Nine building departments, one point of contact.
We work out of Ancaster and file permit drawings with nine building departments, from Kitchener-Waterloo to Oakville. Each one reviews drawings its own way, with its own fees, timelines and conservation rules. Each city page covers what’s different about that one.
Find your town, see who reviews it.
- Covers
- Hamilton, Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Waterdown, Flamborough, Binbrook, Glanbrook
- Conservation
- Hamilton Conservation Authority, Conservation Halton, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Grand River Conservation Authority
- From Ancaster
- Home base
Pick the department, not the street.
Hamilton
Our home base.
Burlington
Halton Region. About 25 minutes from Ancaster.
Oakville
Halton Region. About 35 minutes from Ancaster.
Brantford
About 25 minutes from Ancaster.
County of Brant
About 30 minutes from Ancaster.
Haldimand
About 20 minutes from Ancaster.
Cambridge
Region of Waterloo. About 35 minutes from Ancaster.
Kitchener-Waterloo
Region of Waterloo. About 45 minutes from Ancaster.
Why it’s organized this way.
A permit application goes to the municipality with jurisdiction over your property, and each department runs its own review. Two houses ten minutes apart can sit in different departments, with different fees and timelines, when a boundary runs between them.
Its own zoning
How many units a lot allows, parking, setbacks and detached unit sizes are set by each municipality’s zoning by-law.
Its own fees
Permit fees, development charges and any incentive programs differ from one department to the next.
Its own process
Online portal or email, zoning clearance first or not, and the checklist the examiner works from.
Five conservation authorities overlap.
A lot inside a regulated area (a floodplain, wetland, valley, watercourse or shoreline) usually needs the conservation authority’s permission before the building permit can be issued. Their boundaries follow watersheds, not municipal lines, so some departments deal with more than one.
| Department | Hamilton | Halton | Niagara Pen. | Grand River | Long Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Burlington | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Oakville | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Brantford | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| County of Brant | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Haldimand | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cambridge | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Kitchener-Waterloo | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Part of the department, not all of it. The authority’s own map decides for your lot.
Not sure which department covers you?
Where to go next.
ADU overview
What a second unit is, its two forms and how the permit works.
Does my property qualify?
A self-check on space, lot rules and servicing before you call.
Renovations
Additions, alterations and new builds within BCIN House scope.
We’ll confirm the department and what applies.
Tell us your address. We’ll confirm which department reviews it, whether a conservation authority is involved, and what that means for your project.