About Solar | Siting & Location | Municipal Permits | Solar Pool Heating | Solar Air Heating
Municipal Building Permits
This section contains things to know when considering a solar installation, such as:
- Why You Need a Building Permit
- Permits for Solar Water Heaters
- Permits for Solar PV
- Links to More Information
Why You Need a Building Permit
Under the Ontario Building Code, building permits are required for the construction and renovation of buildings. Building Code enforcement and permit issuance are local responsibilities. Under the Building Code, solar collectors and PV panels measuring 5 m2 or more are considered "designated structures". Designated structures require a building permit.
The 2006 edition of Ontario’s Building Code establishes higher energy efficiency requirements for buildings and encourages the use of green technologies such as solar water heaters.
Most professional solar installation firms support the need for obtaining building permits for a variety of reasons. These include reduced liability and potential home insurance problems, increased customer confidence, ensuring a level playing field for the solar industry as a whole and ensuring that systems follow the requirements set out by codes and standards.
Many solar energy system installation companies will include obtaining all required building permits, including final municipal inspection and certification as part of their fee for service. Talk to your contracted installer.
Permits for Solar Water Heaters
Changes to a building’s plumbing system require a building permit since Ontario’s Building Code includes standards for plumbing. As a result, building permits are typically required for solar water heaters. However, in the past, solar water heater installers have not applied for permits due to a lack of clear and consistent direction from municipal building permit offices and from a lack of awareness of Ontario’s Building Code.
The City of Toronto is working to identify a method of streamlining the permit process to help facilitate greater deployment of solar water heaters (including the education and training of inspectors, standardized drawings for use in the permitting process, etc.). One of the options being reviewed is using the City of Ottawa approval process – setting up a separate permit class for solar water heaters – and the CanSIA guideline for inspection (Both can be found in the Canadian Directory of Solar Water Heating Products).
Permits for Solar PV
All new wiring or wiring alterations to your home, including the installation of solar PV, require an inspection by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). This inspection is also a requirement for connecting to your local utility grid (as an Embedded Generation Facility) and to apply for Net Metering or the Standard Offer program. Any reputable Solar PV installer will work closely with the homeowner and local utility to insure compliance with ESA requirements and standards. Many solar PV installation companies will include arranging ESA inspection and certification as part of their fee for service. Talk to your contracted installer.
Links to More Information
Before considering or starting any solar installation, see the links below and contact your local Municipal Building Permits Office for complete details, requirements and fees. The links below provide additional information.
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)
Information for Homeowners; including Inspection Requirements and Application Forms
You Should Know – at Home
"Solar water heaters now legal in Ottawa", CBC News, May 2, 2007 |
