating renovation
- The application must explain the scope with contractor insurance certificates
- You also need WSIB clearance and engineer’s drawings
- Properly explain the schedule of your renovation
- Pay the liability fee of around $5 million to $10 million
- Complete and submit the application at least six weeks before the start date of the work
Flooring: Toronto’s Acoustic Rating Is the Whole Game
When you buy a ready to move in condo in Toronto, you see a lot of slab work. That means when you run or walk with heavy shoes, the noise can travel downwards. This is the prime reason why most building owners in Toronto have set rules related to installing concrete slabs.
For instance, the standard is set to comply with the minimum Impact Insulation Class (IIC) rating. In Toronto, your board may require IIC 50 to 55. If your slabs do not follow the right standard for concrete flooring, your next-door neighbours or other neighbours can complain about you.
There are consequences for that. Condo owners in Toronto are not permitted to use hardwood. They are also not allowed to purchase the hardwood that does not comply with Toronto’s rules and thresholds.
Moreover, Toronto flooring manufacturers have publicly warned that condo boards are demanding IIC ratings that do not meet the needs of buildings. This implies that you should always check the requirements of your building before ordering or using hardware or materials.
Walls: Non-Structural Only, With Proof
Yes, you can make changes to walls’ structures in Toronto condos. However, the rules are even more stringent.
First, you are in no condition or circumstance allowed to renovate any concrete columns or shared plumbing structures. Also, check with your board; they may never allow you to use a contractor’s verbal assurance related to the non-structural nature of your wall.
This leaves you with no other choice but to take a written letter of approval from a professional engineer in Toronto. They will certify that the wall is safe and you can remove it without damaging the entire building. You need:
- A City of Toronto building permit for adding or cutting walls
- A board approval for making new openings
- Approval of engineers for providing approved drawings
- The board may never approve cutting shared elements
Plumbing Rules, You Must Follow in Toronto
Plumbing rules are also strict and may worry several condo owners in Toronto. For example, when you buy a condo, toilets, sinks, and faucets are your responsibility. There can be several supply lines for drainage running through the slab.
If you want to replace a faucet in the bathroom, it’s no problem. However, you need to ensure that you are replacing it in the same location or space. Moving it altogether to a new position can require slab changes and engineering specifications. This again needs the board’s approval.
Do not chase a layout that is likely to get rejected by the board. Do not try to force drains across concrete slabs. The bottom line is: you cannot make renovations or changes to drains and sinks without the board’s permission.
Construction Hours and Noise Rules
You cannot renovate your building without meeting regulations related to Toronto’s Noise Bylaw rules. This law states that you cannot construct anything that makes noise or causes a disturbance. From 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., noise is not permitted.
Moreover, you may never get permission to continue construction on Saturdays and Sunday. And what happens if you ignore these rules or approvals?
- Boards can immediately issue orders to stop work
- You may have to restore the whole unit the way it was previously
- Complications may arise from unapproved renovation work
- The City of Toronto can impose hefty fines
Beside, for renovating balconies, you may need a Section 98 agreement under the Condominium Act of Canada.
What Sequence to Follow for Toronto Condo Renovations
- Understand and read your declaration rules regarding flooring and plumbing
- Ask the property manager about IIC rating and plumbing rules
- Submit the approval application weeks before the renovation work
- Preserve the data of acoustic tests
- Do not assume that the contractor’s opinion is final
- Obtain the permission of engineers for walls and plumbing changes
Conclusion
You can renovate a condo in Toronto, but flooring, walls, and plumbing are the three areas where the rules are most specific and most strictly enforced.
The Toronto owners who run into problems are rarely the ones who asked too many questions upfront; they are the ones who assumed the building’s rules did not apply to their unit, or that a city permit was enough without board approval.
Planning a condo renovation in Toronto? Trust Condos offers valuable advice to condo owners and investors in Canada so they can manage their board approvals seamlessly.
The information on this blog is based on our experience. Readers/Users are strongly recommended to obtain independent property, mortgage, legal, tax, or accounting advice. The information displayed is for reference only and without representations or warranties.
