The City of Cambridge Cambridge • Ontario • Canada

NON-RESIDENTIAL DEMOLITION PERMITS:

The Building Code requires demolition permits for all buildings greater than 10m² (108 ft²), with the exception of buildings located on a farm. The purpose of the permit is to provide the public with an adequate level of safety and to ensure the building services are disconnected in an appropriate manner.

Use the Application for a Permit to Demolish Only to apply for a permit for a Non-Residential demolition.

Please complete the forms and include two copies of a site plan showing the structure location to be demolished to ensure a timely application process.

The Building Code stipulates that a professional engineer is required to undertake the general review of the demolition project where:
a) the building exceeds 3 storeys in building height or 600 m²(6460 ft²) in building area;
b) the building structure includes a pre-tensioned or post-tensioned members;
c) it is proposed that the demolition will extend below the level of the footings of any adjacent building and occur within the angle of repose of the soil, drawn from the bottom of such footings; or
d) explosives or a laser are to be used during the course of demolition.

Part 3 Commitment Form - needed if a Professional Engineer is required for project at time of application.

Redevelopment Allowance for demolition will not be credited to the property unless a demolition permit is applied for before a building permit to construct.

DEMOLITION PERMIT COSTS:

To view the appropriate Demolition Permit costs, please Click Here to view the "2011 Planning Fee Schedule".

This Schedule provides general information and should be read in conjunction with the current Building By-Law. For further information, please contact the Building Division at 519.740.4613.

RESIDENTIAL DEMOLITION PERMITS:

A Demolition Control By-Law applies to the demolition, in whole or in part, of any building containing a residential unit within the City of Cambridge. As such, those buildings regulated by the bylaw require a residential demolition control permit issued by the Chief Building Official. Demolition Control is required in order to:

• maintain the integrity of residential neighbourhoods;
• prevent the premature loss of housing stock;
• avoid the creation of vacant parcels of lands in well established existing neighbourhoods; and
• retain existing residential units until new uses have been considered and redevelopment plans have been approved.

Generally, residential units are demolished to make way for replacement units. In order to reduce the lag time between demolition and new development, the Demolition Control By-law requires a building permit for the new units to be in place prior to demolition of the existing building. The building permit process and the residential demolition permit process are viewed as parallel processes requiring that the building permit for the replacement unit(s) is ready to be issued prior to the residential demolition permit being issued.

Use the Application for a Permit to Demolish a Residential Property to apply for a permit for a Residential demolition.

The document Demolition Application Process for a Residential Dwelling Unit will provide more information regarding requirements for submission of a complete application for a residential demolition and the demolition process.