Darn strikes, eh? Hope it doesn't last as long as Windsor. They've been out 11 weeks now. From the Toronto City Hall's website, and also from a bulletin that circulated our office (I'm outside of Toronto but we have many clients who work in Hogtown):
Construction / Demolition without the Benefit of a Permit
The Building Code Act provides that no person shall construct or demolish a building or cause a building to be constructed or demolished unless a permit has been issued therefore by the chief building official.
Should it come to the attention of Toronto Building that construction or demolition has proceeded during the labour disruption without the benefit of a permit, Toronto Building will issue Orders or take whatever enforcement action it deems necessary immediately following the completion of the labour disruption including but not limited to requiring that a permit be applied for and obtained, requiring reports from qualified professionals / persons certifying that the construction complies with the Ontario Building Code and any other applicable law, and/or possibly requiring the removal of the construction.
We've been led to believe that they will use common sense. If you would have qualified for the permit and all your work done during the strike without a permit is up to code, etc., then they'll issue you the late permit that they would have issued you on time if there was no strike, and no harm no foul. But if you start work on a project and then it is determined that they never would have given you a permit in the first place or they would have required plan changes to conform to code, etc., they will make you renovate or even demolish what you've already done. Use your judgment and experience and if you feel sure that you're good to go, then proceed. If you think they might have made you move that addition inside the property line by an extra foot, then you better think twice.
Here's the link to the city's website:
http://www.toronto.ca/labour-relations/index.htm
(P.S. - Don't you just love Canadian multi-culturalism? If you want, you can also read the above webpage in 20 different languages including Arabic, Farsi, Korean, Russian, Spanish and of course French. It makes me think of Beverly Hills Cop (III?) where Eddie Murphy pulls up to the front of the B.H. police dept. and has a hassle with the automated operator regarding what extension to press and what language to use.)
Happy Canada Day !
arty:
