Describe the actual work
Give the property address, current use and proposed change. A sketch and photographs help an initial enquiry. Ask about permission, notifications, additional consents and inspections. A contractor’s general statement that no permit is needed is not a decision for your property.
Prepare documents without guessing the final list
Use this as preparation for the authority’s own checklist. Requirements depend on the location, building and type of work.
- Property details, existing plans and a description of current conditions.
- Proposed drawings and a written scope in the required format.
- Ownership or authorisation details and any necessary landlord or shared-ownership consent.
- Structural, energy, drainage or fire-safety evidence from qualified professionals where required.
Keep separate decisions separate
A building permit does not approve a grant. Funding approval does not replace building permission. Check the order of applications, contracts and work before committing. Keep decisions, conditions, inspection records and completion documents together.
Your next step in Canada
Start with the building department for the property’s municipality and the rules of its province or territory. Ontario’s official guide is an example: municipal building departments generally issue permits, and additional approvals may be needed. Ontario forms and procedures should not be used as a Canada-wide application.
Ontario example: building permits and municipal responsibilities
Support and applications
Tax relief and local assistance are different routes
The federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit is non-refundable tax relief for eligible renovations, not a cash grant for an ordinary kitchen or furniture purchase. Eligibility includes a qualifying person and dwelling; portable furniture and household appliances are generally excluded. Provincial or territorial assistance has its own conditions.
Where to apply or ask
For federal tax relief, follow CRA’s Home Accessibility Expenses guidance. Ask your province or territory separately about adaptation programs before commissioning work.
What to prepare
- Evidence that the person and dwelling qualify.
- Contracts, itemised invoices and description of the adaptation.
- Supplier details, work dates, address and proof of payment.
- Keep supporting records; CRA says not to send them with the return unless requested.
When to act
Check eligibility before spending. Keep records and claim qualifying expenses on the relevant tax return. The linked CRA page currently explains tax year 2025; check the guidance for the year you claim.
The responsible body determines the documents required in your case. Send personal evidence through its official channel, not through WOHNALIO.
Turn the next question into a plan
Buying a home: what to check before you commit
Look beyond the listing. Prepare your viewing, investigate documents and allow for the costs that come after the purchase price.
Open the guideBuilding and renovating: compare the whole job
Prepare a clear brief, choose suitable contractors and make extra costs visible. Use a project cost sheet based on your own figures.
Open the guideHome insurance: compare cover for the way you live
Separate the building, belongings and liability risks. Prepare the questions that help you compare cover, exclusions and your share of a claim.
Open the guideReady to plan the rooms?
Once the building and the work are clear, plan furniture, storage and the kitchen around the space you will actually have.
Explore furniture and kitchen planning