Building Permits in Burlington
Burlington requires Zoning Clearance, Grading and Drainage Clearance, and a Tree Permit before your building permit application can proceed. We navigate the Pre-Building Approval process and the building permit that follows.
Burlington Building Permits — Three Clearances Before You Even Apply. We Handle All Three.
Burlington has the most complex pre-permit process of any municipality in our service area. Before you can even submit a building permit application, Burlington requires a Pre-Building Approval that includes three separate clearances: a Zoning Clearance Certificate, a Grading and Drainage Clearance Certificate, and a Tree Permit. These are reviewed by different departments under different bylaws, and all three must be resolved before a building permit application can be accepted.
GTA Permits has submitted residential building permit applications to the City of Burlington consistently. We prepare the Pre-Building Approval application with all three clearance components, format digital submissions to Burlington’s email-based intake standards, and manage the building permit process that follows — all under the city’s Zoning Bylaw 2020 and Building Permit Bylaw 66-2019.
What You Need to Know About Building Permits in Burlington
Submission Portal
Email-Based Digital Submission
Burlington uses an email-based digital submission process. Complete PDF drawing packages are emailed directly to the Building Department. This differs from the online portal systems used in Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, Brampton, and Markham — and the formatting requirements are specific to Burlington’s intake process.
Zoning Bylaw
Zoning Bylaw 2020
Burlington’s primary zoning instrument governs land use and development standards across the city. Burlington also intersects with Halton Region requirements and the Niagara Escarpment Plan for properties near the Escarpment.
What Makes Burlington Unique
Burlington is the only municipality in our service area where the Niagara Escarpment Plan may affect residential properties. Properties near the Escarpment require Niagara Escarpment Commission development permits before a building permit can be issued.
Neighbourhoods We Serve in Burlington
Don’t see your neighbourhood? Contact us — we serve all of Burlington.
Our Permit Services in Burlington
Frequently Asked Questions — Building Permits in Burlington
Start Your Burlington Permit Today
Tell us your property address and what you want to build. We will confirm what is required in Burlington and give you a quote — no obligation.